She Ate!

[Rogue628]

The Peruvian Rainbow that I bought the boyfriend for Christmas almost 2 weeks ago finally ate a live mouse! Second feeding attempt brought success! I've been doing the happy dance since late last night!

It's been a long time since I've had a little one. New ones always make me antsy when they don't eat my first attempt, even more when they're tiny like this. This is the smallest baby I think I've ever had so I've been really careful with everything with her. Minimum contact with her, keeping extra watch on her temps and humidity (since her requirements are much different from what I'm used to), I even put a towel over her home the last couple of days in hopes of making her feel more secure. She's also quite the hunter!

When I feed my others live, they usually hit it within a few seconds. Not her! She played ninja and slowly (like a half hour) hunted the little mouse. She knew it was there but was very slow in going in for the kill. If the mouse moved (not just sitting there cleaning itself) she'd move a little with it. When it stopped, she stopped. She kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

It's been even longer (every since my king) since I've gotten to watch a hunt. As much as I don't care for watching the kill, I still watch, fascinated by it. She has more patience than I do. After about 10 minutes, I was ready to scream, "JUST KILL IT ALREADY!!!!"

I didn't think such a little thing could devour something so much larger than her O.O Mr Clark told me he fed live hopper and small adult mice to her but I didn't believe she could until I saw it. Once she unwrapped it, it took her about 5 minutes to eat it, then slink off into the hide on her warm side to digest.

One more feeding before we began short sessions of handling. She was so nippy the first couple of days....striking at anything that moves.....I want to wait another week and one feeding to give her more time to acclimate before we start handling her. She seems so tiny and delicate, I don't want to chance stressing or harming her, if that makes sense.

[Swany]

Originally Posted by Rogue628

The Peruvian Rainbow that I bought the boyfriend for Christmas almost 2 weeks ago finally ate a live mouse! Second feeding attempt brought success! I've been doing the happy dance since late last night!

It's been a long time since I've had a little one. New ones always make me antsy when they don't eat my first attempt, even more when they're tiny like this. This is the smallest baby I think I've ever had so I've been really careful with everything with her. Minimum contact with her, keeping extra watch on her temps and humidity (since her requirements are much different from what I'm used to), I even put a towel over her home the last couple of days in hopes of making her feel more secure. She's also quite the hunter!

When I feed my others live, they usually hit it within a few seconds. Not her! She played ninja and slowly (like a half hour) hunted the little mouse. She knew it was there but was very slow in going in for the kill. If the mouse moved (not just sitting there cleaning itself) she'd move a little with it. When it stopped, she stopped. She kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

It's been even longer (every since my king) since I've gotten to watch a hunt. As much as I don't care for watching the kill, I still watch, fascinated by it. She has more patience than I do. After about 10 minutes, I was ready to scream, "JUST KILL IT ALREADY!!!!"

I didn't think such a little thing could devour something so much larger than her O.O Mr Clark told me he fed live hopper and small adult mice to her but I didn't believe she could until I saw it. Once she unwrapped it, it took her about 5 minutes to eat it, then slink off into the hide on her warm side to digest.

One more feeding before we began short sessions of handling. She was so nippy the first couple of days....striking at anything that moves.....I want to wait another week and one feeding to give her more time to acclimate before we start handling her. She seems so tiny and delicate, I don't want to chance stressing or harming her, if that makes sense.

I got my baby Royal python on saturday, first feeds tomorrow. fingers crossed :-)

[dshin963]

First feeding for my new bloods is on thurday! :-D

[shaunyboy]

its always a great relief when a new arrival eats for the first time,i'm glad you got her eating

cheers shaun

[Rogue628]

Thanks! I even went out of my way to feed and water the little mouse (gave it an unsalted cracker) while I waited for her to wake up. I didn't want to disturb her but wait until she decided to move around a bit. When I knew she was awake, I fed. I'd like to think me waiting on her normal time instead of waking her also helped.

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by Rogue628

Thanks! I even went out of my way to feed and water the little mouse (gave it an unsalted cracker) while I waited for her to wake up. I didn't want to disturb her but wait until she decided to move around a bit. When I knew she was awake, I fed. I'd like to think me waiting on her normal time instead of waking her also helped.

most snakes hunt in an almost trance-like state, they'll lie in wait (usually along a trail with a fresh scent) until something comes along they can take. I wouldn't be surprised if you had tossed the little mouse in there that you would've seen the wee little one poke its head out a little earlier.

[alessia55]

I'm glad she ate!

[Rogue628]

Originally Posted by millertime89

most snakes hunt in an almost trance-like state, they'll lie in wait (usually along a trail with a fresh scent) until something comes along they can take. I wouldn't be surprised if you had tossed the little mouse in there that you would've seen the wee little one poke its head out a little earlier.

I love watching them hunt. It's just very rare I get to see it since my others take less than a minute to find their food even when it's live. I think the last time I got to watch hunting was back when I had my kingsnake. He was a go-getter though and would chase....play....torment...his prey for a couple of minutes before catching it.

I do normally drop their feeders in their tubs even if they're in their hides or asleep. But since she's been striking anything that moves (including her last feed attempt) and that I don't know her feed response or habits yet (I have to wake up and give my bp time to wake up and move around or he won't eat) I was trying to make it as natural as stressless as possible. But now that I got her to eat this once, next feeding I will feed her when I feed everyone else, which is usually at dark.

[Norm66]

Congratulations!