New BP Strikes At Mouse but Won't Eat It

[dpratt]

I have acquired a 1 month old BP and have had her (Cleo) for ~2 weeks. I have changed Cleo's living environment three times during the learing process of how to properly care for her. I attempted to feed Cleo a pre-killed/frozen/thawed mouse by dangling it by her mouth and she struck at the mouse several times, but then quickly recoiled and refused to hold onto the mouse and eat it. Then, she hide her head under her body. Any suggestions on how to get her to eat?

[teebyrd393]

I have acquired a 1 month old BP and have had her (Cleo) for ~2 weeks. I have changed Cleo's living environment three times during the learing process of how to properly care for her. I attempted to feed Cleo a pre-killed/frozen/thawed mouse by dangling it by her mouth and she struck at the mouse several times, but then quickly recoiled and refused to hold onto the mouse and eat it. Then, she hide her head under her body. Any suggestions on how to get her to eat?

If you've only had your bp 2 weeks and have changed its environment that many times it is probably striking and not eating because it is stressed out.
Ideally everything should have been set up before you purchased your pet, but I know how you may be learning new and better techniques from the forum. We all learn from our mistakes
Now, if everything is right (temps, humidity, hides, water, etc) do not handle it or try to feed in for atleat a week. This will allow the snake to become comfortable with its new home. After that try again. If it refuses food again wait a day or two before offering again.

[Sarin]

The above poster gave you some great information. I had this similar problem with a .1 hatchling I recently purchased. She'd strike, coil, then release the live prey. I noticed that if there was ANY sudden movement after she coiled, it'd scare her and she immediately uncoiled. Even when I tried to put the lid back on her tub it spooked her enough to uncoil.

Like ^ said, get the husbandry spot on and try feeding him/her again in 5-7 days, don't make any sudden movements after she coils and see if it works.

[Elise.m]

Do you know what she was eating before you obtained her? Was she eating live, or was she already on F/T? If after the 7 day waiting period, she doesn't eat again while trying f/t, try feeding her live a few times then switch to f/t. Get her eating first, then worry about converting.

[Patricia]

A wee babe... perhaps just leaving it overnight near her hide will give her the peace, quiet, and solitude she needs to eat.

[dpratt]

Thank you for responding and providing your input. You are on point when you say I am learning from my mistakes; I have learned quite abit from this website and reading materials. Thanks!

[dpratt]

The above poster gave you some great information. I had this similar problem with a .1 hatchling I recently purchased. She'd strike, coil, then release the live prey. I noticed that if there was ANY sudden movement after she coiled, it'd scare her and she immediately uncoiled. Even when I tried to put the lid back on her tub it spooked her enough to uncoil.

Like ^ said, get the husbandry spot on and try feeding him/her again in 5-7 days, don't make any sudden movements after she coils and see if it works.

REPLY:

Thanks Sarin, I have finalized the environment by changing the bedding to Cypress Mulch, adding two hides (one in heat and one in cool), and use a day light and moon light. Cleo, my BP, seems much happier so I am hopeful she will eat next week, thanks!

[dpratt]

If you've only had your bp 2 weeks and have changed its environment that many times it is probably striking and not eating because it is stressed out.
Ideally everything should have been set up before you purchased your pet, but I know how you may be learning new and better techniques from the forum. We all learn from our mistakes
Now, if everything is right (temps, humidity, hides, water, etc) do not handle it or try to feed in for atleat a week. This will allow the snake to become comfortable with its new home. After that try again. If it refuses food again wait a day or two before offering again.

Teebyrd393:

Thanks for the great information. It is very helpful. I am learning a lot about my new BP and enjoy being a "keeper"!

[dpratt]

A wee babe... perhaps just leaving it overnight near her hide will give her the peace, quiet, and solitude she needs to eat.

Patricia:

Thank you for your input. I have read quite abit about my new BP and your suggestion is one I have been considering. I only wonder that if I feed Cleo, my BP, f/t mice whether after leaving the mouse in her feeding box with a hide if Cleo will still want to feed on the mouse even though it is no longer warm. Thanks!

[Patricia]

whether after leaving the mouse in her feeding box with a hide if Cleo will still want to feed on the mouse even though it is no longer warm.

It was only 3 months ago when got our young BP and fed it for the first time. We knew nothing. Less than nothing. Want to hear what a joke that first feeding was?

We bought that "Gourmet Rodent" pack from PetCo, where the one mouse was in the plastic bag. I put the whole bag into a bowl of warm water for awhile. There must've been ice crystals inside that bag, because when we took the mouse out (which was way too small, to start with), it was soaking wet. I didn't even know if we should've dried it first, let alone warmed it up (I hadn't discovered BP.net yet), so we put that wet mouse in there. No wonder it took our new snakey 2 hours to eat! Probably couldn't get a heat sensing on it! Also had a hard time positioning it to swallow.

So anyway, if that worked, cooling off from being warm will also work. I've use a hairdryer to warm dinner up, which had had time to cool off while Patriot decided what to do with it, but he ate it fine. Last time this happened was just last week, when he didn't seem that hungry for the second mouse, which lay there for nearly an hour. But yes, he eventually gobbled it down.

Enjoy! These first few weeks of snake ownership were frazzling for me because I knew zero, but the folks here got me through it. They'll get you through it too.