Prekilled temps too high - Your thoughts?

Hi all:gj:

Was wondering what y'all thought about offering a prekilled or FT prey items that were heated up too high.

We all know that Balls have heat pits which enable it to locate prey easier in complete darkness.

Would/Could a prey item that had been heated too much actually affect a feeding response negatively? Sort of a heat overload that may cause the snake to think danger! (fire?)

Like actually cooking the food? Hmm.. not sure, but interested to know what others think.

I haven't observed this in my adults converted to FT...if it's warm/hot they hit it. I haven't experimented with outrageous temps, as that would be dangerous to the snake.

I have noticed with some hatchlings I've been trying to convert, that if the prey is too warm they are frightened of it...as if it's a predator.

JonV

Well, I don't know why a PK prey item would ever be TOO warm since you give it to the snake just after it dies and there's still natural warmth in it. FT, though, could be potentially overheated.

The only time I would think overheated food would cause a negative feeding response would be if it were cooked...which should never be done anyway, or came in direct contact with a very hot surface. Since both of those are "unnatural", the snake would most likely ignore or pull away from that prey item. Just my supposition...

I guess they may turn away if it was heated to much (or smelled odd because the flesh had cooked) but i would be more worried that the snake would take it and possibly get burned. They can't feel pain from burns can they? They wouldn't realize it was too hot.