Non-feeder tips

VioletS16 · 06-03-11, 10:06 AM

Just thought I'd put this up as I've researched this a ton...\

NOTE: unless specified, I am referring to F/T rodents, NOT live ones. NEVER leave a live rodent unattended, and only feed live if you can start to see the snake losing weight. Some people feed live anyway and while I respect their opinions I disagree with feeding live unless crucial.

Brain a pinky/fuzzy but cutting off the back of the skull, exposing the blood and brains which smells marvelous to a snake.
Soak the frozen rodent in tuna juice or chicken broth, to add a stronger scent.
Leave the rodent in the RUB/Viv/Tank overnight.
Use feeding tongs (or a gloved hand) to wiggle the F/T rodent around the cage, simulating a live rodent.
Offer food further days apart: every 10 days as oppose to 7 days, every 7 days instead of 5 days, etc.
Ask your local pet store for a sample of hampster bedding. Place it in the snake's enclosure.
Try different coloured mice/rats, as oppose to just the white lab mice/rats.
Try a pre-killed hamster or gerbil
Put the snake and the F/T rodent in an opaque brown paper bag and leave it overnight. So far this tactic has ALWAYS worked for me.
Take the snake for a long car ride, and offer food when you get home.
Place the snake in an RUB/plastic tub and place your cell phone in with the snake. Put the F/T rodent in the tub too. Put your cell-phone on vibrate. Call your cell phone repeatedly while the box is left in a dark, quiet room. (or even just a quiet room with a cover over the RUB/tub)
Try a small slice of beef heart
Offer a chick or a slice of fish instead
Rub a live lizard onto a dead mouse, scenting the rodent. Things you can also rub onto a dead rodent: frogs, fish, live rodents (very hard to do), etc
Offer the F/T rodent at night, in the dark, if your snake is nocturnal, and in the daylight if it's diurnal. (For snakes that are active in both day and night, offer at sundown.
Try buying a live mouse and killing it right before feeding.
Try a live mouse, supervised.
And, if all else fails, consult a vet about force feeding. It can be dangerous and do more harm than good, although sometimes it's quite neccessary.

Always inquire about feeding habits before you purchase an animal but sometimes it can't be avoided, such as when feeding your home-bred hatchlings.

Good luck!

Jay · 06-03-11, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VioletS16

Try different coloured mice/rats, as oppose to just the white lab mice/rats.
Take the snake for a long car ride, and offer food when you get home.
Place the snake in an RUB/plastic tub and place your cell phone in with the snake. Put the F/T rodent in the tub too. Put your cell-phone on vibrate. Call your cell phone repeatedly while the box is left in a dark, quiet room. (or even just a quiet room with a cover over the RUB/tub)

Those have to be the funniest methods I have read. Have you tried these out ?

sassy_snake_lady · 06-03-11, 01:19 PM

Hmm, interesting. I have to say I have never noticed a different reaction to the colour mice I feed my snakes (I breed my own mice and they come in a variety of colours!!)

The car ride one I have heard can work but the cell phone one sems very odd. I would have thought that would stress a snake out. How many people have tried this and has it worked?

TeaNinja · 06-03-11, 01:22 PM

what if the snake ate the cell phone instead of the mouse..... lol

Nos · 06-03-11, 02:24 PM

lol this is pritty funny

NennaMeerkat · 06-03-11, 02:55 PM

My hognose breeder mentioned to me about the car ride/outing way to get them to eat. Didn't work for my little hoggie though.

Jay · 06-03-11, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

My hognose breeder mentioned to me about the car ride/outing way to get them to eat. Didn't work for my little hoggie though.

What's the logic behind it?

SnakeyJay · 06-03-11, 03:11 PM

The cell phone one made me laugh lol... The tuna brine sounds plausable, although im not surr if mine would like tuna. X

NennaMeerkat · 06-03-11, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay0133

What's the logic behind it?

She didn't really say but it was someting about being out and about that brought up the snakes appetite? The moveing around that snakes tend to do more of when they aren't in their tanks? That is all I can really guess.

Jay · 06-03-11, 03:51 PM

I would like to see them cover this on Mythbusters!

NennaMeerkat · 06-03-11, 03:53 PM

I just wish my hoggie would eat...its been 2 months basically since she stuffed food in her mouth.

Jay · 06-03-11, 04:03 PM

What have you tried? When I come across a non feeder I just shrug it of (as long as its a healthy snake.) I figure its possibly due for a shed or just not hungry. If one of my snakes don't eat I don't re try for at least 2 - 4 weeks (again as long as its healthy) I have been lucky and never had to deal with any of those above methods. 100% of my snakes who don't eat on my first attempt do eat the next attempt 2 - 4 weeks later. I also wouldn't recommend handling a problem feeder.

stephanbakir · 06-03-11, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay0133

[/list]Those have to be the funniest methods I have read. Have you tried these out ?

I hope not rofl!

NennaMeerkat · 06-03-11, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay0133

What have you tried? When I come across a non feeder I just shrug it of (as long as its a healthy snake.) I figure its possibly due for a shed or just not hungry. If one of my snakes don't eat I don't re try for at least 2 - 4 weeks (again as long as its healthy) I have been lucky and never had to deal with any of those above methods. 100% of my snakes who don't eat on my first attempt do eat the next attempt 2 - 4 weeks later. I also wouldn't recommend handling a problem feeder.

She stopped eating about 4 weeks ago and I have been trying to feed her every 10 days...about. Haven't changed ANYTHING in my handling her or anything. In fact I can count on one hand the amount of times I have had her out since I got her in Feb. She hasn't shed nor shown signs. The last time she ate she ate a really small pinky but hasn't eaten since.

Its got something to do with stress. Thinking of downsizing her home a good bit and moving said downsized home to another part of the house to see if it helps at all. Of course giving her 2 weeks to get used to her new smaller home as well. She is very stressed and I don't know why cause like I said I haven't at all changed ANYTHING with my routine with her.

sassy_snake_lady · 06-03-11, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

She stopped eating about 4 weeks ago and I have been trying to feed her every 10 days...about. Haven't changed ANYTHING in my handling her or anything. In fact I can count on one hand the amount of times I have had her out since I got her in Feb. She hasn't shed nor shown signs. The last time she ate she ate a really small pinky but hasn't eaten since.

Its got something to do with stress. Thinking of downsizing her home a good bit and moving said downsized home to another part of the house to see if it helps at all. Of course giving her 2 weeks to get used to her new smaller home as well. She is very stressed and I don't know why cause like I said I haven't at all changed ANYTHING with my routine with her.

How old is she and is she definatley a she?

My hoggie didnt eat for 6 weeks then one day just started eating again. I put it down to him being a horny male!