Random Refusals

So Ive been pretty on track with getting all of my new hatchlings to eat; however, I am still getting an odd refusal here and there.

My orange ghost is 300~ grams and has been eating 25~ gram live rat pups, and three weeks ago she refused a 26 gram rat, seemed like she was really intimidated by it because it was climbing all over her (shes also really jerky and shy), so I reduced the size to 18 grams for the next feeding & have been increasing prey size incrementally back to about 10%. She has eaten the last three times for me, which is great.

But now, my pastave (250 grams) has eaten 6 or 7 times in a row, live rat pups as well. But last night, I gave him his regular 25 gram live pup, and he wouldnt eat. The rat was completely motionless as soon as I dropped it in the tub, I feel like it was acting "dead" to not be eaten, but Im not sure if theyre that smart. My pastave was flickering and flickering his tongue at the rat but was convinced it wasnt food.. and he S'd up in strike position, raising his head too. But no strike, I supervised and waited for almost 10 minutes before I decided he probably wasnt going to eat.

So my question is: why am I getting random refusals here and there? Arent hatchlings supposed to be eating and eating and eating? Two hides, perfect temps and humidity (80-90, 50-60% humidity) on both. Im just wondering when all of my snakes will be eating consistently week after week

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

So my question is: why am I getting random refusals here and there?

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Because you keep BPs. They like to keep us on our toes that way. :)

Anyway, sorry to hear about your snakes being little picky buggers. Maybe you could try warming the head up a little more with a heat lamp/hair dryer before offering if you haven't already. As to why they would refuse randomly, I can't tell you since you seem to have perfect conditions. My guess is just BP antics.

Good luck with the little guys!

Typical ball pythons in my opinion. I have a large male normal that likes to eat steady for four weeks and then decide to go off feed for like 50 days. He is currently on day 53 of his feeding strike. Your temps and humidity sound fine. Just have a little patience and they will feed consistently when they are hungry enough.

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Originally Posted by rebelrachel13

Because you keep BPs. They like to keep us on our toes that way. :)

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X2 :rofl: :rofl:

Perhaps a shed coming? Perhaps they are just being bps and didn't feel like it. Frustrating though.