Young snake missed strike, now uninterested in food

[Ksauber]

I just got 2 new BP's on Sunday and tried to feed them yesterday. Previously both were eating live rat crawlers. I want to feed f/t to them so I figured I'd give it a try. Atlas (male pied) took a few minutes to take the f/t large mouse, but once he took it he ate it quickly without issue. Oblina (female spider het pied) also took a few minutes to figure out the mouse was food, but when she did, she struck at it, and missed. After the miss, she was no longer interested. I know, being a spider she could have issues with aim, so I wasn't moving the mouse much. Also, she dosen' t have a noticeable wobble, so I didn't think it would be much of an issue.

I have had BP's miss before, but they always just try again. I have never had one lose interest. It's like her pride was hurt lol. Should I try feeding again to tonight? I would try with live, but given that she went for the f/t, I don't know if the food is the problem. Opinions?

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[Ax01]

it coulda been a defensive strike. did she miss completely or did she hit the f/t with her strike and just didn't coil? personally i like to give new BP's more time to settle in before attempting to feed. if they're healthy, they're not gonna starve. IMO i would wait a few days or even the next feeding day to keep the two new BP's on the same schedule.

[Ksauber]

She hit it but just barely. Like... grazed it with the side of her face. The only BP's I have worked with (at a rescue) have always been so underfed, so I'm used to trying to get food in them sooner rather than later.

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[hollowlaughter]

If it's a spider, a technique I've heard is heating the head with a blow dryer (til it's warm to touch), turn off the lights, offer on tongs. They seem to be more accurate with their heat pit IR than eyesight; thus removing as much possibility of misses followed by fear refusals.

[Ksauber]

If it's a spider, a technique I've heard is heating the head with a blow dryer (til it's warm to touch), turn off the lights, offer on tongs. They seem to be more accurate with their heat pit IR than eyesight; thus removing as much possibility of misses followed by fear refusals.

That's exactly what I did lol. Hopefully she gets it next time.

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[BluuWolf]

I just got 2 new BP's on Sunday and tried to feed them yesterday. Previously both were eating live rat crawlers. I want to feed f/t to them so I figured I'd give it a try. Atlas (male pied) took a few minutes to take the f/t large mouse, but once he took it he ate it quickly without issue. Oblina (female spider het pied) also took a few minutes to figure out the mouse was food, but when she did, she struck at it, and missed. After the miss, she was no longer interested. I know, being a spider she could have issues with aim, so I wasn't moving the mouse much. Also, she dosen' t have a noticeable wobble, so I didn't think it would be much of an issue.

I have had BP's miss before, but they always just try again. I have never had one lose interest. It's like her pride was hurt lol. Should I try feeding again to tonight? I would try with live, but given that she went for the f/t, I don't know if the food is the problem. Opinions?

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Mine have done the same thing before, it's not just a spider thing. Spiders do tend to miss but honestly my boy without any spider misses more then my girl with lol. When they strike and loose insterest just take it and heat it up again then try again and most of the time they will try again. If not then just leave it in there for them and see if they want it.

If was a defensive strike though this wouldn't work lol. When she struck at it did she hold her head out for a sec before coming back or was it just one quick motion. In my experience when they are striking for food and miss they will keep their head outstreached for a sec before pulling back but if it was defensive they pull away real fast

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[Zincubus]

That's exactly what I did lol. Hopefully she gets it next time.

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Hi .. next time just repeat the heating with hairdryer and offering instantly, repeat as many times as necessary ...


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[Starscream]

You also mention in another thread that she shed for you recently after this post -- that could very well be why she refused/ was more defensive than interested. Some snakes don't like to eat while in shed, or it could be the combo of new home and in shed. Still, you dont want to encourage refusals, so waiting 5 days to a week is probably a good idea.

[Ksauber]

You also mention in another thread that she shed for you recently after this post -- that could very well be why she refused/ was more defensive than interested. Some snakes don't like to eat while in shed, or it could be the combo of new home and in shed. Still, you dont want to encourage refusals, so waiting 5 days to a week is probably a good idea.

Yeah that's what I thought. I am going to try again in 5 days and see how it goes.

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