Inaccurate strikes

Do BP tend to be inaccurate when striking their food? It normally takes my BP 2-3 missed strikes before he finally hits while my Boa always hits on the first strike. :confused:

Ball pythons have the worst aim in the herp world i think!!!!

How old is your bp?


I have a couple youngins that will miss.

But typically the older ones hit it on the first strike.

:)

How old is the snake, how big is the prey and are you offering live, frozen/thawed or pre-killed?

I don't have the weight but the snake is about 3 1/2 feet long being fed X-large frozed/thawed mice. He has had bad aim since he was a baby.

My ball is usually accurate. Only time he misses is when he's in the process of shedding.

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Originally Posted by Zeus

I don't have the weight but the snake is about 3 1/2 feet long being fed X-large frozed/thawed mice. He has had bad aim since he was a baby.

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Get a hemostat to hold the F/T....and put it basically right in front of his face.... if it's warmed properly he shouldn't have a problem finding and striking.;)

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

Get a hemostat to hold the F/T....and put it basically right in front of his face.... if it's warmed properly he shouldn't have a problem finding and striking.;)

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That is actually how I have fed him since I got him. He gets so excited he just throws out blind strikes...usually grazing the side of the mouse. He has definately never had a problem eating.

Hmmm maybe then try the exact opposite of the close range feeding. Try backing off a bit, giving your mature snake more room to set up it's strike and not having that big heat signature of your hand holding the hemostats so close into his face. Might work, won't hurt to try it.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Hmmm maybe then try the exact opposite of the close range feeding. Try backing off a bit, giving your mature snake more room to set up it's strike and not having that big heat signature of your hand holding the hemostats so close into his face. Might work, won't hurt to try it.

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I will try that...thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Zeus I haven't fed f/t in awhile granted but just a few things we did to help them strike accurately. We'd warm up the f/t prey appropriately then have a hot air blow dryer handy and give it a fast blast on the head of the prey seconds before introducing into the snake tub. Then we'd sort of "dance" the prey around a bit, grasping it by the loose skin between it's shoulder blades. Letting it's feet drag but in a semi-natural posture/live movement, and laying down a scent trail right near the snake but not in it's face. Usually within seconds our snakes got the message and slammed into their dinner very accurately.

I never got used to f/t feeding and jumped like a schoolgirl every dang time they hit the prey. LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Zeus I haven't fed f/t in awhile granted but just a few things we did to help them strike accurately. We'd warm up the f/t prey appropriately then have a hot air blow dryer handy and give it a fast blast on the head of the prey seconds before introducing into the snake tub. Then we'd sort of "dance" the prey around a bit, grasping it by the loose skin between it's shoulder blades. Letting it's feet drag but in a semi-natural posture/live movement, and laying down a scent trail right near the snake but not in it's face. Usually within seconds our snakes got the message and slammed into their dinner very accurately.

I never got used to f/t feeding and jumped like a schoolgirl every dang time they hit the prey. LOL

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Right now he hits so fast and hard that I don't have the mouse in front of him for anymore than 3-5 seconds lol. He has been a very good eater since he was a baby. I am just so used to the Boa that seems to have pinpoint accuracy.

Whenever he does it just stop and firmly say "Easy there, Tex". :D

I had mine miss once on a long 6" strike (live feed). Since then he's found he can just wait a little longer and get a 1-2" strike.

Sounds like zeus is just incredibly eager. Maybe he is too hungry.

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Originally Posted by bearhart

Whenever he does it just stop and firmly say "Easy there, Tex". :D

I had mine miss once on a long 6" strike (live feed). Since then he's found he can just wait a little longer and get a 1-2" strike.

Sounds like zeus is just incredibly eager. Maybe he is too hungry.

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I wondered about him being too hungry also....he is definately not suffering from malnutrition though lol. I need to get a weight on him.......

i have never seen any of my BPs miss.

Are they actually feeding strikes or are they "get away from me!" strikes because he's nervous? I had to feed Auryn live a couple times (he'd always done F/T before) while deciding where to order F/T from. The first time he tried to eat live, I think he was excited, but also a little agitated that the mouse was scampering around. He did a defensive strike in the general direction of the mouse before he actually made a killing strike. Maybe your boy's just high-strung? :)

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Originally Posted by AzureN1ght

Are they actually feeding strikes or are they "get away from me!" strikes because he's nervous? I had to feed Auryn live a couple times (he'd always done F/T before) while deciding where to order F/T from. The first time he tried to eat live, I think he was excited, but also a little agitated that the mouse was scampering around. He did a defensive strike in the general direction of the mouse before he actually made a killing strike. Maybe your boy's just high-strung? :)

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No, definately not a nervous strike....he is probably the most layed back snake I have every dealt with. He has not shown any aggression towards me (or anybody else) since I got him several years ago. It is amazing how strong his sense of smell is. He is in a larger custom built cage but the second the mouse is introduced into the cage he snaps to attention waiting for me to bring it to him. He acts totally different when I am just doing cage maintanence. I am starting to think he enjoys eating so much he can't contain himself :)