Re: first feeding question

Posted by Dean Alessandrini on June 29, 2001 at 10:07:35:

In Reply to: first feeding question posted by Rob Carmichael on June 29, 2001 at 07:59:32:

first of all...be patient, mine sometimes do not eat until after their SECOND shed.

I always start them off on live goldfish. I put them in a plastic shoebox with a small hidebox and then let 2 or 3 live fish flop around in the hide box with the snake. Make sure the snake is in a somewhat dark place with no distrubances...the babies are very skittish.

I even go so far as to block the exit of the hide box so that the snake is trapped in with the flopping fish. I've always had luck this way. Sometimes they eat the first time you try it, sometimes it takes 5 or 6 times b4 they go for it...but eventually they have all come around that way. After they've eaten this way 3 or 4 times, I switch to offering live pinkies smeared with the guts of frozen/thawed goldfish.

After a few feedings like this, they begin to recognize pinkies as food...and they will take them unsecented, then you are off to the races. It's really not a problem to scent them though, as you can just keep frozen feeder fish in your freezer.

I'm sure some people will be very concerned about parasites from the live fish...but...all I can say as I've always done it and have never had any problems.

good luck !!!

Dean

Follow Ups:

• Re: first feeding question Doug T 06/30/01 (1)
  • Re: first feeding question Rob Carmichael 07/02/01 (0)

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: first of all...be patient, mine sometimes do not eat until after their SECOND shed. : I always start them off on live goldfish. I put them in a plastic shoebox with a small hidebox and then let 2 or 3 live fish flop around in the hide box with the snake. Make sure the snake is in a somewhat dark place with no distrubances...the babies are very skittish. : I even go so far as to block the exit of the hide box so that the snake is trapped in with the flopping fish. I've always had luck this way. Sometimes they eat the first time you try it, sometimes it takes 5 or 6 times b4 they go for it...but eventually they have all come around that way. After they've eaten this way 3 or 4 times, I switch to offering live pinkies smeared with the guts of frozen/thawed goldfish. : After a few feedings like this, they begin to recognize pinkies as food...and they will take them unsecented, then you are off to the races. It's really not a problem to scent them though, as you can just keep frozen feeder fish in your freezer. : I'm sure some people will be very concerned about parasites from the live fish...but...all I can say as I've always done it and have never had any problems. : good luck !!! : Dean

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