Feeding live with hide in tub

Some of you know that I have a ball that is a bit hesitant to eat for me. I'm going to try again right after he finishes his shed, which should be pretty soon- eyes are clearing.
I've only tried to feed live twice, and I want to try again this time around. My concern is: He has a hide in his tub that I don't want to take out. However, I am afraid that the rat will go in to his hide with him- where he can't be monitored. Should I abort the feeding at that point, or allow a minute or two before taking the hide out?
I really have been giving this some thought. Last time the rat went in to his hide, but he was on the outside of it. Now he spends the majority of his time in the hide. He is plenty big enough for medium adults, but I'm going to try a small, so they're definitely big enough to do some damage.

Also, when feeding live in a tub, do you close the tub and watch from outside, or leave it open? My other one eats f/t, so this isn't a concern with him.

I never remove hides when feeding. In fact, I have had BPs that seem to wait until the rat comes to check out that dark hole...and BAM! the rat never returns. :cool: I also close my tubs when feeding live - nothing like a live rat (or mouse) catapulting out at your face when it realizes there is something very bad in there with it! I know people advocate standing at-the-ready with tongs, forceps, the jaws of life, etc., to rescue their snake from a deadly rodent bite, but bear in mind that this is what your BP was MADE to do. Giving him a few minutes (say, ten) to figure out hunting and killing is not going to result in hundreds of dollars in vet bills.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Giving him a few minutes (say, ten) to figure out hunting and killing is not going to result in hundreds of dollars in vet bills.

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Until it does result in a bad bite, localized swelling, a nasty infection....you get the point. I've driven my car over the speed limit thousands of times, and only ever got one ticket. Dang thing cost me $475 before it was all said and done. Feed the way you wanna' feed, but please be careful with statements that include the words never, not going to, or always.


blueberry, if you're worried about the rat running in the hide, may I suggest you grab it close to the base of the tail with some good tongs and let your BP come get it. There are bunches live feeding videos on youtube that demo this technique. Good luck with your feed.

If you feed live to ball pythons, Dont feed such large prey items that can inflict massive injury. Small rats is all a Adult ball should ever need for life.

Fed properly and you wont ever deal with a bite in a good strike is made.

Ive fed thousands of live never once had a bite and guarantee i wont either.

Rich makes a great point. Just because a 3200g female can eat a large rat doesn't mean you have to feed that. I also prefer to feed smaller more frequent meals. Yes the big girls have to have 2-3 rats but... I NEVER have to worry about them getting seriously hurt. Weanlings or just a week or two larger than weanling is as big as I go for feeders and this works great up through even my largest ladies.


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I honestly remove everything from my snakes tubs when feeding. Then again all that's in mine is a water dish. Nothing like cleaning tubs then having your snake making a mess with their water bowls while feeding :rolleyes:

i have gotten a few bites on my girls with ASFs. (i live in alberta haha if I'm feeding live it can't be rats :( silly laws) they have bitten bad enough a few times to draw blood, but nothing too serious. The strangest bite i have had was on my amazon tree boa, like many of you know atb's have 'heat pitts' below their jaw to sense the heat from their prays breathe. I mean he has got pretty good aim when he is striking at me; but i guess he let an adult ASF get him because his face was pretty bad. We took him to the vet (and believe me this was quite a hassle) and he received permanent damage to his heat sensors on the left side of his face. and this is an ASF guys not even a small rat!! my ATB still strikes crooked now. So believe me when i tell you, bites will happen at some point.. even to those who are very good eaters and you would not expect this to happen. because i can promise a ball is way more docile than my ATB, especially with feeding habits. and small rats can definitely still do harm if they want to!
cheers
amber

I had a girl go on an 11 month feeding strike and we finally got her to eat by putting and additional hide in her tub. Shes been pounding them since and always strikes from her hide. I guess she just prefers breakfast in bed :)

sent from my EVO

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

never once had a bite and guarantee i wont either.

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Love that optimism :rolleyes:

I agree with feeding small rats. Mine could take a medium but i would just rather not take the risk of a bad bite...