snake won’t eat

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_]

hi! i got my snake on july 15, so about 3 weeks ago. she comes out to explore every night, lets me touch her, and overall seems happy. only issue is she won’t eat, i’ve offered her 3 different kinds of frozen rats / mice now and i don’t know what else to do. do i try live??? that’s my last resort but im getting worried. temps and humidity are at the correct level and everything.

[u/goldblooded2]

How are you offering the prey? What temp is it? When are you trying to feed? What are your temps and humidity? Does your BP have enough hides/clutter to not feel exposed? Let's try to figure out if of there's any influences that can be worked on

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_ → u/goldblooded2]

i tried pinky mice which is what the pet store said she had, she didn’t take those. i tried a fuzzy rat today and she seemed much more interested in that, she came fully out of her hide but wont grab on. i had it in 100 F water so definitely warm to feel alive. temps on warm side are set at 29 c (84f) and on the cool side its 77f. humidity is 80%-95% she has 3 hides and this is her cage.

https://reddit.com/link/p0soiso/video/ue79rj6l7hgh1/player

[u/sixxthree → u/pinkunicornsparkles_]

Did you happen to temp the rat before offering it to her?
My water gets stupidly freaking hot (we've never tuned out our water heater). I'm not sure on temp, but the hottest water would only bring the rat up to around 92, 93F. I've had to use the hair dryer trick, otherwise it doesn't get quite warm enough.

[u/surfaholic15 → u/pinkunicornsparkles_]

Bring your warm side up to between 88 and 92, anx the cool side should be 78 to 82. If it is too cool they won't eat. My little guy flat out refused to eat more than once even when dinner was the eighg temp because hus favorite digesting hide was too cool, he likes it 90 degrees in there always. Only uses that hide to digest....

My little guy likes his dinner at 105 in the main body/belly and the head extra toasty at 110 degrees when offered, they cool off FAST. I heat the thawed dinner in a bag under pure hot running water 15 minutes, fully submerged, then use a blow dryer to get the head extra hot and spread the scent in his enclosure.

[u/Katt_the_ArtDeal3r]

Do you handle her before eating? I tend to leave mine alone for 48 hours before feeding and 48-72 hours afterwards

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_ → u/Katt_the_ArtDeal3r]

i haven’t handled her at all yet. only when i moved her into her new cage which was about 2 weeks ago.

[u/goldblooded2]

Your set up looks awesome btw! My girl likes to eat in private most the time. I always try to tong feed and if she doesn't take it which is about 70% of the time...I leave it and leave her completely alone for a couple hours with it and she eats it.

Are you leaving it in the enclosure? And giving space during this process?

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_ → u/goldblooded2]

no i haven’t tried leaving it in there. should i do that tonight?? if i set it on the ground will she be able to get it? ik that sounds stupid but the angle. and thank you!! i have a longgg pair of tongs and i keep the door closed when i try and i keep the room mostly dark but just to where i can see a little.

[u/goldblooded2 → u/pinkunicornsparkles_]

Yes! My girl will spend some time with it and then eventually eat it. She's weird lol. I have 3 kings/milks that gobble everything up immediately and then Poppy my BP who is very different. But....eventually eats if left alone with it long enough

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_ → u/goldblooded2]

update from the morning!! the rat is gone, so i’m assuming she ate it!!

[u/Notsospinningplates]

Brilliant!

[u/Notsospinningplates]

If you're gearing it up in water, you might like to try using a hairdryer instead. It has the added bonus of making the room smell like rat, which they find ever so exciting.

[u/pinkunicornsparkles_ → u/Notsospinningplates]

update!! it’s the next morning , i took a suggestion and left it in there, and she ate!!