Mouse Preferences?

[rabernet]

OK, so Kashmire has been really active since his last huge poop, and of course I was worried over him perhaps being stressed. I mean he was active during the day and quiet at night, totally backwards.

I offered him a mouse the following Saturday on schedule, and he refused it. No big deal, I actually didn't come running here after one feed refusal. So this Saturday I offered it to him again (same mouse), and he refused again, but I noticed that this particular mouse was super active, not timid like his past feeds. It ran all over the enclosure, never resting, climbing all over his hides, even stepping on Kashmire and once on his head and running in and out of the hides like he owned the place. Poor Kashmire seemed to try to be getting away from "that crazy mouse" although it never tried to hurt him, just running over him when he was in the way of his travels.

I got to wondering whether or not Kashmire just didn't like the super activeness of this mouse and if it in fact intimidated him somewhat. After about 15 minutes, I removed it. Later that day, I took this fattened up mouse back to the pet store and traded it for a smaller calmer mouse. This evening Kashmire was chilling in his hide with his head peeked out and decided I'd see if he'd take this smaller more timid mouse. That mouse lasted 10 seconds and he nailed it.

Have any of you noticed a preference in the behavior of mice that your snakes will take? What do I know? It "seemed" that a more gregarious mouse was NOT what Kashmire preferred, but rather a shyer (sp?) more timid mouse.

Just my observation with this particular snake. I'm so happy he fed now after a two week fast. I know two weeks isn't bad, but it puts a worried bp momma's OCD'ness to rest! LOL

[mr~python]

i noticed it with my male zulu. there was this one rat a couple of feeds ago that was slightly bigger then the one i had usually been feeding him. he didnt refuse it it just took him a little longer to bits it because the rat was acting like he "owned the place" like you said. after a minute the rat got for thinking he owned the place though *mistevious grin*

[clizardb]

My California King Snakes exhibit the same behavior occasionally, especially right befor and after their winter brumation period. sometimes I have to get mice that are not compleatly white to get them to eat.

[elra]

my bp is the opposite of your Kashmire. she loves super active prey.. and she will only eat white mice. man i spoil her lol

[Adam_Wysocki]

My guess would be that you don't have a good "routine" down with your snake yet.

For example, on Monday afternoons/evenings just about every single one of my snakes will eat without a hitch ... but if I were to try and feed just one or two (even if they are normally great eaters) on a Thursday morning, I would definitely have some problems because they are just not used to the difference in routine.

Routine, routine, routine!! ... That is the secret to feeding ball pythons ... Pick one method, on the same day each week, and do EVERYTHING the same each time ... before you know it, your ball python will be telling you when it's time to eat.

-adam

[rabernet]

You're right! However, I was feeding every Saturday, and this Monday was the first day I've gone off the normal feeding day, but only because he had refused the other mouse two weeks in a row. I remembered from our phone conversation you saying that you had routines you did so the snakes always knew when it was Monday afternoon/evening, so I am trying to repeat the same movements and actions right before every feed.


So, you don't think it was the "in your face" mouse that made him refuse? It was more coincidence that he took the calmer one that was more similar to previous feeds? I thought I was onto something! LOL

[Adam_Wysocki]

So, you don't think it was the "in your face" mouse that made him refuse? It was more coincidence that he took the calmer one that was more similar to previous feeds? I thought I was onto something! LOL

It could have been ... I'm no psychic ... but IME, ball pythons eat when they are hungry no matter how 'in you face' the rodent is.

-adam

[rabernet]

Adam, do you sometimes just shake your head when you read our posts and theories about our snakes? LOL He just seemed so headshy with this mouse that had been so markedly different in its actions than any other I had offered. I would have sworn that mouse was on speed!

I for one am glad you are here as the voice of reason!

[Adam_Wysocki]

Adam, do you sometimes just shake your head when you read our posts and theories about our snakes?

Nope, Never ... well, alright sometimes, but only with certain people ... I'm just a guy that honestly believes that all things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

-adam

[bg1906]

My guess would be that you don't have a good "routine" down with your snake yet.

For example, on Monday afternoons/evenings just about every single one of my snakes will eat without a hitch ... but if I were to try and feed just one or two (even if they are normally great eaters) on a Thursday morning, I would definitely have some problems because they are just not used to the difference in routine.

Routine, routine, routine!! ... That is the secret to feeding ball pythons ... Pick one method, on the same day each week, and do EVERYTHING the same each time ... before you know it, your ball python will be telling you when it's time to eat.

-adam

I have to agree here. Adam sold me A'Kashja no Thursday and said he feeds on Mondays (Ironically the same day I wanted to feed). I emailed him about the routine he used to feed her. He emailed back and I did as instructed. NOT 1 PROBLEM! She ate as soon as the rat pink was offered. No hitch whatsoever. I've also heard many others say that their snakes become accustomed to a feeding routine and react appropriately. For my own diagnosis it will take me some more time and practice, but just based on what Adam says here, it proved true with me last night.