Feeding question

[Cop]

My room mates ball python is striking at the mouse, but not wrapping around it. It just strikes and lets go.

Is it just because of stress or can something else cause it to do this?

[starmom]

Sounds like a defensive action. What can you tell us about the husbandry and history of the snake?

[Cop]

It's about the middle of February and it's been in a cage with reptile bark for a substrate, two hides, water dish, a thermo/hydrometer on each side and a log in the center. It has eaten regularly before, but had been striking my room mate lately when trying to feed him. It will kill the prey, then not eat it.

My guess is that he needs to make it more confining. Meaning put in fake leaves, logs, rocks, or similar.


EDIT: I am uploading a picture of his cage now.

[Cop]

Here is his cage. I already told him all you guys were going to say is get a smaller cage and decorate this one more. But he doesn't listen to me. Stubborn.

[starmom]

Oh my god that look cavernous!!! I am amazed that there is not a boa in there... What's he doing wasting all that space on a ball for???
Seriously though, wow, tons of space to fill up and make it look really pretty so that the wee little snake will be able to live without ridiculous stress responses. Gee whiz. It's a great cage though, just the wrong species inside of it!!!!
Okay, you know....fill it up. Stop trying to fee the snake. Fill up the space with wads of paper, vines, fake plants, more fake plants..... and leave the snake alone for a couple of weeks. Darn, that cage is huge.
Are you saying that the snake was born in February 2008?

[dr del]

Hi,

And to get identicle hides for both temp zones if he can.

Sacrificing another coconut to the cause and removing the half-log would probably be his easiest option.

It does look like a big scary space but it shouldn't be too hard to fill it up a little with fake plants etc - a quick word on those, check for sharp wires and closed loops they can get tangled in before putting them in the cage.

It certainly sounds like a security problem - perhaps he could cover the front of the tank with a towel during feeding to prevent it getting spooked?

I would also recomend leaving it completely alone as much as possible once the cage has been changed so it can re-settle in and not try and feed for another week.

Let us know if any of this helps.


dr del

[starmom]

Hi,
Sacrificing another coconut to the cause...... dr del