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Butter Feeder Picky

How many snakes do you have?

  • Total voters
    34
NannyCloud

NannyCloud

New member
My new Butter corn hatchling wouldn't eat when I first got it. I had tried to feed him live and he wasn't interested. The first time I offered him frozen he wolfed it down...now one and a half weeks later he isn't interested. He is very active and has constant water but he just isn't interested in eating and I heard that corns aren't picky. I have a male who would eat all day unless I stopped him(which I do...don't worry).

I know that he'll be fine without food for awhile but are there any tips to how I can get him into the feeding mode? How can I encourage him?

Someone told me to keep his cage dark a few days before I feed him...does that really help him?
 
erm...the butt?

Making slits in a hot pinkie will definitely spur the snake on to eating. If that doesn't work you can try braining it. Small hole in the skull, squeeze a bit of fluid out and get your hand away before it is seen as food too.

Scenting sometimes works, lizard, larger rodents.

Others suggest washing with dove detergent.

There are many things to con the corn into eating.
 
chemical69 said:
yea poke it in the head stomache and butt the smells should drive the snakes senses crazy to eat!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't poke a picky feeder in the face... Sometimes it seems as if that can turn off their appetites.

I would try to keep it as stress free as possible. Try feeding in a secure container in a quiet darkened room. Introduce the mouse warmed up, with a few slits cut into its back and leave them be for the night. Sometimes all they need is privacy and time.

Good luck :)
 
Where in NC are you? I usually keep a few lizards, and will try to scent the pink with that if I'm dealing with a stubborn feeder. That and braining works very often.
 
If the snake ate f/t before, it will again. Are you feeding in a separate container? How long are you leaving the snake and mouse together? Is the room quiet when it's feeding time? Is the snake about to shed?

Dark for days isn't necessary. I'd hold off on scenting, since the snake ate for you before. Just be patient and try again in 2-3 days. Minimize handling and other disruptions until it's feeding regularly. Don't worry at this point, though. They can go a LONG time between feedings with no problem as long as their environment is right.
 
Yes, I put him in a seperate container...I always do that will al my snakes.

Good News! I tried to feed him last night and he ate. At first he wasn't interested(I kept it warm) but then I cut a few slits in the belly and he took it right away. He is a good little eater for the most part I think that I might just have to cut the pinkie from now on. I think I just had to get up the guts to slice the mouse but I should be fine now.

Thanks for all the good tips I have written them down and will try to remember them when ever I come against any of my snakes being picky.

Thanks Again Everyone!
 
Thanks to the experts

Thanks for the tips. It would never have occurred to me to "liberate the native mouse smells"...haha...but looking forward to trying it with a couple of my reluctant feeders.
 
I'm glad he ate for you!!!!

One of the HARDEST things for me to do is to actually wait until the next scheduled feeding to feed a problem feeder. However, I now will do that from now on as all my problem feeders are eating again!!! I guess that "extra time" is where they mull about how hungry they are and how they'll immediately attack the next food item. LOL.
 
Thank You All!

I just want to thank-you all for your great suggestions! I really appreciated it!

You are some of the few people on this forum who know what they are talking about when they answer a question....
 
Superb Advice

chemical69 said:
yea poke it in the head stomache and butt the smells should drive the snakes senses crazy to eat!
Click to expand...
Thanks, chemical69, I understood your post loud and clear. I tried poking the PINKIE with a straight pin in the brain, stomach, and or tail end. I had never heard of this, but it worked like Moses parting the Red Sea---miraculously. The snakes went crazy. Don't get lost, I'll be coming back to you for more sage advice. If any future advice is as good as this, you need a special medal. Just out of curiosity, if you feel like sharing the secret of poking the pinkies, I'd love to hear it. You have a great future ahead of you.
 
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