Refused a Rat after changing rutine.

I always feed my BP in the same cage, but after a few weeks of getting a hiss when opening the cage, I decide to feed in a separate tank. I didn't wanted her to asimilate the actions one with the other. I put the rat in the tank and soon after I introduced the snake. She didn't eat it. She even "stood" back a couple of times. After that I put the snake in her cage and introduced the rat, but she did the same thing. It's very strange, she's been eating every week and a half for almost a year and a half now.

I don't know if this is a factor too, but I recently bought a personal fan to keep the cooler area of the cage below the 87-88 degrees, that is the normal temperature here. I am using a timer and every half hour it turns on/off.

Could the fan have stressed out the snake? Or should I consider never changing her from the cage to the tank for feeding?

All that stuff about associating the hand with food is a big myth. He didn't eat probably because he was stressed from being moved

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...:(

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Originally Posted by Grishnákh

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...:(

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I'm sorry. I thought Shaun did a fine job of answering and I try not to be redundant sometimes.

It's a myth that a snake will associate your hand with feeding in its enclosure...but if you're still afraid of that, you can still establish different feeding routines that will disassociate your hand from the feeding practice, without stressing the snake by moving it. (Such as offering the rodent from the ends of tongs)

I believe it is the action of moving the snake into a separate box that caused it to not eat. Wait 'til your next regular feeding day and go back to your normal routine.

chillax...:)
it sounds like you took it out 'feeding mode' by moving it to another cage. dont be afraid to feed it in its cage. remember it has worked fine for a year and a half for you. Wait a week and offer again...without moving the snake.

about the fan...i know drafts are not good. i would say pointing the fan directly at the tank is not good...but a fan in the room is okay.

Good Luck.

and I agree with the others :)

Hun, you pretty much answered your own question. Balls don't like change, and a change in their routine that has been the same for the past year and a half, is a BIG change in their life to them. If he has been eating this way for that long and has been doing just fine, why change? There is no evidence to support that feeding in the cage constitutes a feeding response everytime you open the cage.

I feed all 8 of my Ball Pythons, 2 cornsnakes and 1 boa in their tubs every week(every other week for the boa), and NONE have ever tried to snap at me out of a feeding response, unless it is feeding day.

Also, it's saturday night, and it's also only been an hour since you posted. Don't worry so much! Everyone is probably out partying or doing SOMETHING other than being here(I wish I was, where's the Goldschlager?).

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Also, it's saturday night, and it's also only been an hour since you posted. Don't worry so much! Everyone is probably out partying or doing SOMETHING other than being here(I wish I was, where's the Goldschlager?).

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For real. Please be patient, people will respond. But give us time! :D

snakes are very sensitive to vibrations. perhaps the vibration of the fan is upsetting your snake.

i would take away the fan and try to get your snake eating again inside it's enclosure. then... try introducing the fan again and see if your snake, once again refuses food. this way you'll know if it's the fan.

;)

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

snakes are very sensitive to vibrations. perhaps the vibration of the fan is upsetting your snake.

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i agree 100%. If the snake can feel the vibrations from the fan, it will stress out most def.

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Originally Posted by Grishnákh

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...:(

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take a deep breath...

okay, so here's what i do when i have a question and no one answers it. i find the person i would most like to answer the question and pm them with a link to the thread... and then i patiently wait for them to get the pm and answer me. :carrot:

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Originally Posted by Grishnákh

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...:(

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So my post was ignored?

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Originally Posted by Grishnákh

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...:(

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All I can say is that's a way to get people to really ignore you.
Some people have lives and are busy on the weekends....next time we'll all hop to it when we see you post. Even though I to thought you pretty much answered your own question.

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Originally Posted by bpkid

So my post was ignored?

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No, it was very welcomed and I'm very greatful for it.:D

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Originally Posted by TheAudOne

All I can say is that's a way to get people to really ignore you. Some people have lives and are busy on the weekends....

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I wasn't really upset about not getting to much answers. I know I can't expect to have everyone's attention in a couple of minutes. I was really trying to make a point about the issue with MKR.

Sorry about that everyone... I didn't explained myself well.

Oh I get it. Yes, MKR has been receiving an excessive amount of attention recently. We all hope to move forward and never look back. :)

All you do when removing the snake, after it hisses; just grab the little booger out anyway and show him you're not scared. If he can learn that hssing gets him a free ticket to stay in bed and not have to go out, he will definately do that; my male LaVey was a notorious hisser, but honestly now he doesn't do it anymore; I just ignored it as if he was not doing it; I did snicker thougg because it was kind of cute.

Our male BP is a hisser too, always has been (hey Jen maybe it's a guy snake thing LOL). We just learned that he's all hiss and not much else, just grumbling in his snakey way about being bothered by humans and go about our business with him in a matter of fact way.

If your snake is used to a certain pattern when eating and you've changed that then it will react until either you return to the pattern it knows or it adjusts to the new routine which takes time (some never adjust well to change, BP's can be very stubborn critters!)

As far as associating hands in the enclosure with food, just never smell of prey and make sure that you are opening that enclosure more than just on feeding day. I've found that our snakes recognize feeding day as different from other days by the change in our daily routine with them. We don't handle on feeding day as they are hungry and primed to go, so it's expected they might hiss or strike at our hands that day.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

As far as associating hands in the enclosure with food, just never smell of prey and make sure that you are opening that enclosure more than just on feeding day. I've found that our snakes recognize feeding day as different from other days by the change in our daily routine with them. We don't handle on feeding day as they are hungry and primed to go, so it's expected they might hiss or strike at our hands that day.

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Isn't that the truth? My sweet, sweet babies become very aggressive on feeding day - down right scare me at times! They know feeding day, and will target on any heat signature - including me! LOL

After feeding is over (a couple of hours) and hands are washed, I can safely go into their enclosure to clean any poopies that I noticed when feeding, and change water if it needs it.

I always let my snakes snatch on and constrict their food then attempt moving them because they're so caught up in constricting they will not notice being moved. I believe if a snake gets use to a certain routine and its hungry and sees your nice warm hand go inside their tank witht the smells of a rat (or their current food item), they may have a feeding response and lash out.

Sapphire, what do you mean move them? Why are you moving them while they are constricting?

Can the color of the rat be a motive for not eating. As far as I can remember all the rats I gave to my BP had mixed colors (blacks with whites). The one that she refused is all brown colored. Can this mean something or it's just a myth?

myth! they go by heat and smell... not colour :)

:D SHE ATE! After trying to feed her about a week and a half ago just like I feed her in a routine, and refusing to eat, las night I saw her out of the hide box and decided to try it again.

First she move her tounge smelling the rat, but she did nothing, just stood there for about five minute, inside the box. I reached and took her out of the box and she immediately striked the rat. I am very happy. I tought I was going to wait 9 months again :).