Scared? Picky? Just not hungry?

[judiilana]

Mr. Kaa Slithers is a voracious eater, and until now has been consistently eating about 3 mice every 7 days in his feeding tub, then looking for more. After posting on here, we decided to introduce a rat this week. Initially he recoiled at the rat, and it looked like he was scared of it. But after a minute, he did show some interest, sniffing out the rat etc.... ultimately he just wanted the heck outta there. We tried putting him back in the feeding tub one more time (video below) but again he just wanted out. Do you think he's scared? Picky (used to only mice)? Just not hungry? Do we keep the rat for a week and try again or do we give him mice again now?

Some info:
Kaa is 3 years old, 3 foot long, and 783 grams
The rat weighs 73 grams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMlYE64whfk

[Mochelem]

I have found that they can tell the difference between mice and rats, I dont know if its the smell or the size... Dont worry if the snake misses a feeding or two when it gets hungry it will eat... I dont know if you were feeding live or frozen, (sorry your video lnk didnt work) if it was frozen try feeding live...

[Mochelem]

Sorry i just looked at the video by putting the address in the browser.. It looks to me like the snake showed no intrest in the rat... One thing I did notice is that you were feeding it in direct sunlight.. This is not thier natural feeding time, try feeding it in a inside location with dim light... I feed my snakes in a tub like yours but try letting the rat run around it for a while to put its scent in there... Then take the rat out... Put the snake in first then drop the rat in there, they seem to respond to that better, they see the movment and respond to it..

[Stewart_Reptiles]

While most BP will switch some might take longer than others, and it might require tough love.

If your BP has a good body weight try to offer a rat again next feeding day and see how it goes.

If he refuses again, same thing wait another week before offering another rat (in the mean time do not offer mice)

You can also try to put the rat in mice bedding for an hour prior to feeding time (if that is an option for you)

Also keep in mind that not all BP will switch I have a few that will have nothing to do with a rat.

The bottom line is to feed what works and is convenient for you.

[Abby_The_Python]

I am currently having this same problem...i figured it was because of all the Thunderstorms recently.

15 days now & still no interest, i even offered live food at night, with nobody around or sunlight & bp wants nothing to so with it.

Temps humidty everything is perfect, & she has eaten every feeding day on to the minute except for now.

So i am adding tongs & even a smaller rat next time, i switched her to a comfortable tub tonight i feel the 40 gal i had for her was to large.

Puzzled but still trying, but not forcing! lol