Getting snake away from stat and hand feeding.

[Saji]

I have a small radix that wont eat unless I feed it to her by stats or hand. Everytime I leave chunks of silver side or worm cuts in the cage it ignores it. I dont have alot of time to "hand feed" and I dont really make it more life like, I kinda just shove it in her face:D does this phase dissipate with time? I'm talking to you too Steve:cool: I know you hand feed alot of wild and captive radixs.

Saji

[d_virginiana]

I have some that definitely would eat if I just put a dish of chunks in their tank, but I tong-feed all of mine. It's just a better way of monitoring their intake IMO, especially for ones that don't go nuts from just the smell of food and have to be coaxed into eating.

The willingness to change feeding behaviors in my experience seems like something you have to actively try to change as opposed to something that just naturally changes over time. You could try tong-feeding over a dish maybe? Eventually the snake might associate the dish with the food instead of the tongs.

[Saji]

I have some that definitely would eat if I just put a dish of chunks in their tank, but I tong-feed all of mine. It's just a better way of monitoring their intake IMO, especially for ones that don't go nuts from just the smell of food and have to be coaxed into eating.

The willingness to change feeding behaviors in my experience seems like something you have to actively try to change as opposed to something that just naturally changes over time. You could try tong-feeding over a dish maybe? Eventually the snake might associate the dish with the food instead of the tongs.

Thanks for the reply.

She will get a companion next week and my hope is that one will show her new behaviors. I dont mind the stat feeding. It can take time though. I guess I should just be happy she's healthy and eating.

Saji

[d_virginiana]

Hope that works for you :) I've had non-eaters as well as completely neurotic snakes really chill out and start eating well when they get a calmer roommate. Even noticed differences just having them in tanks beside each other where they can see other snakes.

[Saji]

Thats comforting. I love my Garters. Thanx