Make it eat?

girraffasaurus · 07-02-02, 06:19 AM

My roommates just got a young burmese (about 18" long?) but haven't been able to get it to eat yet. We've tried live mice and frozen (doin that whole smearin the brain thing) with no luck. I know sometimes it just takes time, but anyone have any advice? When we couldn't get the ball to eat it took the advice of people who kept them to help us (she only eats gerbils, picky little thing!). Just hoping someone might have a trick or two...

Thanks!

KolleenJ · 07-02-02, 12:07 PM

Kelley, I would give the little guy time to settle in. Make sure he has a hide box and no one handles him foe a week. Then try feeding him at night. That usually get them. Keep me posted and if that doesnt work, ill give ya more ideas.

Seanebones · 07-02-02, 10:20 PM

To be totally honest with you I don't think this is the best way to do this. Hopefully someone else will chime in with a better way. That said, I held her head with my Index finger and thumb at the sides of her jaw, And with the tip of a pen I gently opened her mouth, I had my wife gently push the head of the mouse in. (It took three tries to get her to take it so be patient)After she takes it you need to carefully put it back in it's enclosure. If you have a frozen prey item put that in the enclosure to she if it will eat that one on it's own (Learned that one from Matt)
The reason I didn't really like doing this is the snake just seemed, well, kinda pissed and was not herself for a couple of days. I am will be trying to feed her again this Friday to see if she will eat on her own. Good luck and be carefull.
Sean

RedInTheTail · 07-02-02, 11:40 PM

First, what the last person said, It does work sometimes. BUT, this should be a last ditch effort, only attempted by someone who has done it before. This should only be tried when the snake is on its last leg. As long as the back-bone is not showing abnormally, don't try this.

Baby snakes (like this one) are picky feeders. The best method to get them to eat is time (and making sure the setup is correct). Patience is key. If you attempt feeding to often, it is as bad as never attempting to feed the snake. I recommend trying every two weeks, tops.

A few tricks on getting snakes to eat:
1)Try different color prey (this works a lot of the time surprisingly)
2)Try rats and mice (and different sizes too)
3)Try putting the snake, with a WEANLING rat in a paper bag (the luch ones) overnight
4)A great trick is scenting the rat/mouse with Cambells finest Condensed Chicken Broth (this works a ton of the time!!!)

Give us a list of your setup, so that we can double check it. (Cage size, setup of things inside, lighting, heating, temps, humidity, etc.)

Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-RedInTheTail

girraffasaurus · 07-03-02, 07:36 AM

It's in a ten gallon tank. There is a heating pad and a heat lamp. There isn't actually a hidey hole, but a really cool log-thing that looks like a big piece of twisted wood, so it usually hides in that. And a regular water bowl. My roommate just informed me that the snake just shed, so that could affect it. I think the roommates' biggest problem is probably their lack of patience. But I really appreciate all you input.

Jeff_Favelle · 07-03-02, 08:58 AM

A Burm that won't eat? Is that even entirely possible? Are you keeping it in a fridge? I've never heard of that. Maybe its going to shed or something?

girraffasaurus · 07-03-02, 10:07 AM

My roommate just told me that the snake just pooped. She said it was yellow, which is not a color she has ever seen in snake poop. And she said its about a month old.

KolleenJ · 07-03-02, 11:52 AM

Time for a vet trip. Have a fecal done. It is possible internal parasites are to blame.

Seanebones, Ive never seen that trick work on a burm, only on balls and RedInTheTail is right...only do that if ABSOLUTLY needed. The burm will eat when its hungary enough. Just leave it alone(except the vet visit)

I have baby burms that were born on June 3rd and only 1/2 of them have eaten. But im not going to force ot on them. I know they will eat when they are good and ready. In fact, im due to try the rest of them today again. It seems as soon as they get 1 live hopper down, they all take f/t on their second meal without hesitation.

Anyway, all mine that have fed, did it after a week with no handling or interuption.

Good luck with the burm....and did anyone else think my idea was bad????

Seanebones · 07-03-02, 05:07 PM

Kollen,
I absolutley agree that my solution is a LAST DITCH EFFORT. As I said before it should not be done until all other avenues have been exhusted. I found several of your other members posts very helpfull, and wish I had seen them before I had to force feed.
thanks!
Sean