Feeding BRB

[2Gs]

Hi All

After a few weeks our BRB finally shed the other day & emerged from the mulch. As soon as the food was put in the tank she struck it. The only thing we are concerned about is the size of the mouse. The stores around here never have anything small size so we had to go with what they have, Is this ok? She is still a baby at 10 months.

Max

[toddnbecka]

So get a few mice and breed/raise your own feeders, at least until (or unless) she will already take frozen/thawed mice.

[2Gs]

Hi Toddnbecka

We tried the frozen/thawed from the day we got her, She won't even go near it. Breeding may be the way for now.

Thx

[toddnbecka]

I wasn't really planning to breed/raise mice, but nobody local sells live young ones, and I'm not driving 3 hrs round trip for feeders every week. Then if someone isn't hungry what do you do with the unweaned baby rodents? My carpet python wouldn't take f/t when I brought it home, had to start it out on live. After that the bugger decided f/t were alright after all, but it's still easier and more economical to raise my own until my little ones grow out a bit more. The Okeetee is still eating pinks, and the rest will take hoppers or even weaned young ones.
Keep trying with the f/t, much easier to deal with in the long run, but you have to feed her in the meantime.

[2Gs]

We talked last night about trying the f/t again. It is easier than searching every where for small live feeders. I spoke to a BRB breeder in California the other day & he said she may not eat the f/t for a few months until she gets hungry enough and gives in. He also said to keep trying with the f/t. It's weird because she is small as you can see the picture above and yet she can get that mouse down in 20 minutes.

Thx for the advice

[Tsubaki]

Heat up the f/t prey in some warm water, wiggle it with feeding tongs as if it is alive. You could also try braining it/ leaving it overnight or a few other options to get them to eat f/t. Might be she's not hungry enough to consider it like you already stated.

[2Gs]

Hi Tsubaki

When we first got her we did exactly what you say. For almost 3 months she never would take it. We tried once a week for weeks thawing it in warm water, held it with tongs in front her face & even tapped her nose with it & she showed not one once of interest.

Well, We went & bought a live mouse & it fell off the tongs in the tank. She killed it in 2 seconds & ate it with minutes. Now after having difficulty finding pinkies we are going to try the f/t again.
A breeder I spoke to in California said to me just keep trying the f/t & eventually she will give in when she gets hungry enough & eat it. I didn't know it was difficult to care for BRB but we are new at this & care for her.

Also. I should have known better but when we fed her a few days ago & she coiled around the mouse & I foolishly reached in the tank to put fresh after in her bowl & she struck me good in the hand, drew blood but we laughed. I was always curious what it felt like to get bit... Now I know! lol

[Snakesitter]

That mouse is really big for her. As others have suggested, if she won't eat f/t, keep trying, but get a trio of adults to produce your own. Note baby rainbows should be fed hoppers -- mouse pinks are waaay too small.

Rainbows are typically not fuzzy eaters, but this year I've had several babies that insisted on live -- about one of ten, which is crazy because every other year I've had zero. Must be global warming. ;-)