Feeding Tips

[stephenie191]

As i don't fancy reading through the whole thred I'll tell you the method i've found the best fo me and hope it hasn't already been said


I put he none-feeder in a small tub, (if it's a fully grown corns for exampl i try a 30L RUB)

I fill it with crumpled up newspaper so the whole tub is one big hide in a scence.

I then leave to settle, on the evening i warm a defrost mouse in water and then drop it at the bottm of the tub.

I think half the time its not so much what you offer but how secure it feels in the tub.

I then Leave the snake alone for the whole night and quicklt check if the mouse has gone the next morning.

Just wanted to share (ohh and make sure you put a heat mat on the tub)

[NeVaEh]

Just joined this forum seems to have some good info, been worried sick as one of my corns never eaten in the last five weeks, gonna try a few of these ideas, feel alot better knowing theres snakes out there going alot longer without food and still ok, been debating taking her to the vets but i shall try a few of the ideas first, cheers ppl x

[mrcarlxx]

if live feeding is only fround apon then how can they prosacute?...also i would imagen that the pet shop would surely ask q's if one was to go buying live mice one a week lol..

this is a grey area for me that i would like for someone to clear up...also i would like to add that my snake has no probs with d/f mice so this is just a quesstion not looking for advice

[tigger79]

Originally Posted by mrcarlxx

if live feeding is only fround apon then how can they prosacute?...also i would imagen that the pet shop would surely ask q's if one was to go buying live mice one a week lol..

this is a grey area for me that i would like for someone to clear up...also i would like to add that my snake has no probs with d/f mice so this is just a quesstion not looking for advice

Read the live feening laws thread

the reason they will try to prosecute you is because they will use the cruelty to the live food route.

[mrcarlxx]

Originally Posted by tigger79

Read the live feening laws thread

the reason they will try to prosecute you is because they will use the cruelty to the live food route.

yep read it....but surely the pet shop would be a bit suspisos if one were to buy a male and famale mice!...or even a mouse a week

[NeVaEh]

I'm chuffed to bits, my corn just ate for the first time in over 5 weeks, so thanks very much for all the great ideas!

[NeVaEh]

My corn is still hungry (after her first feed in five weeks) so i offered her a mouse earlier, which she basically stuck her nose up at , i wiggled it etc but not bothered, just got in from work and its still in the viv.
I know shes hungry (i know what shes like) but having got her to eat a mouse by braining it the other day does this mean am gonna have to do this every feed from now on!?
Hope u can make sense on what i have wrote here and any advise is so much appreciated x

[reptilemadgirl]

wow what good advice

[natsuko]

Great advice, shame I left it so long to ruddy check on here however luckily after 3months of worrying I had a friend of my dads check my snake over and told me about braining which has worked a treat tonight for first time.

[bmilinski]

Originally Posted by tigger79

Well it appears that at least 10 -20% of the threads on here are from people asking for Help as there snakes are not eating.

Therefore i thought i would compile a list of methods out there that have been tried and tested by various keepers,

So to Start withthe first and most important thing to do is to Relax and stop worrying.

When your snake stops eating you need to take into account the following,

1. Is your Snake going into Shed
2. Has your snake been moved recently
3. Are your Temps correct
4. Is the Husbandry correct for you snake (size of viv, hides, greenary)
5. Is it winter time or breeding season
6. Is your snake showing any signs of illness/stress

So after asking yourself all of these questions, this is what you do,

1. Weigh you snake and monitor for any weight loss,
2. Change the time period that you offer
3. Reduce food size that is offered

Ok so now we have the basics covered, when offering there are a few things that you can do to intice your snake to take the food

1. Warm up the food (hair dryer, hot water, etc)
2. Brain the food (slit head)
3. Leave food in viv, cover up and leave for 24hrs without looking,
4. Place snake into a tub and take it for a 15- 20 minute drive
5. Scenting food (with other foods, suppliments)
6. Placing on a jacket (place skin of a chick over food)
7. Offer different food types (gerbils, rats, mutis, chicks etc)

There are many more and im sure people will post other methods on here,


Ok once all these methods have been tried, and you snake is still not eating then it may be time for a visit to the vets to give you snake the once over (this may only be necessary if it shows signs of illness or has stopped eating from one of the obvious reasons.

There are 3 other methods you can use to try to gety your snake to feed, but these are only to be done as last resorts and usually after being advised to from a vet.

1. Live food
2. Assist feeding
3. Force feeding

Of these methods live food would be the prefered and less stressful method,

As for the legallity of this method, this is how it stands,

Live feeding is Legal, but only as a last resort before assist/force feeding, But if frowned upon by AR and RSPCA,(these will try to prosecute you)

But you are at a bit of a dilema, as they will try to prosecute for 2 reasons,

1. cruelty to live rodent - when feeding live
2. cruelty to snake - if left to starve and die

therefore if you are going to feed live, you must do it in the privacy of you own home, without an audience and do not go advetising that you are doing it, Also DO NOT leave unattended, and onlt leave live food in fo 15 - 30 minute period, and remove sooner if you see the food attacking the snake

If this still does not work, then it may mean you have to assist/force feed you snake, but this MUST be at the last resort stage, once you snake hasnt been eating for over 6 - 12 months, and would be advisable to get some one who knows what they are doing to assist you, as it can be very daunting for you to do it, But i must warn you this will be very stressful for the snake as well.


Well as i said before, add any other methods you may know about, and i hope you find this information helpful.

This is great advise. Thanks so much!!!