hey,
i work in the reptile department of my local pet shop we have a variety of reptiles none of which have ever really caused me any problems, how ever here is my dilemma we have 5 royal pythons approx 6months old 1 nicknamed chunk is eating fine n is absolutley gorgeous, the other 4 wont eat havent since they came to us around 4months ago. i've read the feeding tips previously posted they've all been wormed, none are shedding ect so that cant be the cause, they just refuse to eat and are losing weight rapidly so i'm having to force feed i dont want to keep doing this because of the stress it causes, but live feeding isnt really an option because of the shop environment there's no where really suitable to put them out of customer sight, and because of problems with previous members of staff im not allowed to take them home to look after them does any1 have any other suggestions as to how to get them to feed?
as mad as it sounds i was reading in one book that people have tried meat based baby foods to kick start their appetites, does this work?

not heard of the baby food option before, if the snakes are losing weight rapidly then i would suggest that you get them to a vet ASAP, although 4 months is not along time for them not to feed but when losing weight it can be an issue,

if you are concerned with the offering live, being done in front of the customers, then wait til the end of the day and ask if you can stop on for 20-30 mins to see if they will take as the shop will be closed to the public

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My Reptiles4.6 Royal Pythons2.4 Boas1.1 Kings3.7 Corns3.5.7 Cresties1.1 Golden Geckos
Other pets 1.1 Dogs 1.0 Rabbit1.1.?? Gerbils8.9.?? Rats3.35.?? Mice2.4.?? Multis0.2 Budgies
For sale0.1 95 normal corn (pet only)0.1 96 normal corn (pet only)1.1 Golden Geckos0.1 Dwarf X BoaPM me for detailsLarge viv - see classifieds
For Rehoming1.0 Adult corns

http://exoticrescueforum.forumotion.com/index.htm

sound a good idea try it but they do need to eat if loosing weight as most snakes can go a very long time not feeding try different colour food sounds daft but in some cases works try dark if you have been offering whites or chicks even try smaller stuff then work up to bigger back to basics try soaking them in warm water 1st or braining them.... good luck

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FOR SALE
last 2 baby beardies for sale its a pair gold-yellow phase parents can be seen in album also some nice corns Snows and anery's
our pets
5 leopard geckos
3A.F.T Albino pied and het albino 3 Madagascan Day gecko's & pr corns snow and normal + 18 eggs
3 Bearded Dragons (20-eggs) 2 uro's & cresties & golden agamus 2 chins 3 dogs 100 budgies

I suggest you give them to Darren Finch, as he will be able to get them to start feeding. You or the person who ordered them must take responsibility for their poor health, as you seem to have ignored Mr Finch's constant advice that these are problemactic snakes. You should not have ordered them if you incapable of looking after them, especially as your last manager did the same thing i.e. buying cheap non feeding snakes, you were present and saw the out come of this i.e. Darren force feeding them and keeping them off sale for several months. What made you think it would be any different this time. You are a beginner shop and ROYALS are NOT a beginner snake.

Well my royal didnt strike feed when I left him with my ex, but now I have him back someone has taught him. Which isnt a problem but I would have prefered him not to lol.

I highly recommend tongs for strike feeding coz they are very quick, I nearly lost my fingers the first time I fed him lol. Didnt realise he would go for it so quick.

I tend to wiggle the mouse around a bit, to get his attention then get it closer and closer til he takes it, which to be honest is when its pretty much on his nose lol.

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1.1 Royal Python (Hiss & Missy)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Jiniwin)
1.0 Blizzard Leopard Gecko (Lucius)
1.0 Border Collie X Lurcher (Max)

1.0 bf

Yes darren i know but it wasnt me who ordered them. i do listen to you and i do ask advice of u, but the higher powers wont let me give them to you otherwise i would gladly let you have them.
Thank you everyone for your advice

month 8 of the non feeding sand boa. What is weird though is that he ate with the guy hu had him 5 days before i was given him. got from hamm, any ideas?

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GODDAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Sooooooooo wish I had read this earlier!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Adam (adult JCP) refused his grub 2 days ago. So I offered him a smaller rat this evening and he had no interest. Nothing had changed re: temps/viv etc and he is usually ravenous. So I had recollection of braining rats from here ages ago (thankfully someone at the time explained this meant slitting the head skin and not smashing brains...) so out with the Stanley blade and brained the rat I did. While squealing down phone to boyfriend and totally freaking out... (I am a strict vegan... it felt like hacking into my own knee to be honest....urgh...!) I realised at this point I was glad i had not become a vet.

Had I read this I could have just bloody taken him to te park for a drive!!!!!!!!!!! AAArgh!!!!!!!!!

All above is true, but thanks for sticky. I'll try all the tips in a few days. It's been 10 days since his last rat. I know I am worrying for nothing. He is too well fed if you ask me. (rescue, half starved when i got him etc etc so have been feeding him up for months). He seems fine, bright eyed, bushy tailed etc so the bugger probably has decided he'd rather have a bush baby than a boring old rat....

Thanks again all!
Cat

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Sounds weird but i was told about this from Mr JG Animals in Streatham about 15-20 years ago. It actually works as-well. Why i don't know!