To Brain or not to Brain?

[hylia]

Hi all. I have a little Sonoran girl that has been kind of a fussy eater so far. She was on live and I wanted to switch her to f/t. After refusing several meals, I offered her a brained rat fuzzy and she took it right away. She has so far refused any other rat that has not been brained.

She will strike at regular f/t and coil, but she will not eat it. If I take it out and brain it, she will eat it. I don't really mind braining fuzzy rats, but I am not to keen on having to do so with larger rats with harder skulls and would like to avoid coming to that if I can. So, I need some advice.

Do I continue offering brained (after she refuses the first attempt) and hope that she eventually grows out of it? Or do I start offering only f/t until she gets hungry enough to accept it? If you suggest that I hold off on braining the rat, how long would you suggest I go before giving in? Or could I try to wean her off the brained rat by trying to rub the juice onto a non brained rat to give a similar smell but less strong? I am looking for ideas on the best way to proceed.

Here is a picture to give an idea of her size. Thanks for any advice.


http://i42.tinypic.com/bjd9pj.jpg

[NextMorph]

What I would do is not feed her for two weeks time since the last feeding. I would then try a frozen/thawed rat (not brained). If she takes it.. great. But we'll assume here she won't. I would then leave her in a very dark space, untouched for 3 or 4 weeks and then offer a frozen/thawed rat again. I've found this often works to leave them alone and in a dark place.. and to let them get a bit hungry. Since she's taking f/t rats that are brained.. you're part of the way there... I mean.. it's the right prey item. She just needs some encouragement of being a bit hungrier and feeling really secure. This is my opinion.

[KORBIN5895]

I would wait til her next feeding then toss a very hot f/t rat in. Once she coils I would cover the tank and leave her over night. The last thing you want to do is have to feed each snake a certain way because if your collection grows it will become a real hassle.

[Starbuck]

i agree with Korbin; one of my snakes wouldnt eat, and i made sure the mouse was VERY hot (thawed, then put it in 90+ degree water for a few min), and she took it right away no troubles. Especially since you have a boa :)

[slowhite03]

When my king wouldn't eat for almost 2 months I did the brain trick. I had to do it a few times but now he eats regularly. I would feed him on your normal schedule, try feeding him unbrained first and if he doesn't eat, brain it and them let him be. He will come around sooner rather than later

[KORBIN5895]

I just got a pair of royals and the female bit me tonight because I dangled it for her.

When my king wouldn't eat for almost 2 months I did the brain trick. I had to do it a few times but now he eats regularly. I would feed him on your normal schedule, try feeding him unbrained first and if he doesn't eat, brain it and them let him be. He will come around sooner rather than later

Do you have anything to support that last sentence?

[hylia]

Thanks for your input, everyone. I have been offering the rats quite warm (I believe), I warm them with a hair dryer. I tried wet too, as I read some snakes prefer it, but she would not even strike a wet rat but at least she does so with a fuzzy dry one, lol. I guess I will hold her off the brained until she eats a non-brained one. Thanks.