Grr, feeding issue

[nickdolin]

Well, today was Thor's first feeding attempt and he struck right away. I was relieved and thought he'd be fine. Well, I came back in a few minutes later to notice that he had gotten the mouse sideways. Left, and came back in a few minutes later and the mouse was sitting on the ground. Did I do something wrong??
Weight- 205G trying to feed F/T Med. Mouse (he was started on f/t per Pro Exotics).

[dr del]

Hi,

I would really heat the head up and re-offer it to him and see if you can get him to strike again.

I find a hairdrier is the best way to do it - just give the head a good blasting.

Er... the mouses head that is.


dr del

[nickdolin]

ah well, no dice, he'd smell it but no 2nd strike. Try again tomorrow?

[het.pied]

give it acouple days. attempting to feed day after day will only lead to more dissapointments and stress on you and the snake. i learned that the hard way!

[rabernet]

ah well, no dice, he'd smell it but no 2nd strike. Try again tomorrow?

Nope, that will only stress him out. Try again in a week. And don't handle him this week, let him acclimate.

[dr del]

Hi,

No, I would wait and try him again next scheduled feeding day - offering food too often to a snake that doesn't want it can cause stress. He might eat tomorrow if you offered but skipping a week really isn't a problem to a healthy snake so it is the best choice most of the time.

**edit** Dang I type slow **end edit**


dr del

[nickdolin]

I guess my mistake was heating the whole body with the hair dryer the first time. Next time (5-7 days w/o handling) I'll make sure to focus the heat on the head.

[rabernet]

BTW, we have a great section in our Ball python caresheet on "Why won't my snake eat?" that covers different reasons for a refusal. It's a very helpful check-list to see what other reasons he may be refusing. Although, one refusal isn't much to be concerned over.

[kitedemon]

Hey,
I have never tried heating the head more, thanks dr del that makes good sense! Adam Wysocki 8 ball python comment of pre-scenting has worked like a charm for me. Mine had in his smaller enclosure wrestled a rat around a bit and then tried the middle and dropped it, similar story.

I just picked it back up and re-warmed it presented it a second time holding it (BBQ scissors-tongs) past the rear legs (rats legs that is) my guy struck constricted (second time) and had a better position to take the head.

I decided that in my case this was a small enclosure limiting his manoeuvring room. I put him in a larger one and this trouble went away. I don't know if this will help but that was what my problem seemed to be. Just don't stress him out check your temps and such and leave him be for a bit and try again next feeding day.

[nickdolin]

Well I was hoping that re-heating the head would provoke some interest but no luck. And Robin, I read over the care-sheet and really I think my husbandry is OK except I'll just have to leave him alone (trying to limit intrusions) for 5-7 days until I give it another shot.