Update on he really bad feeding issue.....

[ReticMan123]

So my idiot self left a live rat over night in the cage with him. That was a mistake the lil blanker blanker chewed up my indoor outdoor wires lucky he didn't chew my snake.i even put at food in there for him. Anyway I cleaned titans cage today and noticed something. He has a link belly! He's starting his shed cycle! About 2 weeks to early because he's been like clock work but I guess that's why he is giving me a big feeding issue. I feel so foolish. So I am going to leave him be after his shedI will offer the rat again but this time not for longer than an hour. Now one more thing. As ar as introducing I'm torn between 3 options. I can empty the cage of his hides and water dish so he has easy access to the prey. Number 2 I can just toss the rat in thre. Or finally I an introduce the at right into the hide box the retic is in at th time . So what sounds like the best method? And since he's going into she'd early that's a good thing right? He usually shed every 29 30 or 1 of the month guess he's growing fast I just need an easy feeding procedure fast! Before he's too lage and makes p is own!

Thanks everyone :)

Mike

[KORBIN5895]

You mean weren't sitting watch in your chair?

[lady_bug87]

I'm waiting for someone to tell you how irresponsible it is to leave a live feeder over night with your snake.

[Little Wise Owl]

Switch to frozen/thawed or pre-killed prey and just toss the rat in there and leave it overnight. Large live rats will do extreme damage to a snake if allowed to.

[Lankyrob]

However long the rat is in there you MUST be there ready to tryto stop itshould something happen. You have been extremely lucky this time, please learn from it and dont do it again! :)

[KORBIN5895]

I'm waiting for someone to tell you how irresponsible it is to leave a live feeder over night with your snake.

Read this thread (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/giant-python-discussion/95936-feeding-technique-introducing-prey.html) and my comment will make sense.

[mykee]

dum, dum dumdum!

[KORBIN5895]

dum, dum dumdum!

Man that sounds familiar????

[ReticMan123]

Ok I'm sorry I typed this way too fast. The rat chewed my wire in the first hour. I pre killed the rat before I left it in his hide I as just joking about him chewing on my snake sorry. I am sure as ell not that stupid to leave. Live rat in overnight and I feed live and am always rig there. But I may be switching to pre killed anyway. And please , people come on this forum for guidance and help not judgement and to be attacked

[KORBIN5895]

Well we know you aren't here for guidance because you have years of experience. Didn't you say that yourself?

[Lankyrob]

When you state that you left a live rat in the viv over night you ARE gonna get attacked for it as that would be extremely irresponsible.

I guess you accidentally typed about leaving food in there too?

Something doesnt add up here.................

[KORBIN5895]

When you state that you left a live rat in the viv over night you ARE gonna get attacked for it as that would be extremely irresponsible.

I guess you accidentally typed about leaving food in there too?

Something doesnt add up here.................

Read that link I posted. This guy has years of experience. His way is fine.

[EmbraceCalamity]

So my idiot self left a live rat over night in the cage with him.I pre killed the rat before I left it in his hide... I am sure as ell not that stupid to leave. Live rat in overnightGranted, your horrid grammar, spelling, and sentence structure makes it difficult to understand you. I seriously hope English isn't your first language. Still, I think we can all see the inconsistency here.

For the record, I've never fed a snake live prey in my life, but I'd still never be stupid enough to leave it in there.

~Maggot

[reptileexperts]

I'm assuming this guy is trying to be honest and now wants to back out after the noise it's making, or maybe he's just a troll and trying to see how many people he can get upset? Either way to the OP - if you did it, don't do it again for the sake of your snakes safety. Live must ALWAYS be monitored, and you are respondsibile for that. Rats can kill or mame snakes in no time. I've seen horror shots of what a small rat can do to a snake that has no desire to eat.

Also even in shed my retics feed, it helps them get the shed off and they never refuse feeding. . . you really should double check all your husbandry if you are having feeding issues because retics that don't feed don't feed for external reasons. . . either it's their first meal, or they are litterally in the middle of shedding, or their cage has something off.

Good luck and may no one follow your footsteps in this matter.

[ReticMan123]

Thanks to anyone who actually answered. I am 24 years old and I have owned large pythons and boas since 16 so yes I have years of experience. That does nto mean I do not seek out help sometime. I own one retic now so I can devote all my time to just him. My huisbandry seems to be perfect humidity At 60% cool side temps fluctuate between 75 and 82 and hot aside is always in the 90's and yes he moves back and forth to regulate. and the light is on 14 hours a day. I have a confession to make, yes I did lie about keeping the rat in overnight. I should not have done it and I always knew that and it was a horrible mistake. When my snake doesnt eat it stresses me out too much for some reason. Once i saw all the attacking I tried to take it back so sew me.....and troll? ae you kidding me? Im on this forum all the time and I like looking aty other's posts and large snakes.Every snake I have owned wa sa beatiful healthy animal and I have never had any injuries or problems with feeding until now pretty much. HE is in full blue today so im going to offer food once hes shed in a few days. And actually MOST snakes will NOT eat if they are in any stage of shed, at least none of mine ever did. I deserve the attacking. I shouldnt of let that rat overnight that was a bad choice. Next time I try to feed if he does not go after it within 5 mins the rats going to be taken out. As far as whoever commented on spelling and grammer. I type fast and Obviously people understand my writing , IM really not going to proof-read my python forum post I have a busy life as most people do. If this continues to be a PROBLEM FOR ME AND HE IS NOT EATING THEN i WILL TRY PRE-KILLED. bUT OFFERING LIVE IS MY BEST BET ESPESIALLY SINCE i ONLY HAVE ACsess to live rabbits in the future. SO please if anyone wants to be here to help. JUst stick to the topic we have all heard the live vs. p/k debate before

thank you and sorry

Mike

[Aaron_S]

Just keep attempting to feed him on his schedule. No reason to worry and start with the "tricks".

[ReticMan123]

I guess the biggest thing I worry about is the actual feeding process itself. Let me note that I do stun the rat before feedings so I was thinking I could take out all the cage furniture anjd hides and leave him be for 20 mins. I read somewhere that this could trigger that its "feeding time". then introduce the stunned rat. Or I could just introudce the rat right away bt then it would be a long waiting game for them probably to come into contact. Or finally I could just dangle the rat over his head. So basically what Im asking is which method is the best way to introduce the prey?

[lady_bug87]

i use dead prey so I have to do the zombie dance the only one I do that with is my bullsnake I just leave it in there on her hide

[Aaron_S]

When I feed live I usually have the rat by hemostats so as to present the live head directly to the snake.

If that doesn't work I'd leave it in the enclosure loose for a few minutes. Snakes can hunt. You don't need to worry about them coming into contact. The snake can do it if he's hungry.

Also, don't stun the prey. They are being tossed into an enclosure with a predator with no where to go. No reason to be cruel to them before hand. It's rather sickening.

[ReticMan123]

Thank you and es I hae stunning rats and that totally makes sense not to. Even though their ugly little critters I can't hurt hem lol well he should sed in a ay or 2 then I will try again