How do Balls determine what is food?

[Bmocken]

Do BP go off just a heat source or does it go off a combination of smell and heat to determine when to go after potential food? For example I fed my BP last night and before I had the mouse in the room I opened the tub and checked things over and moved a hide to give him some more room to strike (he's flipped a hide striking) and he paid hardly any attention to my hands. Once I had the mouse in the room and got the mouse just above the tub he was on the move and had it wrapped before I even had a chance to set it down. I've read and seen videos where one says it's the heat source and time of that heat source entering the enclosure,at night for example during prime hunting time. I've also heard it is the combination of heat and smell. As a fairly new keeper I don't want to make the mistake thinking it's just smell based if it isn't.

[Sensismell]

both. when they smell the food they go into a "feed mode" and once in that mindset they will strike anything with a heat signature including a hand holding a rodent by the tail. It's just what heat source it decides to lock onto. that's why your supposed to use tongs even though I don't on occasion.