frozen fish

[acovert]

I'll try some of those ideas. I did lay paper towels down once, but he refused the food that time so I ended up taking it out. I never did try it again later. I'll try that this next time. I'm not feeding him again for a few days so I'll have plenty of time to figure out what I can do. I want to get him to start eating outside of the tank, on a paper towel or something, so that I don't have to worry so much about substrate.

[EasternGirl]

An idea for you Ashley...when you get a job and some money...and for you as well John, is a separate feed tank. That is what many members use for feeding. You can just actually go to a dollar store and get a plastic shoe or storage tote and put some little holes in the top for air..and use that...or you can get a small 5 or 10 gallon tank. Many people use the plastic totes because they're cheaper...I have a pet store near me that sells me used tanks and I have a plastic turtle terrarium that I use. Then you just keep paper towels in there for substrate and put a couple of hides in there if you want and move the snake into that tank for feeding. Now mind you...it depends on your snake how well this will work...Cee Cee is a pig and will eat anywhere, so I can move her to a feed tank with no problem. Seeley will sometimes eat in a feed tank...but he is very skiddish, so sometimes he refuses to eat anywhere other than his tank. If I put some hides and some of his plants in the feed tank and cover it with a towel...sometimes he will eat in it. I tried moving Hermes to the feed tank last night and he just flipped out the whole time wondering where he was and refused to eat...so I had to move him back to his enclosure and put his food on a dish on a paper towel under his hide.

[acovert]

I actually have some plastic containers that would work well for that. I'll try that idea, since it seems the easiest. Then I don't have to move things around in the tank just for feeding. I can take him out and put him in something else...

I'll try that tomorrow when I try the worm and mouse mixture and see how it goes. He seems to adjust quite well to new tanks, so if I can move one of the plants and the smaller hides into it, I think it should work.

[EasternGirl]

Yep..sounds good, try that. Let us know how it goes.

[acovert]

I tried offering him a worm in the feeding tank today, but he refused it. He also refused it while in his normal tank. I think that I can get him to take food in the feeding tank, but it may have to wait a while. My sister is having some problems and it's causing a lot of fights. Our dog is picking up on the tension and trying to hide, so I'm wondering if that's why Cuddles has been acting strange over the last couple of days. Do you think it's possible that a little snake can pick up on tension between humans? Our dog and cat certainly can.

[EasternGirl]

I don't know if he could pick up on tension...but they can feel vibrations that is similar to hearing for us and if there is a lot of shouting he may feel the vibrations and get nervous. If he can see people moving about quickly he may get scared as well.

[acovert]

I had to keep the boys in my room for a while so there was a lot of noise and movement. And there was yelling a few times that could be heard even with my door shut. And the dog was in and out, so I had to raise my voice with him.

He's been hiding for almost two or three days straight, ever since this whole thing started. Maybe it's just been too loud. Hopefully things will be calmer now.

[EasternGirl]

Sorry that is happening. He could be scared of all the movement and noise. Could he be getting ready to shed?

[acovert]

He shouldn't be shedding again so soon, I wouldn't think. It hasn't even been a full two weeks since the last shed.

But, things have calmed down and I had a success with the feeding tank. He took a small piece of worm in a trial run with the container. So, tomorrow or Tuesday (assuming things remain calmed down, which is unlikely since mom is babysitting tomorrow) I will be trying out the feeding tank and some thawed pinky mice mixed with worms.

[EasternGirl]

Okay...sorry...did you post that he shed? I remember now when he was getting ready to and you were worried because you were leaving, etc... But I didn't remember you saying he shed. Are you still posting on your original thread? Maybe that's why I missed it...I've been following this one now. Sounds good about the feeding tank. What exactly are you using for a container? I'm glad he took some worm.