Don't worry this isn't another "my ball won't eat what do I do?" thread. Just curious how many others have balls that are just stubborn/picky feeders. I've got a small group of 12 balls right now and all but 2 eat consistantly with a few that are downright garbage disposals! :D I acquired an adult female 66% het pied from Pete Kahl in Feb and this bitch wants nothing to do with rats/mice live or F/T. After keeping boas for 17 yrs I'm finally learning that with these balls you just have to live with the picky ones, they'll eat when they want.

I have a female that eats every 18 days when on feed and goes off feed for 4 months every year. Makes you appreciate boa feeding response!

if you're willing to try.
let's just say it's an oldie but goodie from way back when.
i just dusted it off again quite recently and got 3 stbborn little wenches to fess-up 'n chow down (the worst of which hadn't eaten for me EVER, and i'd had her over six months ! )
each of these girls ate within four days of doing this, no lies.
if you've been listening to larry 'n BT you know that marc mandic ( i apologize if i've spelled his name wrong) has recently been on again.
he mentioned the old take 'em for a ride trick.
anyway, back in the 70's this was used to get stubborn males to get off their bellies and start pumpin' the gas (forgot where i'd seen this before, but as soon as marc mentioned it, the cobwebs between my ears blew away)
apparenty it will get any snake to do anything, because it works on stubborn feeders like a chris angel parlour trick. next week my big spider girl will be doing my laundry, AND mowing my lawn (this might take two rides !)
seriously though...
here's what you do: put your little pain in the bucket beast in a snakebag, and put her in the back of your ride the next time you have a one or two hour round trip in front of you. of course you don't want her to get too hot or too cold, so if temps are getting funky where you are, use an insulated box too.
when last i did this, a trip to the grocery store did the deed.
upon returning home, set her up in her old housing (assuming that's not a part of her non-feeding issue) and using a flashlight, check every night to see if she's waiting at the door of her hide (i'd have an f/t rat thawing in the room to inspire her towards that behavior).
of my three girls who just recently underwent this treatment, one ate the first night, one the second, and the last on the fourth.
when they actually hit you almost cant even believe it.
after that first meal, try to segue her into an every 2 or 3 day routine.
you may get a few in her before she sheds, but she will shed soon after she starts, if it's been awhile since she's eaten.
good luck, let us know how you do,
ck

That's the one thing I haven't tried with this little lady is the car trick, I've read accounts of it working and others where it hasn't. Guess it couldn't hurt to give it a try. It's been 8 months for her off feed and she's only lost 150 gms, down to 1350, so we're not anywhere near dire straits yet. She's shed and drinks so she's very healthy, just not hungry yet. Sucks too becuase I'd really like to pair her up to my het pied male.

'ya got nothing to lose.
worked for me,
ck

Don't worry this isn't another "my ball won't eat what do I do?" thread. Just curious how many others have balls that are just stubborn/picky feeders. I've got a small group of 12 balls right now and all but 2 eat consistantly with a few that are downright garbage disposals! :D I acquired an adult female 66% het pied from Pete Kahl in Feb and this bitch wants nothing to do with rats/mice live or F/T. After keeping boas for 17 yrs I'm finally learning that with these balls you just have to live with the picky ones, they'll eat when they want.

thats what i found out is they eat when they want to

I only have two problem children. 1 is stuck on ASF and the other will feed for 2 - 3 weeks relentlessly then go off feed for 2 - 3 weeks to process everything and shed.

I have one picky feeder.. It's a spider male.. Yeah I know everyone says spiders are supposed to be eating machines.!! Well Mine was until he hit about 500g.. Now he will only eat if he's in his hide and I drop the rat in and put him back in the rack..?? He used to take rats of tongs.. But now he has to have it this way.. I guess it's just good he's still eating and not on a fast.. But everyone else eats every week around here.. I gotta get my rat production up!! Way up.. My girls are always hungry this time of the year.. They'll eat as much as I can give them.. But 100 to 150 bucks a week is getting expensive. So now I'm trying to breed more rats.. We'll see how it goes..

Alan

I have one picky feeder.. It's a spider male.. Yeah I know everyone says spiders are supposed to be eating machines.!! Well Mine was until he hit about 500g.. Now he will only eat if he's in his hide and I drop the rat in and put him back in the rack..?? He used to take rats of tongs.. But now he has to have it this way.. I guess it's just good he's still eating and not on a fast.. But everyone else eats every week around here.. I gotta get my rat production up!! Way up.. My girls are always hungry this time of the year.. They'll eat as much as I can give them.. But 100 to 150 bucks a week is getting expensive. So now I'm trying to breed more rats.. We'll see how it goes..

Alan

at least he eats, doesn't sound like a problem to me !
ck

at least he eats, doesn't sound like a problem to me !
ck

i agree some just dont eat

I think it is just the nature of the beast. In the wild they do not have food available year round. I think the trick is to offer plenty of food when they are eating.

I had 4 problem feeders, would only take live, which i cannot supply.
After months of pulling my hair out with them, i was given a bunch of the african soft furred rats.................
Every single one has taken them df, with amazing feeding responses.
My freezer is now filled with them.
Hopefully in time they will make the swith to normal rats.

I had 4 problem feeders, would only take live, which i cannot supply.
After months of pulling my hair out with them, i was given a bunch of the african soft furred rats.................
Every single one has taken them df, with amazing feeding responses.
My freezer is now filled with them.
Hopefully in time they will make the swith to normal rats.

hey hogs, welcome aboard. nice t'have 'ya !
switchin' over will be a snap according to a successful breeder who disclosed to me that he had done it many times. try the old one-two-punch trick. offer up the asf, then soon after the neck stretch( final swallow), offer up the regular rat, your critter should tag it no problem.
hope it goes your way, good luck,
ck

Thanks CK
I'll give it a try next feeding session.

I have a spider female thats been off feed now for almost 2 months, i dont know if shes trying to tell me shes ready to breed, but shes at 1000 grams but i just dont really feel good about trying to breed her. So i still offer her food but she wants nothing to do with it. :mad::mad:

I have several....

VERY annoying, to say the least.

I have several....

VERY annoying, to say the least.

I know the feeling, it ages you.... lol

The dreaded fasting for months kills me every time.
What can you do?...lol

The dreaded fasting for months kills me every time.
What can you do?...lol

it'll only annoy you if you refuse to accept it.
i treat it like a vacation from having to feed !
a far less stressful approach...
ck

it'll only annoy you if you refuse to accept it.
i treat it like a vacation from having to feed !
a far less stressful approach...
ck

Good point ! :yessir:

Thanks CK
I'll give it a try next feeding session.

great, let us know how it goes.
ck

I have a spider female thats been off feed now for almost 2 months, i dont know if shes trying to tell me shes ready to breed, but shes at 1000 grams but i just dont really feel good about trying to breed her. So i still offer her food but she wants nothing to do with it. :mad::mad:

take her for a drive.
a one or two hour long 'round trip.
put her back in her tub.(i like to change the substrate before putting back)
watch her every night for the "ambush position" posture.
when she's doin' it right, give her the rodent of her choice.
before you know it ...BAM !
ck

let me know how many days it took for her to start eating again.

I've got several as well. I don't sweat it I just keep offering meals along with the rest of the collection and they seem to make out alright..

I really try to take advantage when they kick on feed. Like with my pied female when she'll eat she's getting it everyday or every other day..:D

I've got several as well. I don't sweat it I just keep offering meals along with the rest of the collection and they seem to make out alright..

I really try to take advantage when they kick on feed. Like with my pied female when she'll eat she's getting it everyday or every other day..:D

i do the same thing.
just had a girl go every other day six straight times.
finally gave it a rest cause she looked like she was gonna pop !
took a huge dump yesterday, i'll hit it again tonight.
ck

I have a mojo that is a pain she is an 06 and only 650 grams. :(. I've got her to eating the ASF's pretty regularly. May be she will come one and I can produce some Jigsaws with her

Everyone feeds great over here!

Started the baby's on Aspen and they are taking rat pup's already now on paper towel.

All the others are pigs!