Discussion
I will post a few pics but I picked up a 2 month old Royal Python from Pets at Home - who were fantastic btw - and he had fed the previous sunday and I tried to feed him on sunday as planned and he wasn't interested and again yesterday and he seemed a bit more keen but still didn't feed.
The pet shop suggested placing the dead mouse on a piece of card and letting him make his own mind up, other sources say you need to wiggle it about a bit...is there a "best" way?
I'm assuming re-homing has just put him off his appetite for a while?
thoughts welcome
The pet shop suggested placing the dead mouse on a piece of card and letting him make his own mind up, other sources say you need to wiggle it about a bit...is there a "best" way?
I'm assuming re-homing has just put him off his appetite for a while?
thoughts welcome
Feed at night when the lights are off in the viv, also try heating up the food item so it is still warm when you try to feed the snake. Did you check what it was eating originally, some Royals will only eat one type of food ,if it has been eating rat pups and you are trying mice the different smell will put it off.
thanks guys, he seems to be settling in quite well, i'm increasing the amount of handling slowly and the food is consistent - I hadn't thought to heat it up but they were at room temp.
I'll try feeding at night next time too.
he's got a little house to hide in but is quite happy at mooching around the viv and having a bathe...
I'll try feeding at night next time too.
he's got a little house to hide in but is quite happy at mooching around the viv and having a bathe...
Could be numerous reasons. Sometimes as simple as a bad batch of food, like another poster said the rodents smell different. It's been a long time since I've had snakes and thankfully none of mine were ever fussy eaters.
You could cut the food as suggested, use tongs to wriggle it and tempt the snake... Is the viv at correct temperatures, the snake is happy and has enough foliage, hidey places, etc, how big is the viv? they don't like big open spaces. Is the snake due a shed? They won't eat if they are. It might need it's privacy for a while, maybe lay off the handling until its eaten.
Nightmare (iirc) on here is a source of snake knowledge.
You could cut the food as suggested, use tongs to wriggle it and tempt the snake... Is the viv at correct temperatures, the snake is happy and has enough foliage, hidey places, etc, how big is the viv? they don't like big open spaces. Is the snake due a shed? They won't eat if they are. It might need it's privacy for a while, maybe lay off the handling until its eaten.
Nightmare (iirc) on here is a source of snake knowledge.
I can only mirror Gretchens comments to be honest....but some additional thoughts
1. If you can, it's much better to not wiggle stuff around. You don't want a large python to get used to striking at moving stuff if possible......I speak from experience! Admittedly it's the only way I can get my corn snake to eat anything, but then it's small enough to not really matter
2. My opinion is that most people massively over feed snakes. In the wild they are often opportunity feeders....only go hunting when really hungry and that's months apart in meals. You may find it gets rather a lot keener if you leave it a week or so. They really don't need much (London zoo has a Burmese that hasn't eaten anything for 4 years and seems absolutely fine!) so don't worry about it starving!
I think I'd just give it a while, as suggested to settle in properly. It's very good sign if its just mooching around though - means it likely isn't at all stressed
I used to have one when I was younger and I tried everything to get it to eat dead stuff and failed miserably. Tried all of the above and it didn't bat an eyelid.
The difference in it when I put it's first live mouse in was incredible. It's an awesome experience, if a little sad.
Still recommend persevering though as getting live mice is a hassle
The difference in it when I put it's first live mouse in was incredible. It's an awesome experience, if a little sad.
Still recommend persevering though as getting live mice is a hassle
thanks for the pointers guys
he was really active on sunday and I read that as he was hungry, he shed midweek with no problems and the viv is fairly small but the one recomended, he seems happy enough either in his house or batheing.
i did wiggle his sunday mouse and he seemed interested to the point of rolling over it and curling around it but he didn't take it.
I'll try again probably sunday, but i'm a littel worried that such a young snake, that has only fed once in 4 weeks isn't interested.
one further Q. once he does feed should I leave him alone for say 24 hours before handling again? will he be more placid or more grumpy? so far handling has been fine.
cheers again,
he was really active on sunday and I read that as he was hungry, he shed midweek with no problems and the viv is fairly small but the one recomended, he seems happy enough either in his house or batheing.
i did wiggle his sunday mouse and he seemed interested to the point of rolling over it and curling around it but he didn't take it.
I'll try again probably sunday, but i'm a littel worried that such a young snake, that has only fed once in 4 weeks isn't interested.
one further Q. once he does feed should I leave him alone for say 24 hours before handling again? will he be more placid or more grumpy? so far handling has been fine.
cheers again,
I've not read prior so I come from my own experience.
Royals can be fussy eaters as mine likes white rats rather than darker ones.
Hold by tongs and a little extra heat from the bulb on his food before eating helps his senses.
Sometimes a little teasing helps but royals can become shy and its possible to wiggle to much.
Leave the snake after its fed or it can spit it out. 24 hours not required but think of the snake rather than wanting to handle.
Had Trevor 8 years and he's just got back into hunting mode.
Royals can be fussy eaters as mine likes white rats rather than darker ones.
Hold by tongs and a little extra heat from the bulb on his food before eating helps his senses.
Sometimes a little teasing helps but royals can become shy and its possible to wiggle to much.
Leave the snake after its fed or it can spit it out. 24 hours not required but think of the snake rather than wanting to handle.
Had Trevor 8 years and he's just got back into hunting mode.
So how many of us owners/former owners have suddenly found themselves looking completely ridiculous trying to puppet a warmed dead mouse in front of a completely disinterested snake?
I can confirm that a dead mouse performing a riverdance in front of a snake raises next to no interest.
I can confirm that a dead mouse performing a riverdance in front of a snake raises next to no interest.
Done that dance many times and always feel like an idiot! The Burmese is just happy to Hoover them up off the floor...which is good, cos wiggling ween pigs is bloody hard work!
Agree with C3ber completely....my snakes definitely go into 'hunting mode'. Until they do, I never bother feeding.....
Agree with C3ber completely....my snakes definitely go into 'hunting mode'. Until they do, I never bother feeding.....
Warm the head of the mouse in warm water. They use their heat pits around their mouth to detect warmth. If the head of the prey is warm, it'll give the snake something to aim for.
It's more stressful for the owner than the snake, when they don't eat for a while.
When my Royal was young, she wouldn't eat every 7 days. Every 10-14 suited her.
It's more stressful for the owner than the snake, when they don't eat for a while.
When my Royal was young, she wouldn't eat every 7 days. Every 10-14 suited her.
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