Will only feed when I hold her...

[neur0tix]

This is strange... past two weeks ive fed her she wouldnt eat it unless i was holding her. I'll let it sit there, dangle it with tongs, play with it for 20 mins and it just scares her the closer i bring it to her. (a full size normal mouse)

but as soon as i hold her and bring her head near the dangling mouse, she strikes it.

is this bizarre or anything to worry about??

[oliverstwist]

she might really be fear striking when you hold her because she feels she has no other way around it?

(I really dont know the answer, i have one snake i have to put the mouse in there and watch it for at LEAST 30-45 minutes to make sure she eats without getting hurt...)

[Kaorte]

Where are you trying to feed her?

[steveboos]

Yeah i have NEVER EVER heard of someone having to hold their ball python to eat, thats usually the last thing you want to do. Are you feeding her in her tank?

[loonunit]

Well, I've had snakes that only would eat if I gave them some privacy alone with their dead mouse, and snakes that would only eat if they were perched on a branch with the advantage of height over the dangling f/t rodent, and one snake that would only eat (live OR f/t) if I rubbed a little Indian tikka masala curry sauce on her dinner first. Usually it's because I'm transitioning them from live to f/t, or because they've just arrived and are still freaked out... but they've each had some weird little special eating requirement that they've hung onto for a few months before they got over it/grown out of it.

Which is the long way of saying: I wouldn't worry. Just do whatever you need to do to keep her happy and get her to eat. She'll most likely grow out of it in a few months.

[BPelizabeth]

that is the strangest thing I have ever heard. Usually it is the opposite....the don't want you around!!

[neur0tix]

I am feeding her in a separate box... just lined with papertowels and a water dish.. i gave her 20 minutes to eat on her own but she had none of it... left her there alone for 10, held it in diff spots for 10, all kinds of crap.. but as soon as i pick ed her up she kinda struck the mouse and went outta my hands within a second or two. i started picking her up and bam

[kitedemon]

Well that is quite odd, but hey what ever works mine won't eat in the dark... there is just no accounting!

[Swingline0.0.1]

Why don't you try feeding in the viv or tub? It can make them stressed to have to move to another area to feed. Sooner or later you are bound to get tagged if you are holding the snake and feeding.

[Tochigi_R]

Why don't you try feeding in the viv or tub? It can make them stressed to have to move to another area to feed. Sooner or later you are bound to get tagged if you are holding the snake and feeding.

And if they're in feeding mode, it won't be a quick little bite. It'll latch onto you and try to eat. My mojave has gotten me on the thumb before, and nearly swallowed it whole before I was able to get him loose enough to let go. My fault, though. Tried to reposition the rat a little better and whack!

But I guess whatever works is fine. As long as your snake isn't running laps around it's home having a nervous break down, is healthy, and is eating regularly, do what needs to be done to keep it happy.