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Gottee guy Reptilefreak23 Gottee guy Wisema2297 Gottee guy Gottee guy JackAsp Starlinka Gottee guy Starlinka Gottee guy

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#1766060

Gottee guy
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Prey

my adult w/c grey ratsnake has only eaten chicks and birds so far. he ate 3 or 4 chicks one week and i offered f/t and live mice.no luck. all he does is sniff it and follow it,doesn’t eat it.i have tried over 6 different mice but shows no interest in eating them.he hasn’t eaten in 2 or 3 weeks. i am starting to get worried.the last thing he ate was a decapitated bird about 2 or 3 weeks ago. is he just used to the smell of wild mice and voles?should i catch wild voles to feed to him? is there any way i can get him to eat feeder mice or is the temperature just not what he wants it to be so he won’t eat?

06/19/08 10:01am

#1767396

Reptilefreak23
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Message To: Gottee guy In reference to Message Id: 1766060

Prey

ive had some like that... ive known them to be shy at first because its a new prey an your standing there.
You might want to leve it alone when your feeding it.
and temps might be a prob. has there been any change in your thermostat? hows the weather outside?

06/20/08 11:25am

#1768602

Gottee guy
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Message To: Reptilefreak23 In reference to Message Id: 1767396

Prey

weather is 90-95-100 degrees outside. i keep the reptile room at 80-85 degrees.it is about the same humidity. i think the reptile room is a bit more humid though. the humidity is usually at 70.its basking spot is around 90 degrees.

06/21/08 02:50pm

#1768685

Wisema2297
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Message To: Gottee guy In reference to Message Id: 1768602

Prey

I take it the chicks are f/t? Try thawing a mouse in a zip lock bag with the chicks to hopefully put the chick scent on the mouse..........you should also wash the mouse with dove soap first to remove the mouse odor........hope this helps.

If it doesn’t work you may have to cut open a f/t chick and rub the mouse (f/t or live) in the chicks body cavity to scent it (after washing mouse again with dove soap). Once this works it wont be long before he will eat unscented mice.

Good Luck.

06/21/08 04:38pm

#1768909

Gottee guy
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Message To: Wisema2297 In reference to Message Id: 1768685

Prey

i usually feed live birds or chicks since he is w/c.but i will try to catch another and scent a mouse with its scent.

06/21/08 08:36pm

#1769482

Gottee guy
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Message To: Gottee guy In reference to Message Id: 1768909

Prey

i am making a big internal conflict-should i let it go or not. i won’t be here for the next 4 weeks and someone else will be caring for the reptiles.he might die in that time.should i re-release him?

06/22/08 11:49am

#1779377

JackAsp
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Message To: Gottee guy In reference to Message Id: 1769482

Prey

Yeah. I would. But anyway, what I was going to suggest was just dipping a mouse in some chicken broth and seeing if that works. What with the schedule issue, I’m still saying let it go, but if you ever get stuck with another stubborn bird eater you can try that trick with it.

07/01/08 04:08am