SUCCESSFUL 1st Feeding !!

Today I fed my BP Rhaego for the first time (for me). Almost immediately after I placed the Rat Pup into his Terranium he struck at it. He didn't even wait and choose where to strike. Unfortunately he grabbed the rats back end. Luckily I had feeding tongs and was able to grab the rats head right before it went to bite him. It took him awhile to swallow it though, he kept looking around as though he was still hungry? I put a pillowcase over his tank to give him some privacy. Will he get better at striking? Could it be that he was just really hungry? I'm worried that when he eats bigger rats they can hurt him if he doesn't smarten up. Any suggestions?
I am very happy that he ate however! And can barely wait another week to start handling him :D:D:D

Congrats on him eating. He will get better with time.

You only have to wait 24-48 after feeding to handle him. The only way to make sure they don't hurt him is to watch the entire time he is feeding or switch him to frozen/thawed (f/t). If you use f/t, once it's thawed you hold it behind the head, scruff of the neck area, and make it do the zombie dance right in front of the BPs face.

P.S. CONGRATS that is a huge deal!!

I know you only have to wait 48 hours after feeding, but I want to make sure he eats 2 times consecutively before I start handling him. And Thank-You! It was a big deal and I'm so happy!

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Originally Posted by fr3nchvanilla

... And Thank-You! It was a big deal and I'm so happy!

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Sho Nuff, it''s a big weight off the chest and you feel like things are going well for him so far. Let me be the first to wish you a second successful feed.

Congrats. Just got mine to eat his second feeding and I know how big a relief that is (now just waiting on first poop & shed). As for the gettin bit part, if you already have the tongs why not just use them to hold the rat till he strikes? Just hold the squealin lil bugger in front of your snake and instant headshots galore...just be be quick to release once he strikes. Workin great for me so far, and no worries.

SECOND FEEDING SUCCESS! SO HAPPY! He struck it in the butt again though- however this time he curled around it so it couldn't bite him - had me really worried for a second there. I don't want to hold the rat with the tongs unless I have to, although I appreciate the suggestion and will keep it in mind. I tried putting the rat on the opposite end of the tank, but he still just grabbed it wherever it landed. Oh well. I'm happy he ate and while he's in shed! His eyes are all clouded and he still didn't miss :D:D So waiting on a shed and a poo!

WOOHOO!

I feed a combination of Frozen and Live to my snakes, some prefer different prey items so I am always happy when they eat... Especially when they all eat on the same day! :D

its okay if he grabs it by its butt, or by its side or wherever. after he constricts it and kills it, he will use his mouth to move the rat around and find its head (at least, that is what mine do)

I'm just worried it will bite him. I always thought there was a "right" way - grab its head and constrict. That's at least what most of the ones in the YouTube Videos do :confused:

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Originally Posted by fr3nchvanilla

I'm just worried it will bite him. I always thought there was a "right" way - grab its head and constrict. That's at least what most of the ones in the YouTube Videos do :confused:

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oh ok. i dont think mine have ever grabbed the head. I've not had any issues with the rats biting them yet. but i also sit right there with tongs in hand, ready to grab the rat at first site of the rat trying to attack my babies.

He should be fine. My Pastel female has the odd bad strike and latches on the butt or rear section of the rat. When she does that though she knows it and she coils so fast the rat doesn't have a chance.

I wouldn't worry about it, he's probably just excited and can't wait to get a head/neck shot! :P

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Originally Posted by oppie2005

oh ok. i dont think mine have ever grabbed the head.

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Mine either, usually they latch on just behind the head and neck region.