strange behavior while feeding

[mr~python]

i tried to feed my snakes tonight with no luck. zulu didnt eat (as i expected because hes been off and on) and vanessa didnt eat either.

when i was feeding vanessa though, she kept approaching the rat like she was going to bite it, but then once the rat would turn nose to nose and kind of sniff and take a step toward her she would turn away and not eat him.

she kept doing that like 5 times in a row though. does anybody know whats up?

P.S. (off subject) im getting my flexwatt soon. the first time i ordered it, it got lost or stolen and i never got it. i cant wait until my rack is done.

[frankykeno]

I wish I knew Marshall. I have seen this behavior here and there with my BP's. They will seem interested, approach and sniff the live rodent then just sort of "nahhhhh I'm not really all that interested" and meander off back to a hide. I just assume it means they aren't really all that hungry, remove the prey and try again next week. Sometimes I will remove the live prey and offer a smaller size (I'm lucky enough to have lots in various sizes)...sometimes that works...most times it doesn't. They just can't be bothered that week but usually the next week they are good to go. Maybe it's like Adam says about self-regulating their own eating habits as in the wild they probably are not likely to be eating a fat prey item every week on the same day.


~~Jo~~

[mr~python]

thanks Jo. i guess all i can really do is provide the proper envirement and let them eat when they please. they look nice and fat already so im not worried.

[snakebitten69]

try feeding them pre killed pray! just leave it with them over night if thay feel the need to eat thay will!

[jknudson]

i tried to feed my snakes tonight with no luck. zulu didnt eat (as i expected because hes been off and on) and vanessa didnt eat either.

when i was feeding vanessa though, she kept approaching the rat like she was going to bite it, but then once the rat would turn nose to nose and kind of sniff and take a step toward her she would turn away and not eat him.

she kept doing that like 5 times in a row though. does anybody know whats up?

P.S. (off subject) im getting my flexwatt soon. the first time i ordered it, it got lost or stolen and i never got it. i cant wait until my rack is done.

I just had my female do this as well. She would roam around the rat looking as if sizing her up...which I'll admit the rat was a little bit larger than the normal small rats. A few flicks of the tongue and the neck coiled back for strike...but nothing. I belive that the medium rat was just too intimidating, so in a few days I will be finding her a smaller rat to feed.

However, Shogun ate his medium rat without issue, and...I offered him the second refused rat from Q because he still showed interest in the smell in the air, so he pounded hers as well...so he is quite the happy camper with his large meal.

Jason

[daniel1983]

Marshall, are you putting the snake in feeding mode before offering food? That is the key to feeding live safely and successfully. I have noticed that problem when snakes are not prepared for their food. Try placing a container with the rat inside near the enclosure so that the smell of the rodent can initiate a feeding responce before you ever drop the rodent in. When I could not do that, I have also put some soiled rat bedding in a gladware container with holes punched in top and dropped it in the enclosure about 20 min. before it was time to feed. That can really get them ready to eat Give it a shot.

[frankykeno]

Excellent idea Daniel! I'll have to try that if I get anymore silliness from Ms Kyna. We've used the same concept to get the WC Saoirse to eat....called it "priming the pump" with her LOL.



~~Jo~~

[mr~python]

hey, i should try that too. i always had the feeling she was caught a little off guard by the rat. shes more of the timid, shy kind of ball python. the weird thing is that up until this winter i didnt have any problems with her. she took every meal since i got her on 7/22/04. i guess its because shes getting to be breeding size or something.

i hope to breed her next season. she's already at 1100 grams. i wish our digital camera connection thing worked so i can show you guys some new pics of her, she's beeeeaaaauuuutiful (well i think atleast, lol). well i got off topic pretty fast. i better stop now, lol.