Frozen/thawed

Today I tried to switch my snake over to f/t, she seemed interested and kept striking at it, but missed every time. Then I went and got her live and she got it on the first try, has this ever happened to anyone else? Does anyone know what could cause this?


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she might not be missing the strike. she feels threatened and those sound like defensive strikes. if she intended to eat, she would strike and coil.

switching a snake over to f/t takes time. hell, i still have some who refuse to switch lol.

How warm was it?

Room temperature


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Originally Posted by myroliki

Room temperature

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You want blast it with a hair dryer and get the head around 95 degrees......

Oh, I didn't know that, thank you, I will try that next week and see if she'll take it [emoji3]


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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

You want blast it with a hair dryer and get the head around 95 degrees......

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This tip also solves BP's going for the wrong end.

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Originally Posted by Bmocken

This tip also solves BP's going for the wrong end.

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Oh my god. I have to try this. My guy is always latching on the wrong end or even the side

How are you presenting the rat to the snake? Those sound like defensive strikes like if you're sticking it right in the snakes face. The hairdryer on the head is a good trick or what I have is an extra space heater in my snake room that I'll kick on and hold their heads by for a couple seconds before offering.

I hold it by the tail at one end of the enclosure and shake it a little, she came closer, flicking her tongue and then went for it a couple times, but missed each time. Maybe she could tell it was already dead and didn't like it anywhere in her enclosure so she was trying to defend against it?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by myroliki

I hold it by the tail at one end of the enclosure and shake it a little, she came closer, flicking her tongue and then went for it a couple times, but missed each time. Maybe she could tell it was already dead and didn't like it anywhere in her enclosure so she was trying to defend against it?


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I'd persist with that approach BUT wait until evening - keep lights low - warm up with a hairdryer and then dangle in front of the snake IMMEDIATELY .. they only hold the heat for a few seconds ... also 3 or 4 of my Royals will ONLY strike from their hides !!

Some snakes are stubborn when switching to f/t but only a few never make the transition. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience and a little tough love but if you only offer f/t the animal will eat eventually. I have yet to see a healthy animal starve itself to death when food was consistently offered. I agree with super heating the prey item with a hairdryer and trying the zombie dance. Those things have worked for me in the past. You can also try leaving the prey item in overnight. I have one snake that won't take food from the tongs. I have to leave her food in the enclosure overnight and it's always gone by morning.

Honestly sounds more like the snake def wanted to eat but wasn't being presented with it right so she was having trouble aiming. Heat it up like Pit said- I actually aim for a temp of 101 on the head since that's a rat's internal body temp- then hold the rodent by the back hips with tongs and offer it head first. No dangling, it's not a pinata.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

You want blast it with a hair dryer and get the head around 95 degrees......

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I remember thinking the hair dryer tip was crazy. I had a issues getting my snake to eat at first (my fault from inexperience) and ever since I've used the hair dryer he hasn't refused a meal. He strikes as soon as he sees the rat. It's like magic!!!

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Honestly sounds more like the snake def wanted to eat but wasn't being presented with it right so she was having trouble aiming. Heat it up like Pit said- I actually aim for a temp of 101 on the head since that's a rat's internal body temp- then hold the rodent by the back hips with tongs and offer it head first. No dangling, it's not a pinata.

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I second heating it up to around 100F. It takes me a bit of time to open his viv so I heat mine to around 105F so it has room to cool a bit.
I found my snake had an easier time striking when I held the rat by the hips/back. Holding it by the tail seemed to make him miss or have a less stable grip on the rat.