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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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 Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject: Feeding question... |
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Okay so I got Gary eating again. As some of you might remember he was off feeding for about 5 or 6 months. He has fed every week for the last three weeks or so.
The problem i'm having is he'll only eat mice, and only 1 at a time. When I say one at a time I mean one every week. I'll throw one in there and he'll eat it and i'll wait a little while (1/2an hour or so) and throw another one in there and he won't touch it. I've tried rats of every size and color live/FT/PK and he just won't eat em.
Obviously this isn't sufficent for him although I am glad he's eating something it's better than nothing, but he should be eating small or medium sized rats not one adult mouse every week..???
I tried a small rat yesterday and nothing so I removed the rat and about an hour later I placed an adult mouse in there and he struck at it and missed. He hit the back of the thermometer and it had to of hurt, but he seemed okay afterwards just yawning a lot to adjust his jaw, but no visible damage done. I went home for lunch today and threw the mouse in there again and he took it right away. Still would not take a second one though. Him striking and missing really had nothing to do with this just worried me a little, but he still ate after that.....
Here's some pics any suggestions on getting him back to rats or possibly eating more than one mouse per sitting?????Or should I quit worrying. I don't think he is loosing weight. Then again I don't have any thing to weigh him with. Just by looks......
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Sorry now that i'm kind of learning how to take descent pics I can't stop lol
For info he is in a rack temps are dead on 90 and humidity is 80. Desert snow substrate....
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2045
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Feeding question... |
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| ryancbj22 wrote: | | quit worrying |
Adult males tend to sometimes slow down with feeding whereas growing hatchlings tend to feed more. This is true for adult females as well since they need to build up their fat reserves for breeding.
It's said that snakes in general don't feed in the wild as often as they do in captivity. It's ironic because they arguably get more exercise in the wild opposed to captive born snakes that live in a tank or rack-system all their lives.
He seems to enjoy mice now so I would suggest continue feeding him mice and offer a rat every now and then to see if he switches back. I have males that grew up on rats, had the taste of a mouse and never went back to rats. In the same breath I have some that eat both and some that won't touch a rat. Go figure. 
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reply Ron.
What should I do if he keeps just taking one? Just keep on that track and keep trying to get him to eat more than one?
I know it's good that he's at least eating again, but one mouse is not significant for him.....
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a_green
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 664
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Have you tried tucking a second mouse right into his mouth as he's just finishing swallowing the first? The swallow reflex might just make him keep going.
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ryancbj22
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 747
Location: Columbus Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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That is a thought.... I'll have to kill it first and PUT SOME GLOVES ON LOL, but that's not a bad idea.
Have you tried this? I would be a little concerned about a regurge if he sees my hand coming at him???? It does sound very plausible though...
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RonCrawford
Site Admin
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2045
Location: Pottsville, PA (USA)
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Why force him to eat more than he wants to eat?
"Ball pythons and other cold-blooded animals can go a long time without the need for food because they don’t rely on food to produce body heat. That’s why ball pythons can eat a meal once a week and we have to eat a meal just about every day."
Source: Why do Ball Pythons Require an External Heat Source?
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deborahbroadus
Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 6868
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| RonCrawford wrote: | Why force him to eat more than he wants to eat?
"Ball pythons and other cold-blooded animals can go a long time without the need for food because they don’t rely on food to produce body heat. That’s why ball pythons can eat a meal once a week and we have to eat a meal just about every day."
Source: Why do Ball Pythons Require an External Heat Source? |
THANK YOU!  I agree.
If the bp is growing, eating..defecating..why fix what isn't broke? There is no legal formula that says they must eat so much or such and such..these are only guidelines. 
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