Way OT sorry Pet Snake...

Mr.Huge · Oct 9, 2005

I just got my daughter a Abberant California Coastal King Snake for her Golden bday, she just turned 7 yesterday. I think its having a hard time killing the mouse i got it for umm dinner...

The mouse seems to be to fast or something. Anyone have experience with snakes? Is there a good easy way to feed your snake? Or do you just have to be patient? I put it in a smaller box to see if he can get a hold of it that way. It just seems like hes still having a rough time. The snake is under a year old and not very big at all. It keeps attacking at the mouse like biting at it but doesnt seem to get a grasp on it or hurt it any. What to do???

Mr.Huge

Got Juice · Oct 9, 2005

man i hate snakes, but my brother had a couple. i remember he had a few baby pythons and they were too small to catch their own food so he bought these frozen baby mice and had to hand feed them for a bit until they got large enough to sufficate the mice and eat on their own.

good luck man, those things make me lose my appetite...

later,

RicPhoenix · Oct 9, 2005

First of all...are you sure that snake is for your daughter and not YOU ?
(I dont know too many children that ask for a snake for a gift...LOL)

Next.....maybe the snake you chose is not too uh smart ? (poor thing)

Finally, I think you should have gotten a guinea pig or a hermit crab (something with a bit of brain power so you would not have to hand feed it)

Baker · Oct 9, 2005

It looks like you have a young snake from the pic you posted so if your tring to feed it a adult size mouse its to big for your snake
try a pinky or a fuzzy (baby mouse) you can get them at your local pet store
or you can try and flick the mouse in the head and paralyz it a bit

so it dont jump around as much then your snake can get a hold of it

king snakes make good pets they are very docile

I have a FL-kingsnake

davelifter · Oct 9, 2005

years ago I had a pirahana fish as a pet. But I stuck my hand into the tank and it bit me and it died.

woody00 · Oct 9, 2005

you can either thump the hell out of the mouses head and knock it out causing it to go into convulsions. or u can grab it by its tail and slam the hell out of its head on the corner of something. i used to have to do this for my ball python. it was such a pussy that once it got bit it would hide in the corner and not eat.

if all else fails you can just feed it pinkie(newborns) mice.

Mr.Huge · Oct 9, 2005

wow!

davelifter said:
years ago I had a pirahana fish as a pet. But I stuck my hand into the tank and it bit me and it died.

you gave your fish aids! lol.. j/k

Mr.Huge

Mr.Huge · Oct 9, 2005

so i can really kill the mouse?

And it will still eat it even if it is'nt alive? Yeah i think my snake may be too small to eat this mouse...lol but thats what the fools at the pet store gave me. So Im assuming its had em before without problem. Not sure gonna call the girl i got it from later.

Mr.Huge

SweetLou · Oct 9, 2005

get some pinky's, i used to feed them to my monitor as an appetizer.

vitor · Oct 9, 2005

I had 3 snakes in my day, and from time to time one mouse is tough, or just too hyper. Usally its too big of a mouse, try a smaller one, I dont like to give my snakes dead mice, I want to see the action keep it active.

Death is interesting on that level.

STORM SHADOW · Oct 9, 2005

Hello...this is Mrs SS...SS's wife. I'm a Vet Tech and specialize in exotics.

The mice may be too big for the snake...try feeding some pinky mice until it goes thru a shed and gets a little bigger, then it may be able to get the bigger mice. If the snake thinks the prey is too big to swollow, it will not try to kill it. If the prey is too big the snake will not attack it and the mouse can cause a lot of damage to the snake. I have seen some very severe damage caused by prey on snakes, esp when the snake wasn't hungry and the mouse attacked the snake.

Mrs SS

Mr.Huge · Oct 10, 2005

Hey guys & gals

thanks for your replies. The mouse is too big went and got a pinky rat today. I just put it in a small plastic tupperware container with the snake but it still has not eaten it. I am gonna give it a few hours in the container and hope it eats it up. Thanks for everything it last ate 1 week ago & it was eating pinky rats. So this is what i got it a live pinky rat.

Mr.Huge

Mr.Huge · Oct 10, 2005

The pinky rat has been in the cage for hours...

I dont know if i should take it out now or just leave it an hope it eats it eventually? What to do? Or should i not feed it in the tank? only take it out to feed? I have heard mixed stories...what to do?? Mrs SS??? Any more help is appreciated.

Mr.Huge

cuz · Oct 10, 2005

How long has it been since it has eaten? Snakes don't eat very often. I've always fed kings frogs or toads. Don't leave anything more than a pinky with the snake b/c it could kill the snake. I've always fed my snakes in their cage.

Armageddon · Oct 10, 2005

I hate snakes but my old roomate had a snake. This is what I know from watching him. If this is for your daughter, don't feed it live food! Makes them more aggresive. Killer instinct I guess. Seemed alittle more edgy to touch. Hold often to get it used to contact. Don't feed in it's tank, as this is it's living space not "hunting-feeding" space. Takes away from aggresion when trying to remove from the tank. You can get pinkies from the pet store that are frozen. Drop in a glass of warm water and when it starts to slightly sink it's thawed enough to eat. Good luck with that nasty pet

plus once a week feeding is more than enough

Mr.Huge · Oct 10, 2005

here is my question now..

so if he does not eat the pinky should i remove pinky from site for a day then try again? Or should i leave pinky in the aqaurium? Umm i am taking it out now .. and will try to feed outside of cage from now on. Just for daughters sake. Its been 1 week since it last ate but it seems as if it was real hungry yesterday with the larger mouse it kept tryin to attack it but could get a hold on it. Today nothing....

Mr.Huge

Cjay · Oct 10, 2005

Mr.Huge said:
so if he does not eat the pinky should i remove pinky from site for a day then try again? Or should i leave pinky in the aqaurium? Umm i am taking it out now .. and will try to feed outside of cage from now on. Just for daughters sake. Its been 1 week since it last ate but it seems as if it was real hungry yesterday with the larger mouse it kept tryin to attack it but could get a hold on it. Today nothing....
Mr.Huge

The snake may not feel comfortable in it's surrounding when you put it in the dish. Feed him in his cage until he is older. He probably also liked the movement on the larger mouse. Snakes have poor eyesight and work off of heat sensors. Get something to hold the pink and shake it around in front of the snake. If he doesn't eat it, then remove the pinky and try again later... Cjay

vitor · Oct 10, 2005

You might have a "Gay SNAKE ", or a wimp. I have had 1 ball python, 1 corn snake just like yours and a Retic Python, and they were killers. One time put two hoppers, real small mice in with the corn, he attacked one, wrapped it up in its tail, and then attacked the other one. It was amazing to see. Just leave it in there for a while, but usally mine would kill on demand.

You dont want the mouse to try to eat your snake.

STORM SHADOW · Oct 11, 2005

Mrs SS says:

Make sure your snake's living quarters is 85-88degs so that it's warm. If it's cold..it won't eat. and as stated above... while it's warm..yes take it out and put it in another place to eat.

SS

Mr.Huge · Oct 12, 2005

the way i have my tank set up....

STORM SHADOW said:
Make sure your snake's living quarters is 85-88degs so that it's warm. If it's cold..it won't eat. and as stated above... while it's warm..yes take it out and put it in another place to eat.

SS

One side of the tank is just over 80 degrees...about 82 or so... and the other side is just over 70 degrees. this is how they told me to set it up at the pet store.

How often should i try to feed it? I figured I would wait a few days since it never ate the pinky rat either and it died the next morning so i threw it out.

Im gonna call the pet store to see what they say about it not eating also. They said previously we may have to force feed it if it does not eat.

I guess sometimes they wont eat in a new environement and have to be force fed. I should not try to feed it dead mice correct or does it matter? If its hungry will it eat it either way? Or preferrably live?

Mr.Huge