Spider feeding issues

So I've been having a heck of a time with my spider girl and getting her to eat consistently . She's about 230g right now. She went well for a few months and now is so spotty with eating her meals. The thing I don't understand is that she will always strike & coil, but she just won't eat. I don't have a hide in with her because her tub is blacked out as it is, so it's essentially a hide in and of itself. Been trying FT rat weanlings (though I did just order some ASFs in hopes that maybe she'll eat those.) She has been losing a bit of weight. She's constantly cruising her tub any time I peek in and her wobble is pretty substantial. She's always in such a defensive mode. I'll open the lid and she's right there ready to strike. HALP?!? I haven't tried braining the rats yet, but I will if I have to. What should I be trying? I'm thinking maybe she may need a bit more security? I'll put some hides in for her to see if that may help but other than that, I'm at a loss at what to do. Temps/humidity are spot on.

When mine refuse like that usely its because the prey was to big for them. Are you sure the F/T is fully thawed and nice and warm?

Make sure the F/T is nice and warm. When she strikes and coils, use tongs or whatever and tug on the F/T a bit (don't tug a foot or tail or it will probably come off) and make the F/T 'struggle' for 10-15 seconds. You'll notice the snake tighten the grip, maybe put another coil around, and really clench down. Most of the time when mine drop the F/T it's because they strike and coil and are like 'wth, this isn't alive...'

Oh, I'm super anal about making sure the rats are all thawed completely and super warm. I leave the ziplock out on the counter in a bowl to thaw while I'm at work (about 7 hours) and then put the rats directly in piping hot water for a few minutes before offering. Everyone else has zero issues eating, it's just this one picky girl. I'm definitely going to try tugging on it with the tongs next feed. :rolleye2:

If she's losing weight, you might want to try a live mouse / rat.

Do BPs need a day/night cycle like other snakes? It doesn't sound like there is one with the tub being blacked out.
I personally would still want to have one or two or more hides in the tub. I would think one is essential at the very least. Even though it's dark your BP might not feel as secure or "hugged". I know mine likes to drag his food in the smallest hide they can both fit in.

Hope that helps a bit! Good luck :)

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Make sure the F/T is nice and warm. When she strikes and coils, use tongs or whatever and tug on the F/T a bit (don't tug a foot or tail or it will probably come off) and make the F/T 'struggle' for 10-15 seconds. You'll notice the snake tighten the grip, maybe put another coil around, and really clench down. Most of the time when mine drop the F/T it's because they strike and coil and are like 'wth, this isn't alive...'

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IT WORKED!!! :banana::O:D