Missed strike at live feed

Sometimes mine is so excited she will miss. If I've pre-scented she will launch towards my hand as I'm opening the tub. Once it's near her she gets it every time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micki

So I had to pick Aspen out of his mouth.
Sent from my 5027B using Tapatalk

---

That's one of the reasons I got away from aspen and switched over to Reptichip coconut husk. I'll never go back to aspen, I've had some bad experiences with snakes getting a mouth full and then going off feed because of it. Never happens with Reptichip, plus the coconut husk lasts 1-2 months before I have to change it out.

Usually on a missed feeding strike I found that if I put the rodent right up to his face and rub it in his face and on his side he will immediately grab it and coil, works almost every time. If you wait too long it's hit or miss, has to be right away after the strike as soon as you can get that rodent right up in his face. The strike says he is ready, you just need to give him the help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

You could always start switching her over to rats. She will need rats eventually anyways... plus, they seem to be less jumpy and active as mice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

We rescued our girl from a local pet store. She is 7yo and only weighs 1000 grams. The post was the result of trying to switch to f/t rats but I think it was too soon. We are going to keep up with 2 to 3 mice until she starts gaining weight. We plan on trying again but don't want to risk putting her off feed when she needs to be making gains any way she can.

First of all, feed in a clean and separate enclosure. Then you don't have to pick Aspen out of their mouth.
I have transferred my babies with fresh kill to warmed frozen. I do a puppet show swinging the warm feed in their face to get them to strike. I've seen enough icky photos with live feed (especially those eating larger rodents). The snakes literally have scars all along their bodies, and I can't imagine how I would handle that. If the snake has a gentle personality they might not be aggressive enough with live feed. I'm not willing to let a large mouse or a rat to chew on my boys. Not everyone will agree, but this has worked for me to feed them and keep them gentle.