Strikes in the wrong direction!

[Razaiel]

Hi All

I'm probably being neurotic - but nearly every time Emily gets her feed she strikes in the wrong direction the first time - although we jiggle mousy about in front of her nose virtually. I'm sure it doesn't matter (well I guess it would in the wild) but I wonder if other Balls do this also or if there's something wrong with Emily. I know they can't see that well but I would have thought the strike in the right direction instinct would be built into them or it would be starvation in the wild.

[daniel1983]

sometimes those babies like to strike about once they smell food... they miss every now and then....i have even had one of mine miss and bite itself As long as she is eating, you should be just fine

[Lady Python]

Make sure the mouse is nicely warm - especially the head - and defintely warmer than your hand LOL

[alexrls]

sometimes those babies like to strike about once they smell food... they miss every now and then....i have even had one of mine miss and bite itself As long as she is eating, you should be just fine

WHAT!!! thats friggin hilarious!! bit itself...did it wrap or just tag?

[daniel1983]

WHAT!!! thats friggin hilarious!! bit itself...did it wrap or just tag?

It was not that funny to me He latched on to himself....even bled a bit...but he eventually let go, and still ate the mouse

[megwinder]

It was not that funny to me He latched on to himself....even bled a bit...but he eventually let go, and still ate the mouse

Hahahaha... One of my leopard geckos did that..... She bit her own tail, tried to eat it, then freaked out because she couldnt figure out what was hurting her.

[frankykeno]

Hmmm I guess that whole "brain the size of a peanut" figures into this LOL.

We've had some of the younger snakes hit and miss wildly a time or two. I think it's like they get all over excited about the mouse/rat smell and are all "where my mouse! where's my rat!"


~~Jo~~

[Razaiel]

Thank you for your replies folks My first assumption was correct then - I'm an over-anxious, neurotic snake-mommy Well I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Wow, your poor little one, Daniel, that must have been so weird - and no doubt the more his "prey" wriggled the tighter he clamped down :/ And I had to laugh at the gecko getting his own tail - they are so funny!

Well I won't worry about her any more - just sit on my hands for the 36-48 hours waiting for mouseys to digest I do miss her when I can't cuddle her - she also torments me by pushing herself against the glass asking to come out and wondering why I won't let her!

[frankykeno]

Nah Raz, in my mind you're being a good snake "mommy". Myself, I'd rather post a thread and feel a bit silly if it's nothing, than assume everything's fine and end up with a much bigger issue. I'm from the better safe, than sorry school of thought myself.


~~Jo~~

[Danielle(THM)]

I got a good story for you guys, when I last fed Bauhamat, she struck at the mouse I was dangling, missed, then got her teeth stuck in the repti-carpet, for about two minutes or so she struggled to get her teeth about. I was so scared when it happened, she freed herself, but I thought she might lose teeth or break her own jaw, but I calmed down when she tried to strike the mouse again.