Container Feeding Video

[guidofatherof5]

Made this video last night. Hope it helps when you've got some troubled eaters.
It is available in HD 1080p
1O36FMumumg

[brain]

I use this process when I first received my Blacknecks.
Good training aid

[Sonya610]

Nice video. Great idea for containers, mine are eating fine but will need to be separated and I never thought about using a high sided container like that.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, I usually have no trouble at all getting my concinnus litters to eat dead food. I usually start them out on chopped worms but once they get a meal or two in them, they are usually willing to try anything so I get them started on pinky parts and fish meat too, right away. I find that when snakes are still babies, and you get them introduced early, they will eat just about anything. However, if I have a big litter there's always a few smaller babies that resist eating. Last year I had around 13 of them like that. They were losing weight and getting weak. I stuggled and tried every trick in the book but they just wouldn't eat. I sent them to Steve to see if he could save them. He lost only a few of them. I'd call that a success and if I'm not mistaken, it was the flopping guppy trick that saved their lives. I don't have easy access to live fish besides feeder goldfish and they're too big and not safe.

I must pat Steve on the back for saving those babies. If I hadn't sent them to him, (and he paid the shipping) I was going to have to cull them. I sure would love to see how they're doing Steve.;)

[guidofatherof5]

In the end it was 18 total. Lost 6 and the other 12 are doing great.
Eating like pigs and shedding all the time.
I would recommend a Concinnus to anyone looking to get a snake.
That's after I recommend a radix, first.;)

Also ending up with 4 of the Northwesterns(T.ordinoides) alive and thriving.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh yeah. I remember now. Not all of them were non-feeders either. I also threw in a few that were eating but were far behind size-wise.;) Statistically speaking, you're doing a heck of a lot better with the northwesterns than I usually do. I end up releasing most that I try to keep because they just refuse to calm down and eat. The few that do though, are just awesome. Really tame, smart, and they beg when I get near the tank. Very cool personalities. They'll come to me and slither right into my hand or they will climb the hemostats when I'm feeding others in the tank. Very pushy, yet charming snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Nice video, Steve. I've been trying that with my new baby, but no luck

[RedSidedSPR]

How come it works with you!?:D

My snake acts like the one in your video that DIDN'T eat.:rolleyes:

He's in a clear container, (little bigger than yours) with 6 or so guppies right now. Showing NO interest...

[guidofatherof5]

Be patient.
Might not be hungry. How old is your scrub?

[RedSidedSPR]

10 days. Never eaten.
Not worried I've got plenty of time.

How long should I leave him in each time?

[guidofatherof5]

Do you have some water in there so the fish can flop around? As long as there's not too much water you can leave him for a few hours. Cover the container with a dish towel and let him sit. Checking once in awhile, to see the progress.
I'd say no more than 1/4 of an inch of water.

[RedSidedSPR]

Do you have some water in there so the fish can flop around? As long as there's not too much water you can leave him for a few hours. Cover the container with a dish towel and let him sit. Checking once in awhile, to see the progress.
I'd say no more than 1/4 of an inch of water.

Little bit of water, enough for them to live and flop and swim etc., but he shows no interest.

OK SOMEBODY CLEAR THIS UP!!

I've always heard you cover it up, so I used a solid black container. Than Wayne says that's not good, that I need to let lots of light in, so I started using a clear one.
Now you say cover it up!! WHAT DO I DO?? COVER IT OR NOT??

[kibakiba]

It depends on the person and the snake. Some snakes are more comfortable in the dark, and some are more comfortable in the light. some of my sankes, like Snap and Ember, prefer eating at night, when the tank is darker, and my northwesterns will eat better during the day when there's light. Really, you just need to find what works for your snake, they're all different... They are(like) people, too... No two snakes are the same. ;)

[ConcinusMan]

I always feed mine mid-morning after they've had a chance to bask and warm up. Then they get their bellies full and most of them hide again.

[RedSidedSPR]

ok.... so I'll try the dark, since the light didn't work.

[RedSidedSPR]

What am I doing wrong? Is this too big?? It's all I have at the moment.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/Babysnake139.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/Babysnake137.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

He's my system.
If they start eating right away there's no need to cover.
If it looks like they are not interested then I set them somewhere out of the way and check on them over the next few hours.
If they still don't eat then I cover the container and give them more time. Possibly over night.
This is what works for me.
Individual result may vary.:D

Just looked at your photos. I think that container is too large. Gives the fish too much room to be away from the snake.
A nice, small round container puts the fish and snake in almost constant contact.
If the fish flops it usually is flopping on the snake and that will help trigger a feeding response

[RedSidedSPR]

He's my system.
If they start eating right away there's no need to cover.
If it looks like they are not interested then I set them somewhere out of the way and check on them over the next few hours.
If they still don't eat then I cover the container and give them more time. Possibly over night.
This is what works for me.
Individual result may vary.:D


Just looked at your photos. I think that container is too large. Gives the fish too much room to be away from the snake.
A nice, small round container puts the fish and snake in almost constant contact.
If the fish flops it usually is flopping on the snake and that will help trigger a feeding response

Gotcha thanks. I'll do that next time.

I'm buying a deli cup or something later, I realized it was too big. There were a lot of guppies so he was contacting them. Rubbing against his nose etc.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Some of the babies i've had liked me to hold a fish in front of them before they would eat the first couple of meals lazy little beggars.

[brain]

It depends on the person and the snake. Some snakes are more comfortable in the dark, and some are more comfortable in the light.... No two snakes are the same. ;)

I found this to be true with my Kings when I first got them. One of my fems would not eat so I left the fuzzy in overnight next day gone. After tracking her habits, I did find she preferred to eat at night where to other fem and male, they had no problem eating in the day. And she still is fussy at times in this matter.

[Spankenstyne]

Great idea Steve, nice training aid.

[Sonya610]

I bought a container just like yours for separating while feeding. Is that the best choice? Baby freaked out (but still ate everything in it). They get so upset if I pick them up and I hate to do it but I guess they will chill out once used to it.

Would you use a container like that for daily feeding or something larger?

[RedSidedSPR]

I couldn't find what you used, but I found these. Two I already had. Which ones best??

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/Babysnake.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

I would go with the middle one. It looks just right.
Be careful after placing the snake in and you put the lid on. You don't want the snake getting caught between the lid and container.
That's why I recommend the taller ones. I get mine at Walmart.
Keep us posted on your progress.

[RedSidedSPR]

I looked for yours at Walmart, couldn't find it.

[guidofatherof5]

I looked for yours at Walmart, couldn't find it.

That's because mine are down in my snake room.:D
They usually restock them pretty quickly.

[RedSidedSPR]

Ok I bought 20 freakin' guppies and 16 of them died within the hour.

The four remaining are in the container with him.

But he's just sticking to the top with mad ninja skills.

[guidofatherof5]

Been there, done that.
Welcome to the world of a stubborn eater.;)
Freeze the dead ones and use them later.