they really did turn out nice. I’m just glad they made it. I love all the ringers.
Everyone has shed and been put into their own tubs. I have them all labeled 1-7 for now to keep them straight for feedings. I bought some frozen rat pinkies a couple days ago. I warmed up 3 today since I feed all of the snakes Wednesday nights. 2 of them ate (labeled 4 and 5). I’ll try again with the others this weekend. About to make a big order from rodentpro to stock up on food for all my snakes. They have a sale going right now. It’s way cheaper than buying from the pet store. I only bought some from them this time to compare sizes in person to figure out what to feed my babies. Hopefully everyone eats soon. Their dad has been refusing for a couple weeks, which is rare for him. His weight is good so not super worried about him. Mom is going into blue, but she still ate tonight. She’s gained half the weight back she lost from having them.
I told my daughter not to mess with the babies at all the next few weeks so that they can all get settled and eating well. She knows that when snakes miss a meal, we dont mess with them until they eat again (right now that includes her favorite Mr. Banana, the clutch’s daddy). This is one of the reasons I keep so many different animals because when someone is on a break, she has plenty of others to love on.
So far 6/7 have eaten. The last to shed (spider calico) is holding out for some reason. It will bite it, but wont grab and wrap it. With several of them, I just put the rat pinkie in the tub and left it and they ate. I’ve tried just leaving it in and that isn’t working with this one. Gotta have 1 diffcult one in the bunch
I guess I’ll be binging research to find more tips to get this one to eat since everything I already know isnt working.
So @hlynn2224 Try unthawing a small mouse in hot water, Then take it out when it is still very nice and warm, squeeze the water out with paper towels and then hold it in the middle of its body in front of the baby and see if it will take the mouse……. It’s worth a try…….
Some people have recommended mice.
Everything is warm when I feed to be sure that it seems alive. Ive tried making it look like its crawling. I just tried again and it will bite then let go. So i left it in for awhile. It still didnt eat. All of the other babies are eating. My snakes even eat when they are in blue usually lol. And dad Banana has refused for 3 weeks now, but the babies mom Cali is smashing food
I might try a fuzzy mouse next.
Well I will say that you have hunger on your side. Or the little one may still have some yolk left inside of its little belly.
The only other thing is when do you offer food? I always wait until it gets dark or very close to it. when I get a new baby, even if it’s an established eater. It just seems like they eat better after dark….
Evenings and barely use any light (just enough for me to see what I’m doing).
Well then you may just have to wait it out and maybe start thinking about assist feeding down the road. I am so sorry you are having this problem @hlynn2224! But it will work out. Just keep an eye on the little one’s weight……
Will do. Hopefully she eats this week.
Still cant get that 1 baby to eat. Its at 60g now. I tried to assist feed it with no luck. I might just lose that one. I’ll try again next feeding day.
All the other babies are eating great. I have to count my blessings I guess.
Ok try to assist feed a mouse tail. At least you hopefully you can get something into its little belly and maybe start a feeding response. Sometimes mouse tails work better because it’s easier to assist a mouse tail.
Don’t give up on her yet! Let me know if you are successful. And I would try day after tomorrow.
Ok I’ll try a tail next. I’m reading about troubleshooting feeding here on the forums. I have everyone on paper towel right now, but the rest of my bp are on a natural mulch substrate. Im going to try switching the substrate for this one and see if that makes a difference
I just wish I could have gotten it to assist feed. It was determined to spit out the rat pinkie though. All I have to learn how to do it are youtube videos lol. Normally I can figure things out just from that.
You might also try a smaller item like a mouse fuzzy.
Does the non-feeder have a small, tight, dark hide? Are the walls of the enclosure blacked out? Have you tried leaving the dead rodent in the enclosure overnight?
Just peeked in on this thread, gorgeous clutch!
Rat pinks can be a bit on the small side…and sometimes weirdly, BPs will ignore them if they’re not furred.
I would try a mouse hopper. I had two problem babies who refused to get on the rat fuzzy bandwagon. Both immediately went for mouse hoppers.
If you do try to assist feed again, the suggestion for trying a mouse tail may be easier for you to do. Much less fight than a mouse fuzzy or rat pink.
Also, the change in bedding can help. That trick worked for one I had been assist feeding for a while last year. The small right hide is also another good suggestion as well.
I did an assist feeding with a rat pinkie. She kept it down. I’m hoping getting food in her will stimulate her to eat. I’ll try feeding her on Wednesday when I feed everyone else.
Every baby has a small low hide. I dont have the sides blacked out. They are kept in a dark room with no windows so it stays pretty dark for them. I will try changing some things up if she refuses again Wednesday.
I weighed them for the first time since hatching when I cleaned their tubs tonight.
Baby 1 is the problem child
Congratulations @hlynn2224! I’m so proud of you! I would give her enough time to digest her meal before you offer another one. You don’t want her regurgitating.
If she doesn’t accept the next rat pink on her own then you may have to assist again until she understands what she’s supposed to do. The main thing is that you got some calories in her. She is pretty small compared to the rest of the clutch but once she starts eating consistently and on her own she will catch up with her siblings.
Congratulations again on getting over a big hurdle with that sweet little girl! Assist feeding is not easy. Keep up the great work and keep the updates coming @hlynn2224!
1 is the problem child? looks nice and plump. I would never have expected that to be the one that’s not eating. Or are they just puffed up for the photo? Lol.
I hope they keeps eating for you and doesn’t stay and issue for long.
This is my problem child this year
She looks a little more plump in photos but she’s got the tail suck going on. =_=
I finally got her eating, but she only wants live mouse hoppers. I’m waiting on 2 pregnant mice for her now and none of the shops have mice the right size. It’s a terrible waiting game.
She is gorgeous @armiyana! It’s hard to believe she is a problem child!