I'm glad it's not mites - they are the meanest, most evil critter in the world and every herper should hate them!!

Good luck with Monty's feeding - hopefully you'll have him on f/t in no time.. when you try switching try the following things with the f/t item to encourage feeding; let the mouse/rat defrost in the room by Monty's tank, where he will taste and smell it as it defrosts.. You could try braining or slitting the mouse/rat to expose blood or the brain, which often gets reluctant snakes feeding,.. Did he eat a mouse or a rat this time? - try the same kind of rodent when you try f/t. Or alternatively perhaps a change to a diff rodent might help.. some snakes prefer the taste of one over the other, and sometimes even colour can have a factor! .. Dangle the prey item to immitate live food.. Warm the food item up before feeding..

You'll soon get him feeding f/t I'm sure, and when you do you will learn about his individual personal preferences and what works best for him. Good luck,.

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

He ate a mouse... the same kind and size he was being fed before we got him. I had bought frozen ones too and tried them first... I've tried all those tricks, except "braining" the mouse... although the last one burst open (yuck) at the belly... he still didn't go for it.
I think I'll feed him live weekly for a few weeks and then try the f/t again... he WILL convert! I'm determined... but I think he's had enough things to adjust to, so I'll give him some more time.

__________________
Andrea

Andrea you might try this. When the snake is swallowing the first rodent have a frozen/thawed one ready and with tongs gently lead the nose into his mouth as the other one is going down. Many times since they are already swallowing they just continue with the second one. That way he will get used to the smell/taste of the pre-killed.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thanks Merlin, I'll have to try that... My BP is about 20" long: can I feed him two mice at once? He's used to being fed one 14 gr. mouse each week, but like I said, he went 3 weeks without anything. I'd like to try out your trick next time, but I don't want him regurgitating.... ?????

__________________
Andrea

At that size there shouldn't be any problem with giving him 2 at a time for a couple of feedings and then trying just the prekilled.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Your description of scales sticking up with lumps or bumps under them worries me a little. If any new bumps occur and he doesn't gain weight take him to a vet ASAP. I'm really glad he ate for you

__________________
Official hostage of the GFWD
"The truely dangerous people are the ignorant ones."
Founding Member of Logical People Against Arcane Boa Subspecies Classification (LPAABSC):
B c.c 1758, B. c. i. 1803 B. c. o. 1873!
"A BOA CONSTRICTOR IS A Boa constrictor!"

Well, I checked Monty AGAIN for mites and finally decided to give him a good soaking (which he didn't enjoy) Sure enough -- mites! After the soak, I checked the bumps again and one of the mites was now sticking part way out from under the scales... I was able to press it all the way out and since dirt specks don't have legs and move, it's definitely mites... WAAAAHHHH!
Well, we've spent the morning waging war. First on Monty ... good soaks and one with some betadine. A lot seemed to come off of him. Everything is closed on Sundays in Switzerland, so getting some of the treatments will have to wait till tomorrow.
He's in a plastic box now with just paper towel, a water dish and a hidebox. Everything else in his terrarium has been either thrown out or sterilized with bleach water and the smaller stuff has also been put in the freezer. When we can make some more room, his branch is going in there too.
Martin's downloaded and read just about everything he could find on reptile mites, in both English and German. So I think we know what to do... Just wish us luck!!!
We've been really good about the quarantine, so I hope that Talyn and her terrarium have not been infested. She'll have to be checked... so when she digests those rats, in the bath she goes!!!

__________________
Andrea

YUCK! YUCK! YUCK! YUCK!
Nasty little buggers! Keep a very close eye on Talyn. They are sneaky little nasties!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

HATE MITES!!!! Don't worry too much - I've found them quite easy to get rid of,.. only thing is you become majorly paranoid about every black speckle you see in the future!! Good luck - you're doing everything right, i hope you get rid of them quickly.

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I've been vacuuming, mopping and cleaning all day... every speck of dirt is suspect and sends me into a new cleaning fit!
I'm going to post a response to the "A good read on mites" thread. Have any of you tried predatory mites (Hypoaspis miles) as a treatment for reptile mites? The British site listed in that article: www.defenders.co.uk makes it sound pretty interesting... especially since the same bugs could take care of my black fly/gnat problem in my house plants.
It seems like a good preventive treatment to try in Talyn's terrarium, which I don't think has been infested, but I'm not sure.

__________________
Andrea