First time poster! What to do with live feed if refused?

[PENI]

I recently adopted a 6year old BP around May last year, and ever since then he's eaten a live feeder rat every 2 weeks. Recently though, and about 1 week after a fresh shed, he refused the live rat and even cowered away from it.

My question is what the hell do I do with this rat? Should I just kill it and freeze it? He only eats live rodents at the moment so I'm not sure if freezing it is a good idea. I've tried giving it back to him for 3 days but natta, and he's gone 2.5-3 weeks now without food. He's a very active snake and loves climbing around all over the place and is very social, so I'm not sure what's going on. Right now the Rat is just sitting in a box.

Should I just release the rat and try again in a week or so? I don't like the idea of wasting money on Rats just to set them free.

[infernalis]

give the rat some corn flakes and a bowl of water.

when it's time for the snake to eat, you already have a rat.

[jarich]

Originally Posted by PENI

I recently adopted a 6year old BP around May last year, and ever since then he's eaten a live feeder rat every 2 weeks. Recently though, and about 1 week after a fresh shed, he refused the live rat and even cowered away from it.

My question is what the hell do I do with this rat? Should I just kill it and freeze it? He only eats live rodents at the moment so I'm not sure if freezing it is a good idea. I've tried giving it back to him for 3 days but natta, and he's gone 2.5-3 weeks now without food. He's a very active snake and loves climbing around all over the place and is very social, so I'm not sure what's going on. Right now the Rat is just sitting in a box.

Should I just release the rat and try again in a week or so? I don't like the idea of wasting money on Rats just to set them free.

Ok, that is absolutely not something you should ever do with any animal, no matter how big or small. Especially a rat! Please do not release it into the wild. Fish and Wildlife would have a fit

As for this particular rat, do you have something to keep it in for around 10 days? This would be either a small fishtank or some other small animal cage that it cant chew its way out of. That box its in now, it will probably gnaw its way out of soon. They are impressive in their ability to chew through wood or other hard materials if you give them any edge to start on.

I ask, because you need to let your snake chill for 10 days to two weeks before attempting to feed again. Its probably a little stressed for some reason or another and it just isnt wanting to eat right now. Dont worry, it will get hungry again and want that rat in the future.

Have you ever tried to feed it a prekilled rat? This is generally considered the best way to feed as there is no risk of your snake getting hurt that way. It might take a little effort to get them to switch, but then again some snakes switch with no difficulty at all. Its worth a try.

[Mark Taylor]

I know it,'s not advised to feed out of the enclosure but when mine would not eat I put a FT rat in a suitable tub with the snake and covered the the tub with a towel when I went back a few hours later the rat had gone. job done. As Jarich said leave it alone for about 10 days first then try it in the enclosure first. There are loads of debates on FT/live feeding its up to you but I personally prefer FT as it wont harm the snake and is just as good.

I am not very experienced it's just what I have learnt from being on here.

[PENI]

Okay guys I kept the rat alive for a while, he hasn't eaten for a whole month now and I'm starting to worry

I'm starting to think that he may be blind...is there a good way to test this? He seems really surprised when anything touches him, even when it should be in his plain sight. He's never eaten F/T before.

He's still very active, climbing around everything, always out and about out of his cave area, he only goes there to sleep. What should I do peeps?

[Lankyrob]

Dont worry

Snakes go off food, it happens, offer every ten days and wait himout.

Unless he is starting to lose weight/condition in which case there are other things you need to consider.

I have a green tree python that hasnt eaten since october, i am expecting it to start again sometime near februarytime

[shaunyboy]

its most likely because it's breeding season that he's gone off his food

as Rob said anything from October to March,before they want to feed again

cheers shaun

[Joeyyb]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

its most likely because it's breeding season that he's gone off his food

as Rob said anything from October to March,before they want to feed again

cheers shaun

^This. As long as there is no significant weight loss/detriment it'll eat when its hungry.