M.G.B.'s still not eating.

[Strutter769]

I've had this trio for about 2 1/2 weeks, and only one of the three has eaten, feeding small f/t rats. Temp in the rack is a constant 77° and mid-upper 80's in the back 1/3 of each tub. Only one has eaten and the others shy away from food. Everyone is alert, active, no signs of illness, but I'm starting to get a little nervous.

I'm tempted to try a live rat, but haven't fed live in YEARS! Not really excited about slicing open a rat skull either. Sort of a newbie-type question, but what's my next step?

Sincerely,

Concerned Parent

[alessia55]

I'd say just give them more time. If they're alert and not losing weight, you don't need to worry yet. You know this ;) also, have you tried leaving an f/t rat with them overnight? They might opt to take their first meal with more privacy and swcrecy...

[Strutter769]

I'd say just give them more time. If they're alert and not losing weight, you don't need to worry yet. You know this ;) also, have you tried leaving an f/t rat with them overnight? They might opt to take their first meal with more privacy and swcrecy...

Yes, I know this. :smug: You know me, Alessia! If things aren't perfect, I worry, freak out, then ask silly questions. One of the three ate this evening, and when I came upstairs a few minutes ago, I re-warmed and again offered to the other two, unsuccessfully. So, I'll leave them overnight again and hope the food is gone by morning.

Hey, I needed SOMETHING to post about. Having Minnie mistake my fingertip for a fuzzy today just wasn't news enough I guess. But, I did get a good long look at her teeth as she tasted blood and began gnawing on my index finger! So perfect and pointy, all with that backwards curve. I don't know who her dentist is but I'm thinking of asking next time!

[DeesBalls]

it took my ball python over a year to eat before.. i know different species and everything, but like said b4, if they are not loosing weight, i really wouldnt worry too much at this point!

[Caylan]

Try giving them 80 and 90 for temps...

[Strutter769]

Well the struggle continues. After trying unsuccessfully last night to tease feed the three of them, I left all three rats (f/t of course) in the tubs overnight. All three were still there this morning. After re-warming and offering again this morning, only Maggi took it. She's the only of the three I've gotten to eat. She's 3 for 3. The others shy away, and eventually may give a couple defensive strikes. Efficus even bit into the rat twice, but only defensively. He never actually took it, same with Black Betty.

Very frustrating! What do I do next?

[alessia55]

Keep it up. Monitor their weights just in case if you're worried. Keep offering every week and leaving it overnight.

[Strutter769]

Well, feeding day is upon us once again, and since I apparently am not a very good judge of size, the feeders I purchased two weeks ago are the wrong sizes, and useless to me, and with no recent rat litters, I'm headed later to my favorite local shop, Rainbow Pets (Purely coincidence), and have the choice of either live or f/t.

Is it time to try feeding the MGB's live? Also, since I don't have an appropriate scale, can you judge by the recent pics what size to feed? I'm thinking small rats for them and also the newest BRB. Thu Suri's will get rat pups, and I guess the smaller BRB' still on rat pinks?

[Pueblo]

id try a small live prey then when they take that just before they get it swalowed gently put the frozen thawed between there lips and they should take it and if they do next week they should take a frozen thawed it may take a couple trys but it has had good results for me in the past.

[Strutter769]

Thanks. I just tried stunned/pre-killed. The first rat twitched quite a bit in front of Maggi's nose, but the other two were still. So far, none of the three snakes have budged.

Thanks for your advice. Next time I'll try that, or hamster-scenting, since I have those too.

[alessia55]

Thanks. I just tried stunned/pre-killed. The first rat twitched quite a bit in front of Maggi's nose, but the other two were still. So far, none of the three snakes have budged.

Thanks for your advice. Next time I'll try that, or hamster-scenting, since I have those too.

IMO, don't try chasing a live feeder with an f/t feeder right now. They're still young and that can be stressful. Keep up with fresh/killed or frozen/thawed. I'd hold out on live. Have you been weighing them? Have they lost weight? Good luck tonight!

[Strutter769]

IMO, don't try chasing a live feeder with an f/t feeder right now. They're still young and that can be stressful. Keep up with fresh/killed or frozen/thawed. I'd hold out on live. Have you been weighing them? Have they lost weight? Good luck tonight!

Ok, I'll keep this up. I hoped the pre-killed would twitch (sorry, it's true) and entice them, but only one moved.

You know, I almost bought a scale at the last show, but had already spent too much at NARBC. I'll try to get one soon. IMO they may have lost minimal weight, if any.

[alessia55]

Ok, I'll keep this up. I hoped the pre-killed would twitch (sorry, it's true) and entice them, but only one moved.

You know, I almost bought a scale at the last show, but had already spent too much at NARBC. I'll try to get one soon. IMO they may have lost minimal weight, if any.

If it doesn't look like they've lost weight, it's just a waiting game until they're ready to eat. You can get a cheap one at any store that sells kitchen supplies (like bed bath & beyond) for as little as $15.

[Strutter769]

If it doesn't look like they've lost weight, it's just a waiting game until they're ready to eat. You can get a cheap one at any store that sells kitchen supplies (like bed bath & beyond) for as little as $15.

Really? A nice accurate digital scale? Is the biggest up to 5000g?

[alessia55]

Really? A nice accurate digital scale? Is the biggest up to 5000g?

I have one that's super accurate and weighs up to 5lbs (~2,268g). The brand name is Oxo. Any food scale though will be pretty darn accurate. Just make sure you get one with a pull-out tab so that you can put a big bowl on it and still read the measurement.
Here (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-11-lbs.-Digital-Food-Scale/16541956) is one that measures up to 11lbs (~5,000g).
Here (http://www.amazon.com/Weighmax-Digital-Kitchen-Postal-Chrome/dp/B002S5903S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333159148&sr=8-1) is another one.
And one more (http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Stainless-Pull-Out-Display/dp/B000WJMTNA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1333159173&sr=8-7)... this one is the Oxo brand that I personally recommend. It's more expensive, but it has that pull-out tab that is perfect for putting a big bowl on it to weigh heavier animals and still see the tab.
Here is me using the Oxo one I have and showing the pull-out tab feature:
yaLKpVCSLwQ

[Strutter769]

Thanks so much for that! I agree with you, I too like best the scale you've chosen. I'll get that asap, I'll be much more comfortable knowing of any weight changes.

Thanks again Alessia. Great instructional video too!

[alessia55]

Thanks so much for that! I agree with you, I too like best the scale you've chosen. I'll get that asap, I'll be much more comfortable knowing of any weight changes.

Thanks again Alessia. Great instructional video too!

Awesome! and Thanks! :D The pull-out tab is indispensable IMO. It makes weighing so much easier if I have to weigh Kaybe who's larger and doesn't fit on the surface of the scale.

[Strutter769]

I think Maggi, Efficus and Black Betty are probably about the size of Kaybe. I'm gonna resist the urge to go up to check on them, but I'll leave everyone 'til the morn.

[Strutter769]

Well, even with the pre-killed, only Maggie ate again. Efficus was resting his head on the rat this morning, and Black Betty was nicely coiled beside her skipped meal, strange that she was on top of the aspen next to the rat. They're all normally burrowed beneath it.

I think I'll try a large, live rat pup for both next week. I'm also going to get a scale, I'm pretty certain Maggie has put on weight and left these two behind.

[Strutter769]

Finally good news to report! EVERYONE HAS EATEN!! A live hopper was able to entice both Efficus and Black Betty to finally eat for me. That, with the addition of a baby (who I think may be going blue) taking his pinky today give me 100% cooperation this weekend.

Why does that feel so good? :crazy2:

[JustBitten]

Why does that feel so good? :crazy2:[/QUOTE]

Success is a highly satisfying thing! Should have seen the look on my face when I finally got my brother's ball to eat for the first time. It took a live mouse to do it, but he has eaten f/t every time after and hasn't skipped a meal. :)

[Strutter769]

It really is a sense of accomplishment. I think I might do one or two more live to see if I can get them eating a few meals in a row, then go back to ft.

[alessia55]

Finally good news to report! EVERYONE HAS EATEN!! A live hopper was able to entice both Efficus and Black Betty to finally eat for me. That, with the addition of a baby (who I think may be going blue) taking his pinky today give me 100% cooperation this weekend.

Why does that feel so good? :crazy2:

Yay! Finally! :)

[Pueblo]

here is the truth everybody knows somthing about there snakes but we can never know everything about our snakes and the more information we can get the more likly it is to have a happy healthy relationship with our snakes. and just like people there are no to snakes with the exact personality. so what works for mine may not work for yours. and i think when people give there opinions they should remember thats exactly what it is an opinion. and let others make up there own mind based on all the facts.