My BP striked but refused to eat??

Hi Im new to owning snakes and I got my new snake switched over to F/T two weeks after getting him. He has ate F/T twice and tonight was his night to feed. Well when I picked him up to move him he whipped around like he wanted to strike me, and acted agitated. Hes never done that before. Well after that I tried to feed him he striked at the feeder immediatlly but missed, then he just layed in the box and watched as I made the feeder "zombie dance". He would act like he was going to strike but then turn away, or he would get right next to the rat and just stay there. He usually eats right away hes a garbage disposal lol. Anyways temps in his cage are fine I check them all the time. Also I used a temp gun on the feeder and it was 83 F. He likes it at 80-85 F Any opinions on why hes didn't want to eat but strike?

He hasn't shed for me yet could that be why?


Thanks everyone!

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Originally Posted by nworb_213

Hi Im new to owning snakes and I got my new snake switched over to F/T two weeks after getting him. He has ate F/T twice and tonight was his night to feed. Well when I picked him up to move him he whipped around like he wanted to strike me, and acted agitated. Hes never done that before. Well after that I tried to feed him he striked at the feeder immediatlly but missed, then he just layed in the box and watched as I made the feeder "zombie dance". He would act like he was going to strike but then turn away, or he would get right next to the rat and just stay there. He usually eats right away hes a garbage disposal lol. Anyways temps in his cage are fine I check them all the time. Also I used a temp gun on the feeder and it was 83 F. He likes it at 80-85 F Any opinions on why hes didn't want to eat but strike?

He hasn't shed for me yet could that be why?


Thanks everyone!

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Yep...there's a good chance that's the problem.

just be patient... sometimes they feel nervous, but they will eventually come back to feeding agen :D ball pythons can stop feeding for months so chills out
shedding could also be the problem :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nworb_213

Hi Im new to owning snakes and I got my new snake switched over to F/T two weeks after getting him. He has ate F/T twice and tonight was his night to feed. Well when I picked him up to move him he whipped around like he wanted to strike me, and acted agitated. Hes never done that before. Well after that I tried to feed him he striked at the feeder immediatlly but missed, then he just layed in the box and watched as I made the feeder "zombie dance". He would act like he was going to strike but then turn away, or he would get right next to the rat and just stay there. He usually eats right away hes a garbage disposal lol. Anyways temps in his cage are fine I check them all the time. Also I used a temp gun on the feeder and it was 83 F. He likes it at 80-85 F Any opinions on why hes didn't want to eat but strike?

He hasn't shed for me yet could that be why?


Thanks everyone!

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I have had this same thing happen when my snake was getting close to shed. I determined that after the first strike the prey had cooled down too much for the snake to be able to sense it. I didnt prescent the room as well that one time as before and I also didnt get a good enough warm up on the prey as I had two feedings prior.

I took the rat out. Warmed it up good. Put it back in and the snake kept striking and missing. So I did something I normally dont do and I let the prey tap the snake on the mouth slow and gentle. She was able to hammer it and ate it.

She was in blue state 2 days later. After the shed she was back to hammering on the first strike.