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"Fishing" for Problem Feeders...
As some of you may know by now, I have a pair of captive-bred Spilotes pullatus, the Tiger "Rat" Snake. The female of this pair has been giving me a little grief when it comes to feeding time. She prefers live mice, even though she'll sometimes take a thawed one.
It seems as though she wants a moving target, but if I'm too close to her enclosure my presence seems to put her off. Maniplating the mouse with tongs does not work. It still means that I have to be in her "space".
So, I went out to the garage and selected one of my fishing rods, brought it in and tied a thawed mouse loosely around the middle and now able to stand seven feet away, I used the rod to dance the mouse around the opening to one of her hide boxes. After about ten seconds...BANG, mouse taken! A firm, but gentle pull on the line released the mouse and she continued to swallow it with no trouble whatsoever. I was quite proud of myself.
Anyone else ever tried a similar ploy? Might be a good trick to remember...
Cheers!
Simon
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