Today was Feeding Day...

exwizard · 10-11-12, 05:27 AM

... and now I have a few more mouths to feed. First off, it looks like Mick is beginning to switch to rats.. *fingers crossed* He took a rat pup, killed it and it it out while he did so but eventually did manage to eat it.

It looks like the rat shortage continues because I was not able to get any jumbos, either XL or XXL. I did manage to get one retired breeder who happened to be a XL though. Before I realized what size she was I was going to give it toJane but because it was too big for her, I tried to give it to Popeye. All he did was strike at the rat to get it away. Then while I was attempting to retrieve it, Popeye tagged my hand causing it to bleed a lot. Oh well. I got that rat out and tried it on Betty but she refused as well so Arwen got it. As it turns out I had a few extra mediums so I was able to feed them off to the Dums who were scheduled to eat L and XL. As it was, Only Betty and Popeye did not eat. I will try again next week.

On another front, I attempted to feed Poseidon, the male baby Burm, a hopper mouse earlier in the afternoon but he was too quick for me and is now a fugitive, Then later on, I tried again with another hopper mousae and he too became a fugituive so I tossed in a rat pinkie/fuzzy and he took that.

Also, Sheila, my female IJ, got a small rat this time instead of a weaner and she had no problems taking it, so that will be permanent. Im also thinking about upsizing the prey items for the little Macks to full size rat pups. Them being Macklot's, it shouldn't be a problem.

I have done this thread in other forums and I thought it would be fun to do here. I'm interested to see other people's stories about what happened during feeding time so feel free.

ZStone · 10-11-12, 06:30 AM

Ha yeah I had an escapee not to long ago I seen him about a week later fat as can be I only wonder what of mine had it been eating

exwizard · 10-11-12, 06:42 AM

Needless to say, I won't be feeding him hopper mice anymore, especially if he takes pinkie/fuzzy rats. This is only his third ever meal and he's only going to get bigger.

stephanbakir · 10-11-12, 03:40 PM

I'd try to stay away from live, for way too many reasons to list. Because hes a burm, try and stay away from mice, stick with rabbits and rats.

exwizard · 10-11-12, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

I'd try to stay away from live, for way too many reasons to list. Because hes a burm, try and stay away from mice, stick with rabbits and rats.

He is a 6 week old hatchling. His first 2 meals before I got him were mice and thats why I tried mice again but if he took that rat pinkie/fuzzy, I will keep him on rats.

Rogue628 · 10-11-12, 05:41 PM

He's a pretty boy. Not trying to spoil your thread theme, but seriously take the rat advice. Like most animals, sometimes switching isn't easy, even for a burm. I have one that's a garbage disposal and another that's so finicky I think she's a ball python. She refused to switch from mice to rats and it literally took me months and thinking outside the box to switch her. I hope I don't have the same issue switching her to rabbits. I'd hate to see anyone have to go through what I had to go through with her. Burms need more nutrition than what mice provide anyway. He'll be a healthier and happier burm when you make the switch

I'll be feeding this weekend so I should have a good story or two about feeding day. Nom Nom is always fun to feed and sweet Allie (picky burm) doesn't have much of a feed mode, although she just shed so I'm hoping for a better feed mode since I've waited to feed until she shed.

exwizard · 10-11-12, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

... and now I have a few more mouths to feed. First off, it looks like Mick is beginning to switch to rats.. *fingers crossed* He took a rat pup, killed it and it it out while he did so but eventually did manage to eat it.

It looks like the rat shortage continues because I was not able to get any jumbos, either XL or XXL. I did manage to get one retired breeder who happened to be a XL though. Before I realized what size she was I was going to give it toJane but because it was too big for her, I tried to give it to Popeye. All he did was strike at the rat to get it away. Then while I was attempting to retrieve it, Popeye tagged my hand causing it to bleed a lot. Oh well. I got that rat out and tried it on Betty but she refused as well so Arwen got it. As it turns out I had a few extra mediums so I was able to feed them off to the Dums who were scheduled to eat L and XL. As it was, Only Betty and Popeye did not eat. I will try again next week.

On another front, I attempted to feed Poseidon, the male baby Burm, a hopper mouse earlier in the afternoon but he was too quick for me and is now a fugitive, Then later on, I tried again with another hopper mousae and he too became a fugituive so I tossed in a rat pinkie/fuzzy and he took that.

Also, Sheila, my female IJ, got a small rat this time instead of a weaner and she had no problems taking it, so that will be permanent. Im also thinking about upsizing the prey items for the little Macks to full size rat pups. Them being Macklot's, it shouldn't be a problem.

I have done this thread in other forums and I thought it would be fun to do here. I'm interested to see other people's stories about what happened during feeding time so feel free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

Needless to say, I won't be feeding him hopper mice anymore, especially if he takes pinkie/fuzzy rats. This is only his third ever meal and he's only going to get bigger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

He is a 6 week old hatchling. His first 2 meals before I got him were mice and thats why I tried mice again but if he took that rat pinkie/fuzzy, I will keep him on rats.

This was my plan all along.

Snakefood · 10-11-12, 06:43 PM

was feeding day yesterday here, obviously all my corns snarfed down thier mice!!, my 2 yr old BP inhaled his rat (when I'm finished this order, I'm upping his prey size) and my beauty baby Spider ball FINALLY took her first rat!!! (I'm so happy she's off mice now!!)

then next week I think I will have my other baby ball paid off and home (def by months end) and then I'll have to try to switch her over to rats once she's all settled in!!

exwizard · 10-11-12, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue628

....I'll be feeding this weekend so I should have a good story or two about feeding day. Nom Nom is always fun to feed and sweet Allie (picky burm) doesn't have much of a feed mode, although she just shed so I'm hoping for a better feed mode since I've waited to feed until she shed.

I'm really looking forward to hearing about this.

exwizard · 10-11-12, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakefood

was feeding day yesterday here, obviously all my corns snarfed down thier mice!!, my 2 yr old BP inhaled his rat (when I'm finished this order, I'm upping his prey size) and my beauty baby Spider ball FINALLY took her first rat!!! (I'm so happy she's off mice now!!)

then next week I think I will have my other baby ball paid off and home (def by months end) and then I'll have to try to switch her over to rats once she's all settled in!!

Thats awesome! I love when feeding days turn out like this.

rmfsnakes32 · 10-11-12, 07:56 PM

My new little boa we named her Joker haha! Ate a rat pup with no problem she still looks fat and sassy today lol! I am still struggling to get Athena to eat! My two new baby corns that I got over the weekend all also ate! Tiny my baby burm ended up with a hopper mouse since that was all that was available but order for next week is in he will get a rat pinky/fuzzy he has a very strong feed drive so I do not see that as being an issue

exwizard · 10-12-12, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfsnakes32

My new little boa we named her Joker haha! Ate a rat pup with no problem she still looks fat and sassy today lol! I am still struggling to get Athena to eat! My two new baby corns that I got over the weekend all also ate! Tiny my baby burm ended up with a hopper mouse since that was all that was available but order for next week is in he will get a rat pinky/fuzzy he has a very strong feed drive so I do not see that as being an issue

You know that'll happen. I will make sure of it.

Rogue628 · 10-14-12, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

I'm really looking forward to hearing about this.

As promised, I fed yesterday. Half of it was a rush job since I had to go to work and had some personal crap come up.

Everyone ate! The down side is Nom Nom (king) regurged. I'll take the blame as I gave her a mouse that was slightly too large and it was the smallest one the store had...and no rat pups. I was hoping she'd be ok with it, but apparently not

Most everyone ate with gusto. One of the dumerils even tried to tag me because I wasn't fast enough. My big girls ate the last of my f/t jumbos and large rats. Except for my sweet Allie. She only ate one jumbo. Her feed mode was a little better, but still nothing like my other girls. She wouldn't take her food off of tongs, as per usual. But she did wrap it this time. She refused the large I tried to give her, but she wanted out to explore more than she wanted to eat.

So Baby Girl (the other burm), being the food disposal she is, ate it...at least it didn't go to waste lol.

Everyone seems to be happy and content, except for Nom Nom. She's still looking for food, but since she regurged, it'll be a while before I'll attempt again to give her system time to settle down.

The OKC reptile expo is next weekend. I'm hoping to pick up a decent supply of feeders, bonus if I can find rabbits

I'm pretty excited to be going to one as I've never been. I don't plan on getting anything other than feeders....keep your fingers crossed there's still some left since I can only go Sunday since me and the boyfriend cannot get out of working Saturday. If anything, I should be able to find a closer source of food for my girls.

exwizard · 10-14-12, 07:22 PM

Sorry about that regurge. I hate when that happens. Your decision to wait until next time was a good one. Its always fun reading about the Burm feed drive as it gives me something to look forward to when mine get bigger.

You will love that reptile show. I know I enjoy it every time I go but keep this in mind. Both last week in Omaha and this week in Tinley Park (Chicago), I had planned on getting nothing and I walked away from both of them with 2 Mexican Blacks, 1 Brazilian and 3 Dums. So much for self control

Rogue628 · 10-14-12, 08:19 PM

The burms are my favorites of my big girls to feed, then my carpet. Baby Girl (burm) and Halo (carpet) hit like a mack truck. Allie is just really mellow. Nom Nom (king) chases her food and tortures it. lol

Congrats on the new pick ups!

I have to have some self control as I'm trying to move again and only have so much marked for feeders.

One thing I noticed today after feeding yesterday is the medium rats I'm feeding my royals and my BCI aren't leaving the food bumps like they used to so I'll be upping their food size soon. It seems like my babies are growing up so fast!