Strike but not eating

[trousersnakes]

I got a ball python a little over a week ago. I know it is still adjusting so I may need to wait a little longer before trying to feed. I gave it a shot today and dangled the f/t in front of it for a while. I made it dark in the room and after a while he un balled himself and started moving around a bit. I tapped him by accident which i think got him fired up and he struck and wrapped up the mouse. He let go after about a second and then i just left the mouse in there hoping he would eventually eat it. He just left it there and moved around the tank smelling and rolled up in a ball for a bit. I put his hide back in there and he went back in so I removed the mouse. Any ideas? Should I try again tomorrow or wait another week?

[The Serpent Merchant]

I would wait 4 days then try again. They do this sometimes. How big is your snake and how big was the rodent? Does your enclosure have a hot side between 88 and 92 degrees and a cool side between 78 and 82 degrees with humidity between 40% and 60%? What type of heat source do you have and how do you measure temperature/humidity?

[Slim]

Every thing Aaron said, plus, sometimes it helps when feeding F/T to grab the rodent by the tail AFTER the strike and wrap. Play an easy game of tug-o-war with the snake, then let it go. Sometimes this can trick the snake into constricting harder and will kick in the feeding response.

[RestlessRobie]

X2
Aye a good game of Tug O War will prolly help a lot my normal girl is a little older and love to play Tug O War and then feed repsonse is great

[kitedemon]

Dropped prey can be a lack of security. The will and desire to eat but missing the security to be vulnerable. Try to make the animal feel secure, two hides just big enough to fit and try some fake plants and something over head to provide cover. I found this helps.

[Salamander Rising]

Every thing Aaron said, plus, sometimes it helps when feeding F/T to grab the rodent by the tail AFTER the strike and wrap. Play an easy game of tug-o-war with the snake, then let it go. Sometimes this can trick the snake into constricting harder and will kick in the feeding response.

My Dumerils was a lazy just-creep-on-over-and-swallow-it 'casual eater' for a long time but then she got one rat backwards and when I tried to "help" her aright it, she thought I was gonna take it away from her and squeezed it so hard it popped.

Ever since then, she goes overboard with the squeezing, even going into what looks like an 'alligator death roll'.

Boy...did I ever make her not "trust" those dead rats to stay dead.....

So yeah, 'tug of war' sure can give them a whole new perspective on 'prey drive'.