My Ball won't eat the rat!

Hey,

So I attempted my first feeding today(about 10minutes ago), I was trying to feed a rat fuzzy, I de-thawed the rat and was moving it along the entrance of the cave that my ball was in. The ball was striking the rat repeatedly but didn't grab ahold of the rat.

Does this mean that it is just being defensive and was biting what it thought was intruding? or was it actually attempting to eat the rat. I'm not sure what I should do at this point, try again in about 20minutes?

Also, I'm pretty sure my ball hassn't left it's hide since I got it(3 days).

A week or two is best for feeding a new ball python, just because he's probably still adjusting to his new home. You can try again, hit the rat with a blow dryer to warm him up and try offering again. Are u using tongs?

That sounds like a defensive strike to me. I would just wait until next feeding day to try again since it's only been three days since you got him. Like King says make sure the f/t is warmed up with a hair dryer, heatlamp or warm water.

yup using tongs and dangling it by the tail.

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

A week or two is best for feeding a new ball python, just because he's probably still adjusting to his new home. You can try again, hit the rat with a blow dryer to warm him up and try offering again. Are u using tongs?

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I am so stupid, never even thought of using a blow dryer... Wow Nice

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Originally Posted by regd87

yup using tongs and dangling it by the tail.

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Hold it by the scruff of the neck so it does the "zombie dance" and looks like it's alive.

Try to grab it by the butt not the tail, this way it doesn't scare him by thinking the rat is huge. So by the tip of the butt and do the rat zombie walk lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by regd87

Hey,

So I attempted my first feeding today(about 10minutes ago), I was trying to feed a rat fuzzy, I de-thawed the rat and was moving it along the entrance of the cave that my ball was in. The ball was striking the rat repeatedly but didn't grab ahold of the rat.

Does this mean that it is just being defensive and was biting what it thought was intruding? or was it actually attempting to eat the rat. I'm not sure what I should do at this point, try again in about 20minutes?

Also, I'm pretty sure my ball hassn't left it's hide since I got it(3 days).

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my mojave did that once, but she knocked the rat out of the tongs and after that i picked the rat up with the tongs and she wouldnt strike at it no matter how much i moved it. so i tried again 2 hours later when the light was off and she struck coiled and didnt eat it(i left it in there over night and she still didnt eat it). So then i tried the next night with the light out and she ate i think she didnt eat cause it was light in the room and i usually feed when the light is off. that being said i would try tomorrow or the next day, all i did was put more stress on her when i tried to feed her again that night(my personal opinion).and if you didnt heat it up with a blow dryier after thawing it i heat it up till when i set the rat on th underside of my forearm can feel the heat cause i dont have a temp gun to get right at 100 degrees

ive had her for 2 weeks though so she is a little more settled in than yours

2ND attempt not successful. Keeps striking at it, but issn't taking it. I am so confused.

Just wait until next week, let the little guy settle in and get used to his new home before trying to feed him again. It usually takes them a week or so to get comfortable in their new enclosure. Just keep an eye on him and make sure your husbandry is tip top. Good luck. And gratz on your new addition.