BP wants more rats

BP after failing to eat a rat sideways:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/IMG_3240.JPG

This was tricky because my tongs are in mite land now and I couldn't find my other pair, so I had to get the rat back by hand to heat it again (she missed the head because it wasn't warm enough the first time.) She was ready to do battle over it, and was smacking anything that touched her with her body. She had previously been entirely on top of the rat, but backed off it a bit just before this photo. I tried blocking her view with a paper towel, and that scared her away into a hide. She came back out and ate when re-offered though. It must've still been a bit cold because she neither stuck nor wrapped, but just slowly approached and began to consume.

The first time, she was all in on eating it sideways for about 15 minutes. This plan was never successful enough to be dangerous, but she squeaked louder than I've heard before while dragging the rat around. I guess it's just the exertion of mopping the whole enclosure with a rat.

Current condition of bp. She still looks somewhat overfed when curled up in the hide, but less so when inspecting her spine and tail. 10 day feeding schedule seems about right. I've cheated it by a day or two a few times because she still acts hungry. I plan to be stricter with it now to space feedings out a little more on average. Less handling recently because I haven't wanted to risk spreading mites, so not a lot of exercise for her I guess. New enclosures for both snakes soon, just waiting to make sure Nim's mites aren't going to come back.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/IMG_3274.JPGhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/IMG_3275.JPGhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/IMG_3276.JPGhttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...m/IMG_3277.JPG

It looks like the bp might even be pushing a bit right now. It's 8 days since last feeding and she's pacing in a manner consistent with being hungry. I'll have all the parts for move in to new enclosures by friday, but I wanted to wait until at least the end of the month for the move. I need to use some things that have been near Nim's current enclosure in the bp's new enclosure, so I'm concerned about contamination. I haven't seen any signs of mites on or around Nim since using the nexgard two weeks ago.

Considering the pushing though, I figure I better do the enclosure switch soon. I just opened the lid and the bp climbed halfway out to strike at me, so she's definitely looking for food atm. I'm not sure how I should balance mite quarantine, bp pushing, and overfeeding. She seems happy enough to climb around the lip of her enclosure under supervision tonight, but I don't know for sure when else she has been or will be pushing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gobuchul

It looks like the bp might even be pushing a bit right now. It's 8 days since last feeding and she's pacing in a manner consistent with being hungry. I'll have all the parts for move in to new enclosures by friday, but I wanted to wait until at least the end of the month for the move. I need to use some things that have been near Nim's current enclosure in the bp's new enclosure, so I'm concerned about contamination. I haven't seen any signs of mites on or around Nim since using the nexgard two weeks ago.

Considering the pushing though, I figure I better do the enclosure switch soon. I just opened the lid and the bp climbed halfway out to strike at me, so she's definitely looking for food atm. I'm not sure how I should balance mite quarantine, bp pushing, and overfeeding. She seems happy enough to climb around the lip of her enclosure under supervision tonight, but I don't know for sure when else she has been or will be pushing.

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As long as she's not injuring herself, I wouldn't rush her into the new enclosure. It's more important to deal with the mites. Look for swelling on the lips or the top of the head. If you don't see any, let her roam. The exercise is good for her.