Hey there, I'm new here so a short intro before the "bitniss". I am a relapsing retic addict. I had to quit the hobby a while ago, but now I'm back with a retic named Esmeralda. For my full intro and pics of former pets click here:
Relapsed Retic Addict
Okay, let me introduce my little "lady". She's a rescue, wild caught retic. Caught about 30 minutes from where I live in the city. I've had her for two months and she's shed twice, beginning a third shed cycle. She's currently at about 4ft long and she can BITE. For the most part, she's handleable but there are just times where she looks right at my face and strikes at it. Other times she'll just be slithering through my fingers calm as can be, then just turn around and bite my hand. Not the problem, I'm used to retic bites.
Okay, so for the situation I need help with. She's a shy eater. Not picky, shy. I've fed her chicks, mice, rats and she's eaten them all. The problem is she'll never take the food if I'm around. Because of that, I can't transition her to prekilled or F/T. I've already tried leaving a prekilled rat in her viv overnight, I thought it had worked when I didn't see the rat, but it turns out, it just got covered up by the substrate.
I can throw a live rat into her viv and sit there for 30 minutes and she won't take it. I leave for 10 minutes to brush my teeth or something, I get back and It's already halfway down her body. Such a character this one. Also the snake I've had the most trouble transitioning. I've had ball pythons that transitioned to prekilled quicker.
I'd appreciate any tips you ladies and gents have on Esmeralda's transition. Feel free to share taming tips as well if you have them.
Thanks
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