could this be the problem?

[mr~python]

last week a waited till sunday to feed my snakes because i was gonna change there feding day to the weekend. when i put the rat in with zulu (who isnt eating anyway) he didnt eat it and i didnt think to much of it, but then i put it in with vanessa and she didnt eat. which is odd because she's a really good eater.

im thinking it's because the rat was really rambunxious(sp?) and really climbing on them. i noticed that both vanessa and zulu hid there heads because the rat was climbing on them.

would this cause vanessa to not feed, or is it more likely that its because of the feeding day change?... im stumped on this one

[Shelby]

When I feed live, sometimes I notice if the rat is too 'friendly' the snake will feel defensive and not feed. It's entirely possible.

[kavmon]

yes that could be a problem. one tip is to make sure they have hides to hunt from. you can also put a lab block in there to give the rat something to do. skip a couple of weeks and make them hungry. just some thoughts.


vaughn

[mr~python]

hhmmm, i never thought of giving them hides to hunt from. usually i feed them in a box out of there encolsure. is there anything wrong with that?

[Shelby]

I wouldn't put the extra stress on the snakes (especially ball pythons!) by moving them to a feeding box. I feed all 22 of mine in cages.

[mr~python]

it would be ok for vanessa but the thing for zulu is he is in a 4 x 2 x 2 cage filled with crumpled newspaper. would he be able to get it before it fills the cage up with an ammonia smell of pee and poop?

[gmmuscle91]

i have heard that feeding them in the cage can make them more aggressive when something comes in the cage if they cant tell the difference, like a finger? i have been told to feed in seperate cages while they are young, and when they get older you can feed them in their cage. is this ok or not?

[kavmon]

this stuff has been on other threads before, here goes.
if you regularly go into the tub/cage for cleaning,inspection,checking the water bowl or to handle the snake,taking pics, etc. it shouldn't be a problem. alot of bp's like to ambush hunt from their hides, and alot spend alot of time in their hides(they feel secure there). try to pre-scent the room/area with the rodents and wait for your snake to get into "feed mode" most of mine eat quickly. some take longer than others, the ones that take longer i feed last. alot of progress can be made by being consistent with your routine, same feeding day,time. same prey,size. and sometimes it takes weeks or months to get it all down smooth. they are individual living animals and each one can/will be different too.

vaughn

[Shelby]

Mr python - if Zulu is a lazy blob of flesh I suppose, but all mine that eat live pound it quickly before it gets a chance to poo.

gmmuscle - complete myth as long as you open the cage for things other than feeding (which you should if you take care of your snake properly!)

I feed babies in their cages.. I feed adults in their cages.. I feed my BP my anacondas, my blood pythons, my burm, my baby colubrids.. EVERYTHING.. in it's cage.

[Adam_Wysocki]

it would be ok for vanessa but the thing for zulu is he is in a 4 x 2 x 2 cage filled with crumpled newspaper. would he be able to get it before it fills the cage up with an ammonia smell of pee and poop?

As soon as feeding day is over we immediately start cleaning all of the cages ... by the time we're done, the snakes are fed, rat excrement is gone, and the shop is clean!

-adam