1st and 2nd handling of snappers - Page 3

HABU · #21 (**permalink**) 18-11-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davenoble

i understand that. i just dont wanna miss a day or two and have him revert back. however. i have been told they stay in feeding mode for an unusually long time. am i likely to be mistaken for food the next day... . also, ive been told strike feeding is not advised. which is understandable considering i wont be the one holding the day old pig trying to get him to strike it when he is all grown up. (if he gets that big)

after they eat and the meal is beginning to digest, all they want to do is sleep. don't bother them then until the food item is digested. like us after a big meal, we just want to sleep it off and not be messed with. as far as strike feeding, that's all new to me. some snakes you need to encourage by dangling the food a bit but others you can just wake them up and toss in the food. like slopping the hogs. burms rarely have feeding problems. that feeding mode wears off after they've curled up for a slumber. right after they eat they'll still look around for more usually with all the scent around. i always called strike feeding....feeding! it's a hassle if you have a bunch of snakes and have to tinker with them to get them to eat. with my old retic, you could just throw a big, dead rabbit in there and he would take care of business. but he was a great retic, not like some. i would feed him out of the cage and be able to pick him up and put him back in no problem. get your burm used to eating rats by just laying them in there. you shouldn't have to coax him after a while, that can get dicey when he gets bigger. a classic burm is a great animal. yours will be awesome when it's 8 or 9 feet.

davenoble · #22 (**permalink**) 18-11-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HABU

after they eat and the meal is beginning to digest, all they want to do is sleep. don't bother them then until the food item is digested. like us after a big meal, we just want to sleep it off and not be messed with. as far as strike feeding, that's all new to me. some snakes you need to encourage by dangling the food a bit but others you can just wake them up and toss in the food. like slopping the hogs. burms rarely have feeding problems. that feeding mode wears off after they've curled up for a slumber. right after they eat they'll still look around for more usually with all the scent around. i always called strike feeding....feeding! it's a hassle if you have a bunch of snakes and have to tinker with them to get them to eat. with my old retic, you could just throw a big, dead rabbit in there and he would take care of business. but he was a great retic, not like some. i would feed him out of the cage and be able to pick him up and put him back in no problem. get your burm used to eating rats by just laying them in there. you shouldn't have to coax him after a while, that can get dicey when he gets bigger. a classic burm is a great animal. yours will be awesome when it's 8 or 9 feet.

thanks habu, your a star....

ps, always love your avatars and signatures lol

SSamm · #23 (**permalink**) 18-11-2007, 07:20 PM

very nice!!

Ian.g · #24 (**permalink**) 18-11-2007, 07:35 PM

nice one mate! he`ll be soppy in no time...also great advice from HABU! i would not promote strike feeding...may seem fun when small but as said a 12ft plus snake with a third or so more of its body lengths strike range is not so fun!

with my girl i just have to toss her rat in at the opposite end her head is and then she finds it and eats herself (although she still strikes it and costricts) but at least my hands etc are out of the way

davenoble · #25 (**permalink**) 18-11-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian.g

nice one mate! he`ll be soppy in no time...also great advice from HABU! i would not promote strike feeding...may seem fun when small but as said a 12ft plus snake with a third or so more of its body lengths strike range is not so fun!

with my girl i just have to toss her rat in at the opposite end her head is and then she finds it and eats herself (although she still strikes it and costricts) but at least my hands etc are out of the way

lol yeah, i took a few hits from her, and i wouldnt want her to keep doing it when she is bigger