Feeding overnight

Hello,
This thread is more of wanting to hear some experiences. My ball python has eaten 4 times so far, consistently. First two feedings were mice and switched to rat and took it two times. The difference comes in when switched to rat. When offered mice, he took it less than 2 minutes. However, he does not take rat right away but takes it when left overnight. Seems interested at first but goes back to hide. By the morning, it is gone. Does anyone else’s ball python do this? I know they are nocturnal, but I offer at night with lights off. Is he going to eat only during overnight? Or can that change?
He is at 160g and taking small rat pups live. Going to switch to f/t after couple more feeding.


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If you are feeding live it may not be wise to leave the rats over night. If you do some Google searches you'll find some horror stories where the rats have injured, killed, or eaten the BP. I would offer for a reasonable period of time, perhaps an hour, and if they don't take it, try again in a week. Eventually he will begin eating when offered. Good luck!

I feed my ball just after lights out, after 10:00pm. Although, she's taken food at almost all hours of the day. But, for the moment, this has been all mice. Have not made the switch to rats yet.

Yes, especially since yours is young and small, they'll sometimes switch to taking it quickly as they get more confident. Anything live that's old enough to do much more than crawl and has eyes open is dangerous to leave in overnight.

They will be in full "hunting" mode at night, especially with a drop in temperature, but they will eat at any time of the day regardless. Snakes are opportunistic feeders, if they have access to a rodent any time of day they will take it.

I would get him switched over to f/t immediately and be patient when trying to feed him. I'm a huge fan of not feeding live when it can be avoided because it is possible that you end up with an animal that will ONLY take live after a while. Never leave live rodents unattended around your snake though, you don't want to see the pictures of what can happen. I know you feed pups but still....it's just not something you want to do.

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Originally Posted by KevinK

They will be in full "hunting" mode at night, especially with a drop in temperature, but they will eat at any time of the day regardless. Snakes are opportunistic feeders, if they have access to a rodent any time of day they will take it.

I would get him switched over to f/t immediately and be patient when trying to feed him. I'm a huge fan of not feeding live when it can be avoided because it is possible that you end up with an animal that will ONLY take live after a while. Never leave live rodents unattended around your snake though, you don't want to see the pictures of what can happen. I know you feed pups but still....it's just not something you want to do.

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Yea, I plan on switching asap but I just wanted some consistency before I can safely switch over to f/t and if refused, I know he ate some meals before and just wait week after week and keep trying.


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Originally Posted by Kcl

Yes, especially since yours is young and small, they'll sometimes switch to taking it quickly as they get more confident. Anything live that's old enough to do much more than crawl and has eyes open is dangerous to leave in overnight.

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Yea, I am going to change to f/t before I change up from rat pup.


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Originally Posted by Charles8088

I feed my ball just after lights out, after 10:00pm. Although, she's taken food at almost all hours of the day. But, for the moment, this has been all mice. Have not made the switch to rats yet.

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Yea I put the rat at like 11 pm and turned off light. I was laying on bed for like an hour waiting for a sound but nope, so I ended up sleeping lol


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So could I guess he is not confident yet at striking rat?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gusanr14

So could I guess he is not confident yet at striking rat?


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A lot of times the not eating until left alone is more that the snake is not confident that the human is not a threat and doesn't feel safe enough yet to do what makes them their most vulnerable - eating - while a human is or has recently been present. We register as potential predators, especially to the smaller ones as more things can eat them. They're completely defenseless and unable to run away properly during the eating process and still hindered in running away once they're done eating. Thus a less confident snake wants to eat alone, in the dark, and unobserved.