Ball Python Hunting for Rat But Can't Find It?

So this is the end of Bud's 10th week on strike, and he's been coming out in the middle of the day for quick cruises. I took this as a sign he was finally deciding he may want to eat, and went and got a few small rats from the pet store.

I thawed it out like I usually do; setting it out at room temp. This time I set it close to the heat lamp so that it thawed out in an hour, and then held its head under hot running water to see if he will take it like that. I'll be trying boiling water next, which is usually the only way that works with him. He's been spending an hour frantically circling his tub desperately looking for the rat, top to bottom, end to end. But, even when he comes into contact he'll just have a short hesitation, run his nose up and down the rat and then move on. He's obviously hungry, as he's been hiding all day and when I was thawing it he came out of his hide and was staring straight up at the rat (it was on top of his tub). When I put the rat in, I turned off all the lights and everything but that hasn't been helping him. He's always been a ratter, with only a few mice before, but he's always taken rats nonetheless and he hasn't had any mice in over a year.

For all I know, he may end up finding it after I post this. -.- Should I just leave it in overnight, or is there something else I should do to help him out? It usually doesn't take him this long, especially when it's heated. I'm doing everything exactly like I normally do, the only difference is that he's in a tub with a red light. I've got a UTH, though, that I'll be trying out again. I think it's only 13 watts or something, and the last time I tried it it couldn't even get the heat through the tub, let alone the bedding, with or without a thermostat but I'll give it a second shot before I get a CHE bulb. I'm saying this in case maybe the light could be affecting him?

You could try feeding him in the dark, you could also slice some slits in the rat to get the scent of blood and such....Or brain it......:snake:

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Originally Posted by Ripsaw642

You could try feeding him in the dark, you could also slice some slits in the rat to get the scent of blood and such....Or brain it......:snake:

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He is in the dark, but I can try the braining/bleeding and see if that will help. :gj:

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

I'm doing everything exactly like I normally do, the only difference is that he's in a tub with a red light. I've got a UTH, though, that I'll be trying out again. I think it's only 13 watts or something, and the last time I tried it it couldn't even get the heat through the tub, let alone the bedding, with or without a thermostat but I'll give it a second shot before I get a CHE bulb. I'm saying this in case maybe the light could be affecting him?

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Was replying with this in mind. Herps CAN see red light. If i were you i'd find some flexwatt or thg heat tape......:snake:

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Originally Posted by Ripsaw642

Was replying with this in mind. Herps CAN see red light. If i were you i'd find some flexwatt or thg heat tape......:snake:

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No problem, I've got a UTh set aside ready to use, as well as a thermostat. :) If the UTH still isn't good enough, I'll get some heat tape or something. I usually don't use red light, or really any lights at all, that's just what I had on hand when I first moved here. It's what I used for the first 5-6 years I had him, but he spent 6 months+ without any light other than the sun shining in the room, so he's probably become sensitive.

If herps can see red light then why do they sell them for night time bulbs???

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Originally Posted by Ripsaw642

Was replying with this in mind. Herps CAN see red light. If i were you i'd find some flexwatt or thg heat tape......:snake:

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I've never heard of them being able to see red light.. Where did you hear that?

I've always had a red light for the night time display light. Dovah comes out to explore the moment it gets dim in my house and it's no different when I have the red light on or off.

Cloud, yes you can leave it in overnight if that happens next time.



[QUOTE=Kat_Dog;2225573]I've never heard of them being able to see red light.. Where did you hear that?...
QUOTE]


If I'm reading the thread right:

It's not a matter of seeing the color red, it's a matter of seeing the heat signature coming off the red bulb itself. I don't know what color spectrum snakes actually see in, but it could be possible snakes can see the red which we see.

We could also be so caught up with BPs using their heat pits for infrared where we don't count on them really having vision enough to see colors and depth. So we think they may not be able to really see the red light.

[QUOTE=Pyrate81;2225586]Cloud, yes you can leave it in overnight if that happens next time.

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Originally Posted by Kat_Dog

I've never heard of them being able to see red light.. Where did you hear that?...
QUOTE]


If I'm reading the thread right:

It's not a matter of seeing the color red, it's a matter of seeing the heat signature coming off the red bulb itself. I don't know what color spectrum snakes actually see in, but it could be possible snakes can see the red which we see.

We could also be so caught up with BPs using their heat pits for infrared where we don't count on them really having vision enough to see colors and depth. So we think they may not be able to really see the red light.

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Alright, I left in with him for ~5 hours that night, but he gave up and went into one of his hides - after burying the rat in his bedding (it started out on top of a hide I was planning on replacing). I'll try either again once I've had him on a UTH/heat tape for a decent amount of time, or in a week.

I did a simple test with him that I discussed in another thread where I had him and his lamp out. (I didn't shine it right at him so it wouldn't blind him.) I had the lamp off, I didn't even give it time to cool off, just flipped it off. When I turned it back on he flinched, so I'm pretty sure they can see red light. My boa constrictor also had his daily habit drastically changed by the red light I tried to use when he first went into his 6ft enclosure, and they stopped immediately when I discontinued its use.

Just out of curiosity, did you also try the zombie walk? I'd give that a 'shake' too....:snake: