Can snakes become desensitized to feeder scents?

[nachash]

So, karma's a...well you know
I've always laughed at people who talk about their balls refusing a meal. Not my Symy, she's a beast... well, it happened. I feed live, and I use a separate container. I don't want to debate the merits of my feeding ritual because I know it works. Hundreds of rodents have martyred themselves in proof.
I bought this rat on sunday, and haven't been able to get a feeding response out of Symy. I am hardly worried; she is fat as hell. But, i need to keep the rat in the same room as my python. Will constant exposure to the smell of the rat make her uninterested in, or even unable to detect the rat?

[Sama]

I don't believe it should cause a problem. Until we got our rodent shed up we had mice/rats in the living room and the snakes in the computer room, the computer room opens into the living room. The door between is always open so the dogs have access to the dog door. We have a LOT of mice and rats and never noticed a problem come feeding time while they where so near, this was for just over a year.

[nachash]

I was really hoping from an answer from someone who had your exact situation, with a feeder rack in close proximity to the snakes. Thank you so much!

[Kymberli]

Just thought I should add, I've spoken to a few people who keep their feeders and BPs in the same room with no problems at all. It's not all about the smell of their meal, but also their prey's heat signature. I'm sure if your snake wants to eat, it will regardless of where the rodent was previously kept.

[AkHerps]

Yeah I had pet rets about 3 feet away from my snake tubs(small apartment) and my snakes didn't act any different/less/more hungry.

[ogdentrece]

I have always wondered about this, since I was thinking of doing the same. I never tried fearing this problem so thanks for bringing it up. But I guess its also cos my awesome feeder is so sensitive to the smell of mice i just need to walk past with a piece from my mouse cage and hes out and ready to strike. I think if I keep my mice near this little guy, I'm gonna get bitten every time I reach in.

But when it comes to being desensitized to the scent and not eating cos of that, I shouldn't think so. For one, ball pythons in the wild usually live in their last meal's burrow but still catch another when it comes along. Another thing would be because so many people have kept them in the same room successfully.

[DemmBalls]

I have my rat rack in the same room as my snakes. I haven't noticed any ill affects.