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  1. #1
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    For those of you who don't know... I got a 4yr old (almost 5) Normal BP a little over 2 weeks ago. He was eating live. Long story short, I was told he had not eaten in almost two months when I got him. I left him alone for a week. Offered f/t. Refused. Left him alone. 2 days later he was in shed. Finished yesterday. I read up on how to encourage feeding. Left it to thaw on top of his cage and thought if he is interested he will come out. We'll, he did. And I fed him. He missed and I think it's because he is used to live and not dangling. So I dropped it right after he missed in front of him and he got it. Ate it. I had another ready incase he wanted it. He was looking and I gave it to him by dropping it. He took it in his hide and I'm guessing ate it. I then saw him with his head sticking out, struck at a pile of moss and then took it in the hide. I'm like 99.9% sure he ate that, too. I'm confused. What the heck is that and should I be worried? I need reassurance.

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  2. #2
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    I wonder if he's "special"

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  3. #3
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Ok! He's sticking his head out again! I'm worried he's gonna eat moss for a second time. The MFer that had him before would put like 5 mice in with him at the same time. And I think he thinks there's more in there and smells the mouse on his substrate

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  4. #4
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Quote Originally Posted by HeathBish View Post
    For those of you who don't know... I got a 4yr old (almost 5) Normal BP a little over 2 weeks ago. He was eating live. Long story short, I was told he had not eaten in almost two months when I got him. I left him alone for a week. Offered f/t. Refused. Left him alone. 2 days later he was in shed. Finished yesterday. I read up on how to encourage feeding. Left it to thaw on top of his cage and thought if he is interested he will come out. We'll, he did. And I fed him. He missed and I think it's because he is used to live and not dangling. So I dropped it right after he missed in front of him and he got it. Ate it. I had another ready incase he wanted it. He was looking and I gave it to him by dropping it. He took it in his hide and I'm guessing ate it. I then saw him with his head sticking out, struck at a pile of moss and then took it in the hide. I'm like 99.9% sure he ate that, too. I'm confused. What the heck is that and should I be worried? I need reassurance.

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    Ive never seen mine strick at substrate before. Ive had mine eat some substrate. I use eco earth. I started to move half of her substrate away when feeding to get as little as possible on the rat because she has a tendacy of dragging it all over the place lol. You could also make a tub for feeding only if your really worried. Or maybe take substrate out a day before feed and put like paper towel down untill after feed just a suggestion. Ive had mine eat like a mouth full of substrate before. I wouldnt be to concerned. Just keep an eye on it and make sure there isnt anything lodged in the mouth etc. Usually when they get substrate in there mouth they "spit it out for say". Ive watched mine remove the substrate on its own before.

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  6. #5
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Personally i wont do the whole feeding in seperate enclosure. i feed mine in enclosure lets stress. But im actually thinking of removing all substrate the day before feed. so mine stops getting substrate on her food as well. But maybe someone else has better oppinion or options for you. Im a new ball python owner. ive owned my baby ball whos like 7 months old for 2 months now. and my new adoption which ive had since friday so havent seen her feed yet and shes 2+ years old.

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  8. #6
    BPnet Lifer zina10's Avatar
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    I'm pretty sure he didn't actually eat the moss. Even if it smelled of rodent, it gives of no heat signature.

    He is just HUNGRY and still in feed mode. Not the time you want to mess with him to check what he ate. If his head is sticking out of his hide and his face / mouth looks fine, he is just fine.

    He is still looking for food. Are you feeding with long tongs or dangle the mice by the tail with your hands? I highly recommend you get long hemostats and use those for feeding. You can then hold the rat/mouse behind the head and present to the snake without dangling it. Either way, you won't have to drop it.

    Or just lay them down in front of the hide.

    I bet your boy is just fine, he was just hungry still. Lift the hide tomorrow and check on him, and let us know
    Zina

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  10. #7
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dylan_ View Post
    Personally i wont do the whole feeding in seperate enclosure. i feed mine in enclosure lets stress. But im actually thinking of removing all substrate the day before feed. so mine stops getting substrate on her food as well. But maybe someone else has better oppinion or options for you. Im a new ball python owner. ive owned my baby ball whos like 7 months old for 2 months now. and my new adoption which ive had since friday so havent seen her feed yet and shes 2+ years old.

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    I prefer to feed him in his enclosure as well. Thank you and congrats on your adoption

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  11. #8
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Quote Originally Posted by zina10 View Post
    I'm pretty sure he didn't actually eat the moss. Even if it smelled of rodent, it gives of no heat signature.

    He is just HUNGRY and still in feed mode. Not the time you want to mess with him to check what he ate. If his head is sticking out of his hide and his face / mouth looks fine, he is just fine.

    He is still looking for food. Are you feeding with long tongs or dangle the mice by the tail with your hands? I highly recommend you get long hemostats and use those for feeding. You can then hold the rat/mouse behind the head and present to the snake without dangling it. Either way, you won't have to drop it.

    Or just lay them down in front of the hide.

    I bet your boy is just fine, he was just hungry still. Lift the hide tomorrow and check on him, and let us know
    I use the long feeding tongs. When I prevented it the first time and he missed I totally freaked and pulled back because he's a big boy and I was scared for my hand lol. He completely missed it though and seemed to go for my hand. I make sure the mice are really warm so I can't see him mistaken it for my hand. It's new to him so maybe that's why? I know I shouldn't have pulled back have but it just happened. I had adult mice that are too big for my little one so I just wanted to see if he would eat. Next week I will get him a rat. That should fill him up.

    This is a sign he's doing really well now right? Health wise, I mean.

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  13. #9
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Quote Originally Posted by zina10 View Post
    I'm pretty sure he didn't actually eat the moss. Even if it smelled of rodent, it gives of no heat signature.

    He is just HUNGRY and still in feed mode. Not the time you want to mess with him to check what he ate. If his head is sticking out of his hide and his face / mouth looks fine, he is just fine.

    He is still looking for food. Are you feeding with long tongs or dangle the mice by the tail with your hands? I highly recommend you get long hemostats and use those for feeding. You can then hold the rat/mouse behind the head and present to the snake without dangling it. Either way, you won't have to drop it.

    Or just lay them down in front of the hide.

    I bet your boy is just fine, he was just hungry still. Lift the hide tomorrow and check on him, and let us know
    ^^^ All of this. ^^^

    There is no need to remove all the substrate. Nobody removes substrate for them in the wild. They have been swallowing substrate since the dawn of time and have survived for thousands of years.

    Not to mention, a change like that, although subtle to us, is a big deal to a snake, especially a finicky BP. And for snakes, change = stress. Stressed snakes often refuse food.

    If anything, put down a paper plate or piece of cardboard if it helps you relax, but they typically drag the prey into their hides or wherever they want anyway.

    Also, a seperate feeding tub is a bad idea, stick to feeding in the enclosure. Ok
    Last edited by Craiga 01453; 11-07-2018 at 09:13 AM.

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  15. #10
    Registered User HeathBish's Avatar
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    Re: 2 mice and striking at Moss then eating it.

    Quote Originally Posted by craigafrechette View Post
    ^^^ All of this. ^^^

    There is no need to remove all the substrate. Nobody removes substrate for them in the wild. They have been swallowing substrate since the dawn of time and have survived for thousands of years.

    Not to mention, a change like that, although subtle to us, is a big deal to a snake, especially a finicky BP. And for snakes, change = stress. Stressed snakes often refuse food.

    If anything, put down a paper plate or piece of cardboard if it helps you relax, but they typically drag the prey into their hides or wherever they want anyway.

    Also, a seperate feeding tub is a bad idea, stick to feeding in the enclosure. Ok
    As long as I'm being told he won't get sick I'll be fine lol. I assumed but it's good to hear as well. Thank you.

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