advice please

[zard]

hi guys, could some one please advise me as to how to get my bredli to feed.

we have had him for approx 3 weeks now and he has not eaten (escaped from his holding cage and took 3 days to find him) im not panicking YET but just feel now is the time to get some advice as to how to entice the little cutie to eat.

[dobermanmick]

Have you got some more info ? where he is being kept (room high traffic area?),whats he kept in ,how old is he ,has he eaten before and what methods have you used in trying to feed him ?

[zard]

ok where he is only gets a small amount of traffic in the afternoons, i have tried giving him fresh born live pinkys left overnight, defrosted pinkies rubbed on an adult mouse, another rubbed on a skink and ive even tried (i read somewhere) blowing on him to get him to strike but hes too placid.

[buck]

Try having a read through this....

http://www.aussiepythons.com/index.p...ewtopic&t=8743


The "braining" method worked a treat for me with one of my Diamond hatchlings.

[zard]

he was eating when purchased. he was born (hatched) 18/1/05
he is kept in a small vivarium.

[zard]

thanks buck.. reading now

[Simon_Archibald]

This sort of thing can happen quite easily...most likely due to husbandry problems. Check your setup.

Make sure the snake has a warm end temp of about 32-33 degrees, cool end should be around 25 degrees. The snake should have a selection of hide boxes which are only just large enough for him to fit it, but small enough to ensure he can feel fairly secure.

There should be adequate but not excessive ventilation...the snake should not be subjected to any breeze or the like. A small water bowl at the cool end will do and a branch or 2 also.

After you've setup all the basic husbandry, leave the snake for another week. I mean leave it alone. Only go into or near the enclosure if you need to change water or if the snake has defecated. Handling is not on at this stage.

After the week, try feeding the snake on a "brained" pinkie as described in that thread. When you're going to feed, get ready beforehand. Don't be standing in front of the enclosure preparing it. You should just walk in, open the enclosure with mouse in tongs and wave in gently in front of him (not approaching him too quickly) and see if you get a response. If not just leave some food in there overnight and leave the snake be. Check in the morning.

Also, he's probably come from a breeder who fed dead prey (I'm assuming as it's most common) so don't bother with all this live-feeding freshly born mice stuff.

Hope that helps.

Simon Archibald

[zard]

thanks Simon thats great.. the breeder i purchased him from fed live prey so thats why i tried that first, thinking maybe he didnt know any different..

ill try braining (ewww.. shudder) and see how i go.. his cage is at temps suggested but his hide is an old upside down pot so maybe ill look for something smaller for him. i also have a small fan at the cool end just enough to circulate the air do you think i should disconnect it?

[Simon_Archibald]

Definately get rid of the fan!!!! That's probably the problem.

Simon Archibald