What the heck is he doing?

[sekaiNdobes]

Today is feeding day. Sekai eats live, recently bumped up to small rats. This is his second, he ate his first small rat last week with gusto - no problems at all.

Tonight I prescented. Went in to feed, and Sekai was smooshed up against the side of his cage, as close to the rat as possible. I left quiety, came back about ten minutes later, Sekai was in his hide, head poking out - his typical FEED ME! behavior. Like I've always done, I dropped in rat (no lights on), waited... nothing. Sekai was initially interested, but after about 5 minutes he stopped observing and ignored the rat. At 30 minutes or so, removed rat, since Sekai hadn't shown any interest after his initial stalk.

Removed rat from the room entirely.

Some background info:
1. Has previously been a voracious eater, even in shed.
2. I've had him more than a month, seems to be eliminating normally.
3. Have not changed anything in his enclosure recently.
4. temps and humidity are fine - humidity is a bit higher than usual though, since it looks like he's in the beginning stages of another shed.
5. Has not pooped since last meal (last Tuesday)


Some thoughts:
1. Perhaps he's not hungry? After all, he did just transition to small rats last week.
2. Perhaps he ate during his last shed because he was reeeeally hungry from being underfed in his previous home. Maybe this time he's not ravenous enough to eat while he's in shed? Right now we've got a pinkish belly, that's it - not in blue yet.
3. Perhaps he's having second thoughts about increased prey size?


Fast forward about... 90 minutes: I went in to grab a towel to mop up water the dogs slopped on the kitchen floor while drinking, and lo and behold - he's out of his hide again, smooshed up against the side of the cage where the rat had been.. what the heck is he doing???

Now, I'm definitely not going to plop the rat back in - I've read to wait a week, so that's what I'm going to do. Now, a few questions...

1. What should I do with this rat? Will he grow "too big" in a week? I've got him comfy and safe, for now.

2. Why would Sekai be so interested in the end of the cage where the rat had been (both pre- and post- refusal) if he decided not to do anything when the rat was actually in the cage?

3. Next week, should I offer a smaller prey item, or this same prey item (if he's not too big).


Thanks everyone in advance - I feel like an idiot, even though I know this sort of thing happens to everyone at some point.

[Somed00d]

Went in to feed, and Sekai was smooshed up against the side of his cage, as close to the rat as possible. I left quiety, came back about ten minutes later

I would personally never leave a live rat in with the snake unattended.

Also, that rat shouldn't outgrow your snake in a week.

[stangs13]

Also, that rat shouldn't outgrow your snake in a week.

Don't say that. It can be just days....

[sekaiNdobes]

I would personally never leave a live rat in with the snake unattended

Whoops sorry, misunderstanding - I never ever *ever* leave any live prey alone with him - the rat was in a container, next to Sekai's cage - they were in separate enclosures.

[abhorrent]

Strange, I have a similar problem right now as well.

I'll put the container on the screen of the tank, stick my hand in the container and get the rat to run a few laps around it's container (generally the scratching noise is enough to bring Ruth out of her hide and cocked back at the container).

Last feeding day did this, all went as it usually did. Only she hesitated a moment, went for the rat and missed, then didn't show interest at all after that.

Tried again 20 minutes later, again 20 minutes later, again 20 minutes later. She showed interest, but didn't go for it. Cocked back, starting hitting it with the tongue, then pulled back into her hide very fast. Took the rat back to the breeder and said I'd be back in five days.

Now for the past 4 days she's been up hunting every night. Go figure.