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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
 Posted - 01/07/2008 : 18:27:31
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just been reading through the 'Off Corn' stuff about Royals, seems like quite a few corn-owners have them too. And quite a few are fussy feeders! I've only had Queenie a week and he's refused a feed twice, I realise he's not really had much time to settle in yet so I'm not overly worried at this point. I've read lots of things on what to do with fussy feeders but.....
what, in people's experience, does actually work?? |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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n/a
deleted
300 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 18:37:03
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| if was you id just let him setle in for another couple day and try agian |
cb07 - male - corn snake
cb07 - male - red tailed boa
cb06 - female - salmon pink tarantula
wc - male-female - asian forest scorpions
indian stick insects
2 african land snails
soon to be mine-
4 red bellied toads or a emperor scorpion cant decide :P |
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n/a
deleted
300 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 18:37:03
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| if was you id just let him setle in for another couple day and try agian |
cb07 - male - corn snake
cb07 - male - red tailed boa
cb06 - female - salmon pink tarantula
wc - male-female - asian forest scorpions
indian stick insects
2 african land snails
soon to be mine-
4 red bellied toads or a emperor scorpion cant decide :P |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 19:20:28
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try gerbils their natural food source.
dark coloured mice - not white ones.
night feeding
pushing the nose of the mouse through the lips of the python face on & kind of gently wiggling it a bit to get it into the mouth. then see if the snake takes over - not quite the same as assist/force feeding.
try to replicate what a live mouse would do if let into the viv. so kind of walk it around the viv (using long forceps) over objects stop then wiggle it around as if the mouse is walking & exploring again but trying to get the snakes attention at the same time. This is better for a python housed alone as if one snake did get tempted by the scent it could strike the other snake by mistake. |
Edited by - n/a on 01/07/2008 19:22:01 |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 19:20:28
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try gerbils their natural food source.
dark coloured mice - not white ones.
night feeding
pushing the nose of the mouse through the lips of the python face on & kind of gently wiggling it a bit to get it into the mouth. then see if the snake takes over - not quite the same as assist/force feeding.
try to replicate what a live mouse would do if let into the viv. so kind of walk it around the viv (using long forceps) over objects stop then wiggle it around as if the mouse is walking & exploring again but trying to get the snakes attention at the same time. This is better for a python housed alone as if one snake did get tempted by the scent it could strike the other snake by mistake. |
Edited by - n/a on 01/07/2008 19:22:01 |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 19:28:28
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| What a good title :D |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 19:28:28
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| What a good title :D |
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n/a
deleted
201 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 09:38:14
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| I tried just about everything with my new royal that i got in May. Firstly i left him to settle in for 11 days before i went anywhere near him then gradually started to show him my hand in his tank for a few days to show i was no threat then handled for a few miniutes each day before i tried to feed but he didnt show any interest. I tried night feeding, day feeding, taking out of his viv and trying in a RUB or leaving him in his viv and feeding him there, even leaving the feed in overnight, i tried refreezing a thawed mouse as i read some where that may work and i even went to my local pet shop to get some sawdust that had come out of a gerbils cage to make the mice smell, but unfortunately all to no avail, eventually i did what moneymaker as just said and wiggled the mouse under his bottom lip until he opened his mouth and then he took it. He seemed to take it easily once he`d realised what it was so maybe he might recognise it more easily in future, but i doubt it. |
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Edited by - n/a on 02/07/2008 09:39:09 |
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n/a
deleted
201 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 09:38:14
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| I tried just about everything with my new royal that i got in May. Firstly i left him to settle in for 11 days before i went anywhere near him then gradually started to show him my hand in his tank for a few days to show i was no threat then handled for a few miniutes each day before i tried to feed but he didnt show any interest. I tried night feeding, day feeding, taking out of his viv and trying in a RUB or leaving him in his viv and feeding him there, even leaving the feed in overnight, i tried refreezing a thawed mouse as i read some where that may work and i even went to my local pet shop to get some sawdust that had come out of a gerbils cage to make the mice smell, but unfortunately all to no avail, eventually i did what moneymaker as just said and wiggled the mouse under his bottom lip until he opened his mouth and then he took it. He seemed to take it easily once he`d realised what it was so maybe he might recognise it more easily in future, but i doubt it. |
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Edited by - n/a on 02/07/2008 09:39:09 |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 10:23:31
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nice one 
you could also try gently tapping the tip of the tail with the mouse too some may start to rattle but it quickly gets their attention & most of the time they get defensive. What then happens is you wiggle the food item in front of them & hopefully thet strike in aggression. dont worry if you have to do this each time you feed for a while it wont make the snake aggressive when handled etc. the idea is that the snake realizes the food & you wont need to do this any longer anyway. if the snake retreats either try the same tail tapping technique later with a different mouse or the next day. Other wise keep tapping the tail & wiggling the food item in front of the snake maybe even gently nudging the nose of the snake too until it takes the pinky/mouse. it might help to keep the pinky pressed gentlly against the snake mouth/lips to encourage the snake to open up.
Dont give up but at the same time dont stress the snake if it really isn't interested. if it tries to escape or slither off quickly it wont work - til next time lol. the attention span to feed is thought to be 10 to 15 minutes so after that it's unlikely the snake will still be interested in feeding. |
Edited by - n/a on 02/07/2008 10:25:47 |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 10:23:31
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nice one
you could also try gently tapping the tip of the tail with the mouse too some may start to rattle but it quickly gets their attention & most of the time they get defensive. What then happens is you wiggle the food item in front of them & hopefully thet strike in aggression. dont worry if you have to do this each time you feed for a while it wont make the snake aggressive when handled etc. the idea is that the snake realizes the food & you wont need to do this any longer anyway. if the snake retreats either try the same tail tapping technique later with a different mouse or the next day. Other wise keep tapping the tail & wiggling the food item in front of the snake maybe even gently nudging the nose of the snake too until it takes the pinky/mouse. it might help to keep the pinky pressed gentlly against the snake mouth/lips to encourage the snake to open up.
Dont give up but at the same time dont stress the snake if it really isn't interested. if it tries to escape or slither off quickly it wont work - til next time lol. the attention span to feed is thought to be 10 to 15 minutes so after that it's unlikely the snake will still be interested in feeding. |
Edited by - n/a on 02/07/2008 10:25:47 |
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n/a
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891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 10:28:41
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just realized that technique is for corn snakes LOL not royals need more coffee (done this last night too)    |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 10:28:41
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| just realized that technique is for corn snakes LOL not royals need more coffee (done this last night too) |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 13:00:24
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quote:
Originally posted by matty18714
What a good title :D
it was a flash of inspiration..... or alcohol???  |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 13:00:24
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quote:
Originally posted by matty18714
What a good title :D
it was a flash of inspiration..... or alcohol??? |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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dazb
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1278 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 16:51:57
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have you tried braining the food first.
not sure if it will work for you, or if it is ok for royals, but i read somewhere that if you split the head and expose the brain the snake can smell the blood/brain and becomes more interested.
i know it may seem i little disgusting but it if it works, its worth a try.
wot you think moneymaker |
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Edited by - dazb on 02/07/2008 16:53:17 |
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dazb
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
1278 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 16:51:57
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have you tried braining the food first.
not sure if it will work for you, or if it is ok for royals, but i read somewhere that if you split the head and expose the brain the snake can smell the blood/brain and becomes more interested.
i know it may seem i little disgusting but it if it works, its worth a try.
wot you think moneymaker |
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Edited by - dazb on 02/07/2008 16:53:17 |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 17:18:17
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yeah I brained the last pinkie, it's not as bad as it sounds as their skulls are very soft. I'll try everyone's ideas over the next few weeks, thanks folks  will keep you posted! |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 17:18:17
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| yeah I brained the last pinkie, it's not as bad as it sounds as their skulls are very soft. I'll try everyone's ideas over the next few weeks, thanks folks will keep you posted! |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 17:22:20
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Now I am getting absolutely confused if this thread is about royals still or not lol.
as far as I know I've not heard of royals eating pinky mice they're too small they should start on hoppers/small mice. |
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n/a
deleted
891 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 17:22:20
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Now I am getting absolutely confused if this thread is about royals still or not lol.
as far as I know I've not heard of royals eating pinky mice they're too small they should start on hoppers/small mice. |
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