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Feb. 7th, 2006
You can "prime" your snake by feeding two meals in one sitting. Go with feeders that are 50-60% of the regular weekly size, one live (ugh!) or fresh killed, and one thawed. Feed your regular meal first, and then pay attention. A smaller prey item should be consumed pretty quickly (that's the "prime"), and that is when you pounce. Immediately after the snake has swallowed the first item (allow for that full "get in the stomach" stretch), offer the thawed rodent to your snake. Snakes are instinctive feeders, and it is hard for the animal to shut off the triggered feeding response. Your animal should snap up the second item with gusto. Anyone that has handled their snake too soon after feeding (sometimes an hour or two!) will be familiar with this instinctive strike. Your hand doesn't smell like food, but dagnabbit, that snake is raring to go, and any old target will do! Make that target your thawed mouse, and you are good to go.
Follow the two in one primer plan for three or four weeks. For the fifth week, offer a full sized, high quality thawed feeder, and watch your previously stubborn animal snap it up without a second thought. The slightly different smell, or flavor, of the thawed feeder will be old news to your animal by now, switch made, problem solved.
Follow the two in one primer plan for three or four weeks. For the fifth week, offer a full sized, high quality thawed feeder, and watch your previously stubborn animal snap it up without a second thought. The slightly different smell, or flavor, of the thawed feeder will be old news to your animal by now, switch made, problem solved.