Strike, Squeeze, Drop, Walk Away

Young male BP in blue stage of shed. I offered a f/t mouse just in case he was hungry. He strikes and squeezes the dead mouse. He unwraps, walks away, comes back, walks away, etc.

After a while he coils up in a corner so I remove the now more-dead mouse.

I'm confused about why he grabbed it if he wasn't going to eat it.

I'll offer another mouse when he's done shedding.

JohnNJ

My littlest one has done that before too, although she was not in shed. Not sure why though. She ate fine the following week.

I don't think you should worry too much about it ;)

Likely just a defensive, get outta my face reaction. Also it could be that if you were too close he felt unsafe to actully swallow his dinner. Whatever it was try again after the shed is done. Some snakes don't care for food so much when they are shedding (some will eat with their shed half rolled down their body LOL).

He could have been stressed while you were there next time he does it place a towel or a sheet or something over his enclosure to make it dark and make him feel secure leave him alone for about 30 mins and check back he should have at least started if not already finished eating it, worked for me a few times

another thing is it could just be cuz he is ready to shed soon, when snakes are in the "blue" stage of sheddin they cant see and probably sensed the mouse but was more scared and just wanted to kill it so it wasnt botherin him

i feed my snakes on a regular schedule:
yearlings/babies - offer food every 5-7 days
1 year and older - offer food every 7-10 days
if they eat they eat if not i will offer them food the next scheduled feed

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Originally Posted by Python Guru

if they eat they eat if not i will offer them food the next scheduled feed

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I feel the same way. I just hate wasting a mouse. ;)

Maybe the blood freaked him out. The mouse was fine frozen. When the snake bit it (thawed) the mouse bled from the nose and mouth.

Does that happen to others? Does it bother the snakes?

sometimes it happens by:
1. the way you warm it up.
2. re-freezing
im sure there are other things that make it happen too

i feed my snakes live so im not too sure about why it happens just taking a stab at it . . . however i do know that if your snake kills a live mouse and doesnt eat it i wouldnt re-freeze it, if you thaw a frozen rat/mouse and he doesnt it eat dont re-freeze it, i have heard of people re-freezing and as soon as the snake bites it the mouse/rat will bleed and even in some cases explode:O

Happens to one of my yearlings quite often... No need to worry though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Python Guru

sometimes it happens by:
1. the way you warm it up.
2. re-freezing
im sure there are other things that make it happen too

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I don't re-freeze.

To thaw, I take the mice I need out of the freezer in the morning and keep them in the fridge all day. They're thawed when I get home from work. I place them on top of the tanks for 30+ minutes to pre-scent. Then I put them under a 25 watt red bulb for a few minutes t give them a heat signature. That's usually enough.

It worked this time too but the snake didn't eat it.

sorry, i didnt assume you were re-freezing. . . just know i have heard some stories about re-freezing and "bloody" messes thought id throw it in there for anyone else who read this thread:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

I feel the same way. I just hate wasting a mouse. ;)

Maybe the blood freaked him out. The mouse was fine frozen. When the snake bit it (thawed) the mouse bled from the nose and mouth.

Does that happen to others? Does it bother the snakes?

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The blood shouldn't cause a problem. In fact many times blood will increase the feeding response.

Steve