problem feeder..

snakers55 · 12-08-04, 10:59 PM

Hey everyone, I have a little coastal carpet python that is approaching 1 year of age, and he will not eat. He has never had a meal in his life on his own, I have assist fed him a few pinky mice or pinky rat heads, sometimes he eats them,sometimes he doesn't.. He's interested in food when I offer it, but when he strikes, if he does, he doesn't constrict it.. I havn't tried live yet, but I will this week I think, but I've tried a few other things.. Can anyone tell me methods that worked for you to get your babies to start feeding?? Thanks!

snakers55 · 12-08-04, 11:01 PM

Also, he is setup in a 24" neodesha cage with a 25 watt bulb on a dimmer, the temp is right, he has a hidebox,and branches,plants to climb on, a water dish..

Double J · 12-08-04, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by snakers55
the temp is right

What exactly does that mean?

Ben Nickelson · 12-08-04, 11:05 PM

I would use a live rat pink or fuzzy mouse. If he doesn't eat that I would put it in a bit smaller of a cage, give him a week or two to settle in and try again.

snakers55 · 12-08-04, 11:05 PM

Sorry, the temperature is in the 80's.. So he's warm enough (correct me if I'm wrong)..

Ben Nickelson · 12-08-04, 11:08 PM

Does he have a hot spot of about 90-92 and a cool in the mid to low 80's?

Tim_Cranwill · 12-08-04, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by snakers55
the temp is right,

???? Can you be more specific? What temp? The warm side or the cool side? They need more than one temp. I would shoot for about 80F on the cool side and about 91F on the warm side (+/- 2F).

I would try (mind you, I still need more info about your setup from you) a live (preferably stunned or restrained) hopper mouse under CLOSE supervision. If/when the snake grabs the mouse, make sure the mouse does NOT have its mouth free to chew on the snake. If it does, have a set of pliers or something handy to hold the mouse's mouth away from the snake's body.

What you're doing with the assist feeding pinky mice and such, I would say is likely causing more stress than the benefit the snake is getting from the food. But we need more info before we can really give much useful advice...

snakers55 · 12-08-04, 11:14 PM

Ok, I'll have to double check the exact temperatures at either end of the cage tomrrow. I havn't assist fed him too many times, I'd say 3 since I got him last spring, he looks fine though, hasn't lost weight that I can tell..