So, something weird happened today...

[rynpckrd]

Today, like every Friday, is feeding day.

Onyx ate his two fuzzies without any problem whatsoever. It was practically like watching a fat person devour a buffet at Golden Corral.

However, something weird happened with the rat I was going to feed Atticus.

As I was getting ready to put the rat in the tub with Atticus, I was doing the whole "Come and get it" thing with the rat. However, this is about the time that the rat starting flailing like crazy. It then started to spin itself around (with me still holding it's tail) until finally, the piece of tail that I was holding just slid right off. Blood dripped everywhere, and the mouse acted like nothing happened. Atticus didn't seem to discouraged at first as I watched to make sure the rat didn't do anything to hurt her. But instead of trying to wrap the rat up, Atticus simply attempted to strike at it until eventually, she lost interest. I don't really know what happened between today and last week (last week, she had her first rat and she ate it like a champ). So I removed her from the tub and placed her back in her cage.

So yeah, that was weird.

My question is, should I just try and feed her the rat again later tonight or hold off until next week?

On a random note, I finally weighed her for the first time. She's a solid 535 grams. I'm a happy camper.

[dsmalex97]

that does sound realllly weird!!


I would skip until next time so if there was some kind of stressful situation that made the snake react the way it did. One week wont hurt.

Congrats on the weigh in!!!

[NorthernRegius]

I really do believe BPs can get into a routine & if something they are not used to happens... that's it until the next feeding day. I'd wait until the next interval & let your buddy settle down.

[4theSNAKElady]

It's called degloving. The skin just pulls right off the tail, like a person removing their finger from a glove.

[jglass38]

Why are you doing the "come and get it" with a live rat? Either feed live (the appropriate size) and let the snake do it's job or feed F/T. What happened was cruel to the rat and unneccesary

[tbowman]

There sure are a lot of live feeders on this forum.

[Danounet]

I take the water bowls out and then take the hides out and wait a few minutes. They already seem to know whats coming after that. Then I drop the rat in their tubs and close them, and they are eating after that. There is no need to treat a live rat like that

[4theSNAKElady]

Yeah. I never pick up Rats by the tail......I've seen one get degloved at an old job....pretty gory, if you ask me.

[rynpckrd]

Why are you doing the "come and get it" with a live rat? Either feed live (the appropriate size) and let the snake do it's job or feed F/T. What happened was cruel to the rat and unneccesary

Hardly. But thanks for the input regardless.

[rynpckrd]

Thanks for the comments guys!

I think I'll just plan on waiting to feed her until next Friday and allow her to just keep to herself for a day or so.