My snake won’t eat her rat

[monicaquintanar]

Heeey there, I’m in my hometown and my snake is back we’re I go to college in my apartment all by herself but I have a friend that goes once a week to check on her and give her water and all that. Today I finally figured it out and bought a small rat for her because all the stores were closed and I had troubles finding a rat for her, she hasn’t had one in two months and today they finally gave her one, they gave it to her at 8:06 and it’s 9:17 and she hasn’t ate yet, and my friend has to leave o his apartment eventually, I know and I’ve heard that when feeding your snake it’s better to have someone checking on her but since we are in this situation and my friend has to go back, would it matter if he leaves and just leave the rat in the tank with my snake? She has done this before but I’m scared she just won’t eat it and the rat starts to attack her or something. Thank you and let me know what you think!!

[jmcrook]

If that rat is alive then get it out of there immediately if your friend needs to leave


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[Turningstar]

Do not leave a live rat with a snake unattended. ESPECIALLY if its going to be a week before anyone comes back.

Why isnt your snake with you? While its nice that someone will check on it and feed it for you, it would be better if it was more than once a week. If a thermostat fails or something, no one would know for days.

When you said she hadnt had a rat for 2 months, do you mean she hasnt eaten in 2 months, or has been eating something else?


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

Common sense would tell you not to leave a live rat unattended with a snake, the key to live feeding is: if not eaten in 10 mins remove the feeder.

Even leaving the feeder in the cage for an hour does not accomplish anything other than stressing your snake even more.

[monicaquintanar]

Hello!
The last time I fed my snake was march 18th. Then for personal reasons a friend had to take care of her and tried feeding her two weeks later, (same rat size, and alive) she didnt eat it. Then we weren't able to find any rats from all this going on in the world but we finally found one and we were able to fed her again on May 19th which still with no luck she didnt eat it.
Again, I had difficulties finding a rat to feed her since theres no rats anywhere where I live, but today I finally got one for her, but frozen, shes not used to eat frozen rats I have only fed her frozen fuzzies mice when she was smaller which was a while ago, today I gave it to her, I unfrozed the rat moved it around a little bit, she got closer looked at it, she even slightly opened her mouth I was so sure she was going to eat it but no she didnt. Any recommendations in what should I try? should I be worried, should I be not? please let me know what you think thank you!

[Zincubus]

Hello!
The last time I fed my snake was march 18th. Then for personal reasons a friend had to take care of her and tried feeding her two weeks later, (same rat size, and alive) she didnt eat it. Then we weren't able to find any rats from all this going on in the world but we finally found one and we were able to fed her again on May 19th which still with no luck she didnt eat it.
Again, I had difficulties finding a rat to feed her since theres no rats anywhere where I live, but today I finally got one for her, but frozen, shes not used to eat frozen rats I have only fed her frozen fuzzies mice when she was smaller which was a while ago, today I gave it to her, I unfrozed the rat moved it around a little bit, she got closer looked at it, she even slightly opened her mouth I was so sure she was going to eat it but no she didnt. Any recommendations in what should I try? should I be worried, should I be not? please let me know what you think thank you!

Hi !!


Dim the lights and offer it WARM .

Use a hairdryer to get it real warm then IMMEDIATELY dangle it right under it’s nose !!

They usually grab it first time if not just keep reheating and offering till it takes it .

My Royals will only strike from under their hides ZA


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

What's the animal's size?

What's the enclosure size?

What are your temps and how do you measure them?

How tight are your hides?

Have you offered F/T mice, obviously if rats don't work depending on the size of the animal you may want to offer mice again, the appropriate size this time.

[PartySnake13]

How’s your husbandry?

are you using a thermostat for your primary heat source?
What are your hotspot, left side ambient, right side ambient temps?

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

How did you "unfrozed" the rat?

[Gio]

Common sense would tell you not to leave a live rat unattended with a snake, the key to live feeding is: if not eaten in 10 mins remove the feeder.

Even leaving the feeder in the cage for an hour does not accomplish anything other than stressing your snake even more.

Has anybody read the previous threads here on the board?

I'm sorry if this sounds rude as I know this board is for discussion and learning, but seeing multiple threads on royals not feeding within the last 2 weeks makes me question the up front research done prior to acquiring the animal. Today there are two separate threads on the same topic. Experienced keepers don't want to answer the same question several times a week. It creates frustration for people that post well thought out comments/threads that get overlooked.

Almost every care sheet including the lame, pet store care sheets point out the issues regarding the feeding of royal pythons.

It is NOT an issue however unless the snake is not established or is displaying visual health cues.

I'll say this again. We have a royal python here that has gone off food for a year. This go round she hasn't eaten since December 23rd.

I would suggest a lot of reading and research regarding any species of snake you keep. Questions here are great and I love seeing discussion but nonstop questions about a royal pythons not eating have been answered here time and time again.

There is a search option here that will likely bring you to answers written by 100 members or more over the years.

Bottom line.

This is what royal pythons do. Its also one of the reasons they are know as the longest lived snakes. They regulate their own food intake.

Don't over think this stuff. Reptiles, by design are made for famine, and when they want to feast, they will.