Crazy Feeding Night - For My Crew Anyway

[dakski]

Last night was a weird feeding night.

Everyone who usually strikes fast and with gusto didn't. I used the wrong tongs, my spare set, that locks, instead of the non-locking ones, with Behira, and my BP, who has barely eaten all winter, and not since early January, gobbled down a rat.

1. Behira, my Ghost BCI, took about 4 minutes of staring at the rat, and almost coming out to see me, before striking. Very strange for her. Then she strikes, and I release the tongs and start to pull them out, and she starts coming with them! I used the locking tongs, my old spare set, instead of the non-locking tongs! I was so tired last night (long story) that I made a big mistake. Behira did not let go of that rat and tried to grab anything in her tank to stay in there. She flipped a house, banged the walls, etc. UGH! It all happened quick. Realizing she wouldn't release the rat for anything, I unlocked the tongs, shut the door, and walked away.

2. Yafe, my carpet python, who eats like clockwork, refused! He's going to shed soon, but that doesn't always stop him!

3. My 2 Corns, who are voracious eaters, both grabbed the mice off the tongs, but refused to coil, even when I pulled on the rodent. They were just like, "MINE! I eat now!"

4. Shayna, my BP, who fasts in the winter normally, hadn't eaten since early January and only 2 rats in the past 6 months, devoured a rat!

Overall. 5 out 6 snakes ate, and that's a good night!

[Alter-Echo]

Yeah, my snakes sometimes refuse food, primarily my ball pythons and hoggie, but my thayers kingsnake sometimes does too. Others, like my 2 cali kings and the Aussie water python never refuse, and if they did it would be cause for alarm..

[alittleFREE]

Crazy night indeed! Glad you had such success.

Is it a full moon? Because last night was feeding night over here as well.... and my 6 ft Cal King struck but missed the mouse, then LAUNCHED herself halfway out of her enclosure (front-opening). She was striking non-stop and flailing herself around like something out of a horror movie, dangling from the cage.... I tried to nudge her back in the enclosure with the tongs. but she started constricting the tongs, and I couldn’t get her off, and she was nearly on the floor. Thankfully my boyfriend heard the commotion and came to assist me and we managed to get her back in the cage without anyone getting bit. She then devoured 2 adult mice and was looking for more.

Next time I feed her I will have tongs in one hand and a snake hook in the other.

But... my BP didn’t eat. Go figure.




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[richardhind1972]

That's good then Dave, it's horrible when they have a normal routine and that all goes out the window

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[WhompingWillow]

Do you mind letting me know what kind of feeding tongs you use? We were in need of longer ones due to growing snakes so picked up a locking hemostat, but I don't like them so far. Hand/eye coordination is not my strongest attribute, lol.

[dakski]

Do you mind letting me know what kind of feeding tongs you use? We were in need of longer ones due to growing snakes so picked up a locking hemostat, but I don't like them so far. Hand/eye coordination is not my strongest attribute, lol.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hemostat-24

Out of stock right now. However, contact them and they should be in soon, I imagine.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, NON-locking hemostats are a must, lol... I don't care much for hemostats anyway, I use what looks like giant 12" tweezers. (I also have one 18" but I don't
care much for it...it's awkward, unless you need something retrieved from your sink drain...)

Dave- glad you got thru the night OK. Sounds like they had a conspiracy to mess with you? While not the "usual", I'd say that was normal for Yafe though,
as well as for your corns- why constrict when all you have to do is just eat it? They learn about f/t, & they're usually mellower pets then.

alittleFree- that's REALLY "normal" for an adult Cal. king. At least she didn't have her mouth on the tongs... I love their colubrid-enthusiasm!
When my female was really old (& goofy!), she actually once tried to eat her own tail...

[dakski]

Yes, NON-locking hemostats are a must, lol... I don't care much for hemostats anyway, I use what looks like giant 12" tweezers. (I also have one 18" but I don't
care much for it...it's awkward, unless you need something retrieved from your sink drain...)

Dave- glad you got thru the night OK. Sounds like they had a conspiracy to mess with you? While not the "usual", I'd say that was normal for Yafe though,
as well as for your corns- why constrict when all you have to do is just eat it? They learn about f/t, & they're usually mellower pets then.

alittleFree- that's REALLY "normal" for an adult Cal. king. At least she didn't have her mouth on the tongs... I love their colubrid-enthusiasm!
When my female was really old (& goofy!), she actually once tried to eat her own tail...

Yeah, not worried about Yafe one bit. He's going to shed and probably can't see too well. He seemed more afraid than interested in striking. I didn't push the issue.

Figment strikes 90% of the time, but Solana, not so much. So unusual for him, but not for her.

I had bought the locking hemostats by accident and moving things around, put them near the non-locking ones.

Big Snake = 24 inches Hemostats for me .

[Bogertophis]

Yes, I still have my non-locking hemostats (18" & 24") from when I kept rattlebrats. I hear ya... Good equipment is a good investment, even though mine
get very little use now. Locking ones are a nightmare, as you just proved.