Feeding in tub

[VooDooDoc]

I recently switched my snake to a tub. She is still refusing F/T (3 weeks since going in the tub). I'm wondering how to feed live in the tub. If I leave the lid off the rat would surely escape before she gets it. The tub is only about 6 inches high. If I leave the lid on will that give the snake enough room to strike and coil around easily enough?

[zachbinger]

The lid wont hinder the snake at all

[Stewart_Reptiles]

All my tubs are about 6 inches high and even BP in the 1000 to 4000 grams range have no issue striking and coiling.

[bcr229]

I haven't ever had a rat jump out of a tub, but I have had live hopper mice pop right out of hatchling tubs before. Those things are a PITA to catch too!

[wendhend]

It should be fine to feed live with the tub closed. Just remember to supervise and not leave the rodent in there too long if the snake doesn't take it right away. When you are feeding frozen / thawed, are you warming it, dangling it with tongs and feeding when it is dark? To me those are the most effective elements for getting ball pythons to take frozen / thawed prey consistently. Also housing in a rack, but you are clearly already doing that.

[VooDooDoc]

I've tried everything to get this blasted snake to eat F/T. The good news is she just ate a small rat (live), had plenty of room to take it down with the lid on. Now if I could just get her to eat bigger rats I'd be set but she just seems uninterested in medium size rats, every time I put one in she ignores it, or hides when it comes up to her. They are definitely smaller than she is around so I don't think they are too big.

[200xth]

Now if I could just get her to eat bigger rats I'd be set but she just seems uninterested in medium size rats, every time I put one in she ignores it, or hides when it comes up to her.

So feed her smalls. There's no rule that says she has to eat mediums. Some of them just like smaller food.

How often are you feeding her? There's a lot of people with large females that don't feed anything larger than a small rat.