Ball Python won't strike but will still eat

Hello! So I recently switched my almost two-year old BP to F/T rats a few weeks ago, and everything seemed to be going well. However, two weeks ago, she would not strike at the rat at all. I tried to re-heat it up in a ziploc bag in warm water but she still would not strike. I eventually just left it in her tank and when I went to check, she had eaten it. She was going into shed last week to I held off on feeding her just to make sure that the shed went smoothly, as well as to possibly get her appetite up, but the same thing happened when I tried to feed her earlier today, no striking, but when left she did eat it.

Both times she has shown interest in the rat, getting close to it and "tasting" it with her tongue, but then she just retreats without striking. I'm not super worried since she is still eating, but is this something that I should be worried about?

Nope, I wouldn't worry about it. Be GLAD she's taking f/t- it's much safer, & give her credit for knowing it poses no threat & just eating it. You may enjoy seeing her strike her food, but personally it's all about the snake eating for me. Some snakes just appear to be happy to be done with "combat" & eat in peace. Don't worry about it as long as she's eating- she's smart enough not to fall for your tricks, lol.

BTW, we usually call this type of snake a "drop-feeder". Translation: just "slide my food tray under the door & go away, don't bug me while I eat." ;)

Oh perfect, glad that its not a problem!

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Originally Posted by Nucl34r_Fr06

Hello! So I recently switched my almost two-year old BP to F/T rats a few weeks ago, and everything seemed to be going well. However, two weeks ago, she would not strike at the rat at all. I tried to re-heat it up in a ziploc bag in warm water but she still would not strike. I eventually just left it in her tank and when I went to check, she had eaten it. She was going into shed last week to I held off on feeding her just to make sure that the shed went smoothly, as well as to possibly get her appetite up, but the same thing happened when I tried to feed her earlier today, no striking, but when left she did eat it.

Both times she has shown interest in the rat, getting close to it and "tasting" it with her tongue, but then she just retreats without striking. I'm not super worried since she is still eating, but is this something that I should be worried about?

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I had the same experience with my bp. Initially, he struck at his food, but very soon he became a drop feeder. I took his lack of enthusiasm as commentary on my food preparation skills, but Boger's probably right. Some snakes are just smart enough to distinguish live from dead prey and act accordingly.

Oh! And I love your username. Very clever.

Are the mice WARM ?


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