OMG! Getting frustrated..someone help me out

[ndizzleg]

Ok i've had my ball for close to 2 months now. He's about 550 grams. I've fed him live consistently every week. I usually feed him good size adult mice. Last week i fed him a small rat and he took it no problem. Well this week i went to feed him and he would get close to the prey, do the S, then the rat would go to sniff him and my ball would back off. And the 2 attempted strikes didnt go as planned and he didnt get the rat. And thinking the rat was too big i switched back down to an adult mouse today and he did the same thing...slowly crept up to it, S, the mouse would turn and look at him and then my ball would back off real quick. I am confused and frustrated as to whats going on?? What can I do so the feed is successful, because i want to keep feeding live.
thnaks everyone`

My setup is as follows:

-32 quart tub
-UTH on warmside set to 94 with herpstat
-newspaper substrate
-cave hide on warmside-
-water dish on coolside
-infared light
- 92.5 hot side; 81 coolside; humidity 61%

[Drew87]

Try feeding him with tongs hold the rat about 4-6 inches away from him let him come to the rat instead of the rat going to him, other then that be calm this happens all the time balls are picky eaters

[tigerlily]

Is it possible that he may be going into shed? If he decides he doesn't want to eat, I would wait until the next week to offer food again.

[ndizzleg]

Thanks for the replies. I kinda figured those things, but just wanted to make sure. It almost seemed like he wasn't sure where to strike the mouse, ..like he couldn't find a good angle to strike at?.. But ohh well, ill try in 5 days or so..

[TooManyToys]

Like they said above, I wouldn't get overly excited about one missed week of feeding.

[Argentra]

Hmm, that sounds a lot like my younger normal girl. I had been feeding live, and she was fine with it until one feeding she just didn't want to get too close to the mouse. I thought nothing of it until she did the same thing again the next week. Not wanting her to miss two weeks straight, I had the idea to give the mouse a quick dispatch (i.e. cervical dislocation) so it was dead but still twitching. That did the trick. She was nervous about the mouse moving toward her, and when the mouse didn't move she nailed it. I've been feeding all my snakes PK or FT ever since.

Sometimes, even when a keeper wants to feed live, the snakes have other ideas.

[Jenn]

Agreed, happens all the time. Snakes can go for a very long time without eating. You may want your snake to eat on the same day each week, but that may not work for him.

I wouldn't worry about it. Just wait a week and try again. I'll bet he strikes right away next time. Don't keep trying every day though, you could make the situation worst.

Are you pre-scenting?

[munding]

maybe he's just not hungry? my 270+ gram pastel didnt eat for 8 weeks. i tried rat pups, mice, gerbils and he wouldnt take it.. after 8 weeks he lost 30g in weight. after 1 mouse the other day, hes back to 271. so maybe he just doesnt feel like eating.

[ndizzleg]

Agreed, happens all the time. Snakes can go for a very long time without eating. You may want your snake to eat on the same day each week, but that may not work for him.

I wouldn't worry about it. Just wait a week and try again. I'll bet he strikes right away next time. Don't keep trying every day though, you could make the situation worst.

Are you pre-scenting?

Yes, a open one end of the box and let it sit right on top oof the tub under the infared light then after about 5 minutes the snake is out and i drop the mouse in. But like you guys said,..i'll just give it a week and see how it goes.