Feeding tips for stubborn Rosy babies?

Charis · 09-04-12, 06:59 PM

Four of my newish Rosy boa babies are being stubborn to get started eating. One took F/T right away on the first attempt and has eaten consistently since, the other took a live pinky on the second attempt and F/T twice after that. The others have all refused everything. I've tried about half the tricks I've heard of on them, live, boiled F/T, in small deli cups, overnight in their regular vivs, Ivory scented and have even put them on top of the dryer for a few cycles. I'm attempting feedings every five days, so this has been over a space of time. There are a few more tricks I've heard of that I haven't tried yet but I'm just wondering what has worked the best for everyone here?

09-05-12, 01:22 AM

I've never kept rosys, but this trick seems to work with most colubrids, place a f/t pinky in a sealed sandwich baggy and warm it up by running hot water over it and once its warm take your thumb and pointer finger and squish the pinkies head (while still in the baggy) till it bursts open, then place both the rosy and the pinky in a deli cup and place the deli cup in a quiet dark area for a couple of hours.

Charis · 09-11-12, 09:37 PM

Well three more of them took their first meal yesterday! Two ate live in a brown paper bag, only had one bag to try that with. Once one ate, I tried another in it. The last one refused the live pink in a deli cup but ate it later in it's regular viv. So down to just one that hasn't had a meal yet! I'm so happy! They all also went for a little car ride around town earlier in the day they ate, that might have had something to do with it.

**Pareeeee** · 09-21-12, 08:40 PM

Glad they ate for you. Rosies are supposed to eat readily (mine does, lol) so I wouldn't worry, the last guy will probably eat for you soon. Try the paper bag trick with him since it worked with the others. He may be just a little more nervous than the others.

**Pareeeee** · 09-21-12, 08:42 PM

Also how old/big are your babies?

Charis · 09-21-12, 08:51 PM

Tried the live in a paper bag trick on him five days ago with no luck. Going to attempt to feed three of my tricky eaters tomorrow, one of them him, but I haven't decided what to try next. He's refused live twice so not sure if I'll try it again this next time or some other trick I haven't tried yet. Fed three of them tonight, the two that have been good eaters and one that has eaten live twice in a row in a paper bag. Trying it tonight with an F/T pink but no luck so far with her.

Wildside · 09-21-12, 08:56 PM

Wait a minute? Boiled f/t? Ivory Scented?

Where are you getting these tricks Brah?

Charis · 09-21-12, 08:59 PM

They were born July 31st and the only one not to have eaten one meal yet was 19 grams on 8/3, I need to weigh them all again, will probably try and weigh those three before offering them food tomorrow. They were all between 19 to 22 grams on 8/3.

Charis · 09-21-12, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildside

Wait a minute? Boiled f/t? Ivory Scented?

Where are you getting these tricks Brah?

Sounds insane, right? Several big corn snake breeders are where they came from. Ivory scenting has been around for a few years but this year was the first I'd heard of boiled pinks, forget who first tried it but lots of people have been having success with it this year on their non feeding corns and have started to try it on their other species with fair success.

**Pareeeee** · 09-22-12, 05:56 AM

Would suggest not weighing them before feeding. Try not to handle at all for 24 hours before feeding (for a stubborn snake) so you can be sure they are not stressed at feeding time. IMO anyway

Wildside · 09-22-12, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charis

Sounds insane, right? Several big corn snake breeders are where they came from. Ivory scenting has been around for a few years but this year was the first I'd heard of boiled pinks, forget who first tried it but lots of people have been having success with it this year on their non feeding corns and have started to try it on their other species with fair success.

What exactly is Ivory scenting?

**Pareeeee** · 09-22-12, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildside

What exactly is Ivory scenting?

I have no clue, I hope it's not from Ivory soap

Chemicals in cleaners/soaps are so bad for snakes.

Charis · 09-22-12, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Would suggest not weighing them before feeding. Try not to handle at all for 24 hours before feeding (for a stubborn snake) so you can be sure they are not stressed at feeding time. IMO anyway

That's part of why I haven't weighed them again, have been trying not to handle the tricky feeders at all apart from offering food.

Sorraia · 09-22-12, 05:02 PM

My baby rosys are much younger (born Labor Day weekend), but one was a little stubborn for me (not as stubborn as yours!). I attempted to feed them in a critter keeper. The first wouldn't eat until he sat in the critter keeper, alone, in a dark warm room, with no disturbances, for 24 hours. After that 24 hours when I put a f/t pinky in, he was ready to go! The second one wouldn't go for even that. He acted interested, but just wouldn't take. I left him in the critter keeper 24 hours, and he still wouldn't take. So I left the f/t pinky in with him, put the critter keeper in his regular tank, and covered the front with a blanket so it was dark and he couldn't see. Within half an hour the pinky was gone. If you haven't already tried this, maybe give it a go? Stick the baby in the deli cup for 24 hours, then put a mouse in and leave the deli cup in a dark place.

Charis · 09-22-12, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the suggestion! I have tried that, though using deli cups like small snakes are shipped in or displayed in at Expos, that and a live pink converted one of them, she is now a consistant feeder on F/T. Surprisingly, I had the most success with live in a brown paper bag either for a few hours or overnight, although those did not repeat with an F/T pink in the bag. Almost all the care sheets I've read will tell you to use that trick but I'd assumed that a dark deli cup would do the same thing.