Ok so I have a '10 female lesser platinum ball python and I have been trying to switch her to f/t rats for nearly 10 weeks. I had been feeding her f/t mice. I was told to keep offering rats no matter what-- never to give in and never give her mice.
Weeks 1-6 she would have nothing to do with them. I pre scented the rats with some f/t mice that I thawed too.
Week 7 is where it gets odd. I decide to first offer a mouse to get her in "feeding mode". Well I accidentally dropped the mouse and she instantly struck and constricted it. The second she let go I grabbed it and threw the the small rat in. She looked at it for awhile and then just started swallowing it. No strike/constriction at all. I assume this is because she figured it was the same thing she had already constricted. He ended up eating it just fine.
When week 8 came I just offered the rat by itself and she ate it.
From week 9 till now she hasnt taken a single rat. I guess this is week 11 or 12. She will just look at it... "lick" it. And then go the other way. I have no idea what's going on... My only thought would be that it's the winter and that they go off feed for the winter. But that doesn't make sense to me because I didn't think juveniles do that. I just thought adult females did that because it's breeding season. Could someone please give me their 2 cents? I'm starting to get worried that she may never eat a rat again. Or if she does, it won't be on a consistent basis, which is unacceptable if I want to breed her when she gets old enough (which I do). Anyways, that's my rant for the moment and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
SC
