trouble feeders

[mb90078]

well...............................

could not find feeder guppies anywhere so i ended up with the bloody expensive ones


well they look pretty swimming around their water bowl

still not ate


these are supposedly a year old yet they still look like weeks old babies

If you're growing impatient, put them in very very shallow water, the snakes won't be able to overlook them if that way. Also try backing away a little bit so that the snakes aren't scared of you and can focus on the food.

[dannyj]

tried that and both again very reluctant - they must of had a go at them because i found the two fish dried up in the viv

One of the garters managed to take 4 tadpoles but the other still refusing

[ConcinusMan]

As you might know, Don gets his babies started on guppies (although I don't really know why) I can't get them so I tried silversides meat with Amy(she's from don). She took to it right away. Another snake of his apparently wasn't eating well on the guppies but he's been eating the silversides meat (and scented pinky bits) twice a day since I got him. He's eating well. Hmmm... Amy eats trout too but this little guy won't touch it. Hmm....

Anyway, my point is, you don't have to get stuck on one particular fish just because that's what they are used to. Try different fish. I'm sure you'll find one that is readily available, and one that they like. Up until I got her, Amy had only been fed live guppies. She loves f/t steelhead and silversides too though and hasn't eaten live food since. And apparently, this latest guy didn't like the guppies but he devours the silversides meat with great gusto!

[dannyj]

silverside meat - as in silverside from a cow? thats whats cooiking in the oven for tea

yeah they are real troublesome - i mailed the breeder and he thinks will take to but they are so called a year old now and still tiny - i have 8 week chequred that are bigger!

[guidofatherof5]

Silverside

Petco and Pet Smart sell them here in the US.

[ConcinusMan]

Just sayin' that "troublesome" feeders aren't always really not wanting to eat, they just don't like what you're offering. The little guy I have apparently just didn't like the guppies. He's a porker now, eating a little bit twice a day with great enthusiasm. All I did was offer him something he's never been offered, and he loves it.

[dannyj]

iv tried everything with these guys now and still not eating

[ConcinusMan]

Then it's time to consider the environment. Is it a comfortable temperature? Is it the right humidity? Is there a regular day/night cycle? Do they seem nervous or stressed? Do they have adequate room? Do they have a somewhat natural light spectrum? Do they have plenty of hiding places? Have you tried different times of the day? There's many reasons a snake would refuse to eat. If you've gone through all the foods, then it's time to consider the circumstances under which the food is offered.

A snake that is not comfortable will not eat no matter what is offered. It's as simple as that.

[dannyj]

my setups are a viv stack, temps, humidity all bang on form, plenty of room


identical set up to each other, have no probs with the florida blues, chequered and all babies.


Iv mailed the previous owner, i know he was having trouble feeding the parents.

[guidofatherof5]

Iv mailed the previous owner, i know he was having trouble feeding the parents.

Good idea.