How long should new snakes be left alone?

[snake man]

Congatz I am very happy for you.

[Invisible Snake]

That's great news that he finally started eating! Stubborn little brat, lol jk

[ConcinusMan]

So I got rid of the bright lamp, let him be for a few days, and then put a minnow in his water bowl about three hours ago.. went back to check and the minnow is gone. So either the fish pulled a Houdini or the little guy ate something!

That's great but you really need to verify if he ate it or not. Perhaps give him a few more and see if a bulge appears in his belly. Also, you gotta be careful about just putting food in and walking away. You don't want substrate sticking to it and getting swallowed.

[Madame_Mel]

That's great but you really need to verify if he ate it or not. Perhaps give him a few more and see if a bulge appears in his belly. Also, you gotta be careful about just putting food in and walking away. You don't want substrate sticking to it and getting swallowed.

since my post, I've witnessed him swallowing multiple minnows, I give him 2 or 3 every 2 or 3 days in his water bowl, so I'm guessing the risk of substrate being swallowed is small? Tonight I am going to offer him fish scented pinky mouse parts and see if he will take those since he has been doing well and gobbling these minnows up

[guidofatherof5]

Best to get them off the minnows as soon as possible.

[ProXimuS]

I give him 2 or 3 every 2 or 3 days in his water bowl, so I'm guessing the risk of substrate being swallowed is small?

I thought that too, because mine eats out of his water bowl too, until it did happen. Sometimes, they will drag their food out and across the substrate. You can try moving him to a container just for feeding, with no substrate(maybe just paper towels). Or(what I do) you can line the cage with paper towels for feeding time, but with this you still need to make sure you monitor just in case.

[Madame_Mel]

yea, I'm not too comfortable knowing the risks but can't get him eating anything else and can't find feeder guppies anywhere in my area. Definitely don't want to feed him guppies from my personal community tank...

[Madame_Mel]

I thought that too, because mine eats out of his water bowl too, until it did happen. Sometimes, they will drag their food out and across the substrate. You can try moving him to a container just for feeding, with no substrate(maybe just paper towels). Or(what I do) you can line the cage with paper towels for feeding time, but with this you still need to make sure you monitor just in case.

thanks for the advice I will try paper towels next time. It's hard to monitor these things when he refuses to eat with me in the room. or so it seems?

[ProXimuS]

He'll get used to it. Just takes some time I think it was maybe a monthish until mine would eat in front of me.

[guidofatherof5]

yea, I'm not too comfortable knowing the risks but can't get him eating anything else and can't find feeder guppies anywhere in my area. Definitely don't want to feed him guppies from my personal community tank...

Smashed minnow could be used to scent worms and pinkies.