Any Feeding Advice?

[Ben_Renick]

I need some help trying to switch my 5' Albino Burm to F/t from live. He is big enough to eat F/t Large Rats, but I'm not going to feed him anything but medium live rats, due to the fact that he could get an injury from a large rat (unless it's a necessity to switch to live large).

Things Tried:
- F/t Large Rat (of course, and it was warm when I tried to give it to him)
- F/t Medium Rat (same thing done as f/t large)
- Wiggling the f/t rat in front w/ tongs (he acts very interested, but then looks like he realizes it's dead, and backs off)
- Dragging and wiggling the rat in front, same thing happens as wiggling it in the air, acts interested and backs off.
- Dipping the rat in chicken broth and doing the same thing as above.
- Leaving the rat next to him in the cage, with the cage covered for 30 min.

It's eating live medium rats perfectly, but I'm seriously in need to get him to f/t, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks very much for any replies:)
~Ben R.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/photopost/data//521/medium/18591PICT0797.JPG

[meltingfetus]

have you tried letting him go 3 weeks or so without food. if he gets hungry enough he might take f/t.

[Ian]

Try a pre-killed rat and then move from there to f/t. Just take a rat, hit it hard agaisnt something or use dry ice, and leave it in the cage with the snake over night (but not on or under the heat source!! Trust me on that! :dead: )
After it is eating p/k, switch to f/t. YOu may also want to try feeding 1 live rat, and then putting a f/t or p/k in while it is still swallowing the first one.
If that doesnt work, and the snake is hungry (go 2-3 weeks), then let us know and we may have more suggestions.

[PadraigC]

jim is so right let him fast a lil and then hell whack anything that slightly smells like rodent or something furry works with stubborn retics well who can go long and arent the notorious fat arses burms are

[Ben_Renick]

Yes, I waited up to 3 weeks with no food. I was trying frozen/thawed in between though, should I just leave him alone for awhile and then try?

Thanks,
~Ben

[Ben_Renick]

Alright, I will try a F/k rat. I've actually never done that before, thank you. I will see if I can get a rat tomorrow for this!:)

Thanks,
Ben R.

[meltingfetus]

let us know how it works out for you. :023:

[JERICO]

Have you had any luck getting him onto f/t yet?

I'v got 4 royals here that were being feed live before i got them, the best way i found to get them onto f/t was to dip the nose in beef blood and rub the rat against a mouse and chick, also heat the nose up under hot water.

One of the above may just work for your burm.

[KLG]

the best way i found to get them onto f/t was to dip the nose in beef blood and rub the rat against a mouse and chick, also heat the nose up under hot water.

Wow...that routine is almost missing a voodoo doll & a couple of chants!

K~

[JERICO]

Well i heard a few strange ones and decided to pick out what i belived would work, it took me 6 weeks to get the first pair onto f/t after this, and the next pair of live feeder's i brought home were given this for thier second meal and they both took.

I don't find it any stranger than chicken soup :lol:

[KLG]

I'm just being facetious...sounded like a voodoo ritual. :)

K~

[JERICO]

Aye i know, does seem pretty weird anyway, only people who keep reptiles or live in a basment with chickens would understand :twisted: