Striking but not biting?

I have a couple of snakes that will strike but they won't bite and constrict rats. They eat ASF's just fine but not regular rats. What is the problem?

Hi,

Sounds like defensive striking to make it go away rather than feeding strikes to kill it for eating.


dr del

from my understanding snakes LOVE ASF's .....like ice cream to us. I have heard it is hard to get them to go for rats or mice after ASF's. So as the DR. said...probably a defensive...get away strike....and a gimme the darn ice cream!!

I breed mice and asf's. some like mice, some like soft furs. some it doesn't matter what you give them. just like people have difference in taste. I try not to feed soft furs to hatchlings that I'm not going to hold back. If you have a snake that eats only soft furs, it's a whole lot harder to sell. my big reason for breeding those stinky mice.

I have gotten them to feed on rats before though. One time I got one of them to coil around the rat, kill it, but then no eat it. Would precenting the rat with ASF smell work?

When was the last time they ate?...Maybe wait a few days/week longer then try. If they've ate/eaten rats before, might just be that it's not hungry..IDK...

Good Luck.

I waited about 3 weeks before giving in and feeding them an ASF. I don't know either.

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Originally Posted by theturtlepond

I have gotten them to feed on rats before though. One time I got one of them to coil around the rat, kill it, but then no eat it. Would precenting the rat with ASF smell work?

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It would be worth a shot. Sometimes seasoning them can help. I had an albino that was on ASFs before I got her. It took forever, but now she'll finally eat mice for me. Have you tried a mouse?

I have an albino that was sold to me as a rat feeder. After her not eating for 4 months I gave in and tried an ASF. She was a totally different snake the second that thing was in her tote. She now never misses a meal eating multiple ASF's every 5-7 days.
On the other hand I had some extra ASF's I wanted to get rid of and fed them to 3 of my other BP's who were taking rats aggressively and they have now since refused rats and will only eat ASF's ...DOH!

For those of you feeing ASF's to adults how many are they eating at a pop?

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Originally Posted by theturtlepond

I have gotten them to feed on rats before though. One time I got one of them to coil around the rat, kill it, but then no eat it. Would precenting the rat with ASF smell work?

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As I was reading the replies that's exactly what I was thinking. If you do end up doing that, and it works, please tell us! That'd be a good tip for a lot of frustrated people if that did end up working and you were able to slowly switch them over to rats!

I have a female het piedball she is a late 09 around 200grams. She does not like me at all hisses every time I try to get her out, but she also does the strike but not eat thing with frozen mice or rats. Toss in a live mouse she stalks it for a while and eventually strikes and eats. Its frustrating though I wish she would eat frozen. Once I have her out she is chill but until you get her in hand she is in attack mode.

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Originally Posted by zoomin31

I have a female het piedball she is a late 09 around 200grams. She does not like me at all hisses every time I try to get her out, but she also does the strike but not eat thing with frozen mice or rats. Toss in a live mouse she stalks it for a while and eventually strikes and eats. Its frustrating though I wish she would eat frozen. Once I have her out she is chill but until you get her in hand she is in attack mode.

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Sounds like she's just a little stressed. May also be that she's young. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by PassionsPythons

Sounds like she's just a little stressed. May also be that she's young. Good luck.

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She has the same setup as the other 10 bp's I have. 28qt tubs with newspaper for substrate a water dish and a hide tried two hides but they just hide under the news paper anyways. I think its just she is young and not used to being handled, when I went and picked her out she was a hisser and a striker but I liked the way she looked and I figure with time she will get better.