Interesting behavior from new BP

So I picked this girl up from Petco a week ago. I didn’t feed her right away, since she already had a good lump in her body. She handled well and seemed content to climb on my hands and explore me.

After a few days, the lump was disappearing and she turned into a completely different snake. Moving very fast and nervously, like a wild garter snake.

When the frozen fuzzies I order showed up, she snatched the first one off the tongs as soon as she noticed it. Constricted and swallowed without issue. I’ve never seen such an aggressive feeding response from a BP.

I wasn’t satisfied with the lump the fuzzy gave her, so I offered her another the next day. Her behavior was still fast and jerky like a colubrid. She wouldn’t take the mouse off the tongs, so I left in in the cage. I checked a bit later and it was gone. Now she has a good lump, and her behavior is back to typical BP again. I’m not worried, just found it interesting how much food can influence her.

It's always nice when they have a good feeding response. But...you NEVER want to let much time elapse (more than 30 minutes) when feeding multiple items, because once the first item is digested, it moves on from the stomach & then often there is not enough digestive enzymes left for the later arriving one*, & back up it comes. :( You always want to avoid doing that which might cause the snake to regurgitate, because every now & then, they can even aspirate & die from this. Even if they don't, you won't be able to feed them again for 2-3 weeks while they recover & replenish enzymes.

Also, if you're talking fuzzy mice they're WAAAYY too small.

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Originally Posted by Critter87

... I’m not worried, just found it interesting how much food can influence her.

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You oughta see me when I'm super-hungry! :rofl:

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Also, if you're talking fuzzy mice they're WAAAYY too small.

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AGREE! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Good catch! And that would explain a LOT. ;)