Feeding multiple prey items?

[kwhitlock]

Hey guys quick question here, for my Hondo, she is currently on small fuzzys, i got from a reptile show, they are sma enough to not leave even the slightest bulge on her, I've attempted to give her two but everytime she only eats the one she strikes at. How do you guys feed two prey items? Next expo I go to I'll be getting bigger fuzzies, but until then?

[Mikoh4792]

So she doesn't strike the second one even after you dangle it infront of it's face? If not while she's almost done swallowing the first one insert the second one into her mouth to trick her into thinking there's more to swallow on the first one.

[UwabamiReptiles]

You can leave the second one in the cage and usually they will the second prey item after they finish the first one because they are still in feeding mode. Or you can wait until she is done with first prey item and offer the second one the same way you did the first. Each snake is a little different so you may have to try a couple ways to see what works. If nothing works though, you can just feed her the smaller prey items more frequently one at a time until you can get bigger feeders.

[kwhitlock]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

So she doesn't strike the second one even after you dangle it infront of it's face? If not while she's almost done swallowing the first one insert the second one into her mouth to trick her into thinking there's more to swallow on the first one.

I may have to try that. She is quite the shy snake, usually strikes for the first one, and the couple times I presented a second she wanted nothing to do with it, I've seen some people with feeding videos, tuck the next prey item right on them when they strike the first. I've left them in overnight and well, usually she ends up crawling over it throughout the night.

[formica]

as she is shy, I dont think she needs to be interfered with while eating by trying to get another one in her tbh, its important to build up trust with shy animals, or you could damage the relationship for a very long time

if she was really hungry, she'd eat two in one go, but clearly she's not bothered, so dont really see the point in forcing her

If you really want, you could wait a couple of hours between meals, or 24hrs, but keep the feeding ''normal'', and let her deciede if she needs to eat, unless she is loosing weight or unwell, theres no reason to worry

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by formica

as she is shy, I dont think she needs to be interfered with while eating by trying to get another one in her tbh, its important to build up trust with shy animals, or you could damage the relationship for a very long time

if she was really hungry, she'd eat two in one go, but clearly she's not bothered, so dont really see the point in forcing her

If you really want, you could wait a couple of hours between meals, or 24hrs, but keep the feeding ''normal'', and let her deciede if she needs to eat, unless she is loosing weight or unwell, theres no reason to worry

Great advice.. I agree.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by formica

as she is shy, I dont think she needs to be interfered with while eating by trying to get another one in her tbh, its important to build up trust with shy animals, or you could damage the relationship for a very long time

if she was really hungry, she'd eat two in one go, but clearly she's not bothered, so dont really see the point in forcing her

If you really want, you could wait a couple of hours between meals, or 24hrs, but keep the feeding ''normal'', and let her deciede if she needs to eat, unless she is loosing weight or unwell, theres no reason to worry

I agree with this as well. I only use the method Mikoh mentioned if I'm trying to switch animal from a prey source (in which case I give two smaller prey items that add up to the one larger one) or I'm worried about their weight. If she doesn't want the second one, she should be fine.

[CosmicOwl]

The snake will let you know when she is ready for two fuzzies. Just do a couple of feedings with one fuzzy and then in a couple of weeks, she if she wants two.

[kwhitlock]

Thanks for the advice guys, think I'll follow the advice and just keep doing what I'm doing and keep building up the trust and I'll wait till she lets me know

[red ink]

Feed one fuzzy on the scheduled feed day... wait a couple of days, then offer another one. If she is still hungry you'll have more of a chance of her taking it then.