Leave food in tank?

[andcad]

Ok so im making the change to F/T and some of my snakes have no problem with it. But on of my GTPs didnt want anything to do with it. When this happens how do you go about it?

Do you leave the F/T mouse in the enclosure over night?

How do you initially present the item to the snake?

If its hiding, do you bring it out?

Im used to taking my snakes out and feeding them live in a separate bin.

[stephanbakir]

My male platty het retic was tricky to swap to FT, til he was 10 feet long I'd either had to forcefeed him or offer him FT overnight and hope he takes it.
You offer the FT as usual and hope he takes it, if he doesnt you put it in front of him and cover the cage in a blanket and leave him be. If its still there in the morning throw it out.

[Mark Taylor]

My adult bci's don't strike feed I just put the rat in front of them then cover the viv with a blanket if its still there in the morning throw it away and try again in a few days persistence is key don't give in they will eat eventually.

[jarich]

My GTP was the hardest to switch over; they can be such picky snakes sometimes. I was able to switch him over by killing right before I fed, and then placing the head against something hot (radiator) to make it really warm. Once I did that, I used tongs to 'dance' the mouse in front of the snake until it took it. Had to do that a few times and now he takes whatever I throw in there.

[Lankyrob]

My gtp is the only snake i own that wont hasn't taken food left overnight, if he wont strike feed then he wont eat that feeding time.

[NBLADE]

If using f/t mice with a normally live feeding snake, i tend to get my hands on some old used mouse bedding, and then defrost the mouse in that, this gives it more of an ammonia smell and more appealing to the snake, also you can put some used bedding in the snakes viv, to get the snake into feeding mode and actively hunting. Then once defrosted, warm the mouse up to give it a body temperature, if you put it in a sealed bag and then in some hot water it wont wash off any of the smell and will warm it through, then with feeding tongs, hold the mouse by the scruff of the neck, and with gtps walk it under the branch where it is perched, if you do it right you can trick the snake into thinking it is alive, once grabbed if you wiggle the tail like a struggling mouse would then it generally helps, some will let go when they realise it is dead without the wiggle.

Some gtps will feed if left in over night though, one of mine will, but the others wont, if it falls to the floor she wont take it, but if it is draped across one of her branches she will, but most of mine are strike feeders.

[andcad]

What about with annoying other than a GTP? If the snake is hidden do you wake it up or just leave the f/t mouse in the cage.

[Hillsberry]

Most GTPs will never take the rodent off the ground. I suggest doing what jarich said. You need to sometimes annoy the GTP to get it to feed by rubbing the rodent on them. Keep us update if the snakes eat or not.

[NBLADE]

What about with annoying other than a GTP? If the snake is hidden do you wake it up or just leave the f/t mouse in the cage.

feed at night when its dark and the gtps awake, but a little tap to let it know youre there and to wake it up might be needed, but if you put some mouse bedding in the cage chances are it will be roaming around looking for the food anyway.

Most GTPs will never take the rodent off the ground. I suggest doing what jarich said. You need to sometimes annoy the GTP to get it to feed by rubbing the rodent on them. Keep us update if the snakes eat or not.

You do have to be careful with this trick though, some snakes will just become stressed from the winding it up feeding method, and then wont feed, so it is important to watch the snakes body language and how it is reacting when doing it.

[andcad]

I'm asking about my white lipped python. If its under one of its hides do I disturb it or just leave the mouse out for her. The reason I ask is because she's very territorial and gets defensive when I'm doing anything to her enclosure. Last night I was spraying it down and she was striking non stop. I haven't held her since over a week ago.

[Mark Taylor]

I would not disturb it mate as that is just going to stress it out then it reduces the chance of it feeding.

[NBLADE]

I'm asking about my white lipped python. If its under one of its hides do I disturb it or just leave the mouse out for her. The reason I ask is because she's very territorial and gets defensive when I'm doing anything to her enclosure. Last night I was spraying it down and she was striking non stop. I haven't held her since over a week ago.

Ah if it is a white lip, that reacts badly to any interaction, i'd just leave the food at the entrance to the hide it is under, i'd walk the prey in front of the hide first, just to see if it would come out and grab it, but if there was no interest then i'd just leave it there and check in the morning.

[Lankyrob]

None of my snakes are in their hides when food is around, they are all at the glass doors waiting to strike anyhting that moves :)

[stephanbakir]

None of my snakes are in their hides when food is around, they are all at the glass doors waiting to strike anyhting that moves :)
Should upload a vid of that SD feed response ;) It blows mainland feed responses out of the water lol!

[Lankyrob]

Unfortunately i only have video recording on my mobile and he moves so fast it is just a total blur :)

[stephanbakir]

Unfortunately i only have video recording on my mobile and he moves so fast it is just a total blur :)
LOL, eventually I'll upload a vid of my female feeding, its scary stuff lol.
He still tracking the plates? :P

[Lankyrob]

We stopped the plates because he started attacking them, we just throw the rat in and shut the door quick ;) more often than not he hits the rat before it touches the floor and twice he has hit it, carried it across the viv and landed in his water bowl :no:

[Jules1618]

And I thought Cleo had a crazy feeding response...lol
Would love to see that in action

[Lankyrob]

We fed him this morning and he has been randomly striking the glass ever since, even when no one and no animals are near him. I think it is because we had to stop mid feed and have some rats still defrosted ready to feed to other snakes. Even tho they are on the opposite side of the house he still goes crazy. :rolleyes:

[stephanbakir]

My female almost ate her water bowl (XL sized dog bowl) a few months ago, struck at the rabbit and missed, got the bowl and coiled it, we had to take it away from her (SCARY) she kept trying to get us as we were working on loosening her grip on the bowl lol..

[andcad]

left a hopper (live) in her cage and finally ate. Im happy.

[Corey209]

left a hopper (live) in her cage and finally ate. Im happy.

Next time I'd recommend prekilling instead of just leaving a live mouse in there hopper or not.

[Jules1618]

I feed FT but I hear it can be dangerous to leave live food as sometimes the rat\mouse can bite and claw the snake

[andcad]

I have tried all of the above. I needed her to eat. I have switched to F/T but I predicting it'll take a while with this one.