Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Elias1 · Original Poster #1 08-Dec-06, 04:00 PM

Hey Guys,
need some thoughts on a BHP that's not feeding. I purchased him 5 weeks ago from a guy who said he had been feeding him day old chicks. It was suppose to be 14months old. Two days after I settled him into his new enclosure, he did a big dump. We can assume he was feeding (or at least been force fed), before I got him. I've deprived him of chicks and tried to feed him everything from weanling mice to sub adult rats. No interest. I even thawed some adult mice and sat them under a clucky hen overnight, to pick up the scent. Two tongue flicks was the best I got. Should I persist or give in to the 5 chicks per feed that it was getting? The cats caught a live field mouse yesterday and (don't hold this against me), I dropped it into the enclosure. NO INTEREST. I'm almost worried now that even if I revert to chicks, it may refuse them also. Any thoughts would be great. Cheers.

JungleRob · #2 08-Dec-06, 04:13 PM

If you're really concerned PM Trueblue, he's very knowledgeable . It sounds like it hasn't been that long since it's last feed and you may be worrying unnecessarily.

ad · #3 08-Dec-06, 04:24 PM

Mate, Never ever do that again with a wild rodent. Be thankful he didnt take it.
Clean his tank too,

Try a chicken again to make sure it is not just a stressed animal and wont eat anything at all.
Then wait several weeks (4-6 depending on his condition) until he is very hungry and try a rodent again,
Cheers
Adam

ad · #4 08-Dec-06, 04:26 PM

Just re-read your post - Don't do that with the mice under the chickens overnight thing ever again either!!!!!

shamous1 · #5 08-Dec-06, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ad

Mate, Never ever do that again with a wild rodent. Be thankful he didnt take it.
Clean his tank too,

Try a chicken again to make sure it is not just a stressed animal and wont eat anything at all.
Then wait several weeks (4-6 depending on his condition) until he is very hungry and try a rodent again,
Cheers
Adam

Totally agree with ad. Your animal can get parasites etc if it had of eaten it. The mouse could also have eaten ratsack somewhere and your snake would have been a definite goner

TrueBlue · #6 08-Dec-06, 04:34 PM

Get a day old chick and after killing it humanely, freeze it for a few days, then cut a hunk of meat ans down from it and thaw. Then rub the meat and down all over a young rat, this almost always works. After senting this way 1-2 times on average the bhp should start taking unsented rats.
A chicken stock cube mixed in water, and then dunk rat in also sometimes works.

Elias1 · Original Poster #7 08-Dec-06, 04:39 PM

Look, I knew I was going to get roasted about the live field mouse, but I thought it best to fess up with all the info from the start. I appreciate the problems associated with it, so lets just take it as a given that it's a "no-no".

Elias1 · Original Poster #8 08-Dec-06, 04:42 PM

Trueblue - thanks for the tip, sounds a little more productive than trying to hatch a thawed mouse under a chicken LOL.

Tsidasa · #9 08-Dec-06, 04:44 PM

I wouldn't say you got roasted, people said just dont do it again

hope your snakey starts eating soon!

stencorp69 · #10 08-Dec-06, 06:47 PM

Had the same issue with a PP BHP. I took the following steps which worked fine;

1. Every week tried a thawed day old chick - left it in cage over night
2. Forth week after arrival turned the heat up to 33C down the hot end during the day and 27C during the night.
3. Sixth week with the temps still up she ate

I put it down to stress and getting used to the new environment and temps. She will not eat if I'm around or the lights are on at night, but she now will eat 6 day olds in a feed and could eat continuously if she had her way.

zulu · #11 08-Dec-06, 07:41 PM

when i get one that will onley take chicks or quails i defrost a few frozen chicks in a bucket of warm water,take the chicks out and feed them off then add a couple of frozen rats to the same water so they are chicken stocked and they are usually eaten elias.

Elias1 · Original Poster #12 09-Dec-06, 07:40 AM

Thanks to everyone that had something to offer for my problematic BHP. Most of the suggestions are revolving arounf two key points so it seems to me pretty clear what I need to do. I'll keep you all posted. Gratefully indebted!

IsK67 · #13 09-Dec-06, 08:14 AM

Have you tried braining (Poking a hole in its skull) a mouse? This usually gets them excited. I wouldn't be leaving prey lying around anywhere overnight. Once it starts to defrost bacteria start to come into play and can be dangerous.

Also try feeding it after dark. This can work as well with reluctant feeders.

Good luck.
IsK