Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,894

0 members and 2,894 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,441
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-02-2022
    Posts
    22
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 30 Times in 14 Posts
    Images: 6

    Snake likes hot meals!

    Ok, so maybe it’s the fact my snakes name is Sunny, but I have noticed that every failed feeding has been a factor of a less than sizzling hot prey item.
    Case in point last week I had his f/t rat warmed to around 100, he wouldn’t strike- but was zooming around the cage stalking. I (carefully) took the rat back out, put it under the overhead CHE, got it 120 and he struck immediately. Tonight I used some boiling water to get the rat to 120 before I came in, and again he struck and ate immediately. I know in the wild rats temps are close to ours, so is this just a spoiled snake, or is there something about a hot meal that is more appealing?

  2. #2
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts
    Snakes like BPs with heat-sensing pits rely on heat signatures from live prey animals to identify their dinner. Cold means not alive, therefore not interested. The term is "picky eaters", hahaha.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    Homebody (03-07-2023),OatBoii (03-07-2023)

  4. #3
    BPnet Veteran Homebody's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-19-2019
    Location
    Jersey City, NJ
    Posts
    1,555
    Thanks
    5,298
    Thanked 2,151 Times in 1,164 Posts
    Images: 22

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Quote Originally Posted by Missiepixie View Post
    Ok, so maybe it’s the fact my snakes name is Sunny, but I have noticed that every failed feeding has been a factor of a less than sizzling hot prey item.
    Case in point last week I had his f/t rat warmed to around 100, he wouldn’t strike- but was zooming around the cage stalking. I (carefully) took the rat back out, put it under the overhead CHE, got it 120 and he struck immediately. Tonight I used some boiling water to get the rat to 120 before I came in, and again he struck and ate immediately. I know in the wild rats temps are close to ours, so is this just a spoiled snake, or is there something about a hot meal that is more appealing?
    Those temps sound dangerously hot to me, but I guess, by the time he done constricting it, it has cooled to a safe temp.
    1.0 Normal Children's Python (2022 - present)
    1.0 Normal Ball Python (2019 - 2021)

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Homebody For This Useful Post:

    Malum Argenteum (03-08-2023),Missiepixie (03-07-2023)

  6. #4
    BPnet Lifer dakski's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-08-2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    4,802
    Thanks
    8,109
    Thanked 9,691 Times in 3,863 Posts
    Images: 134

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Boiling water = cooked prey. Not good for snakes. They eat raw food.

    Defrost at room temp and then put in hot tap water (110-120F usually) for a minute. That should get your BP to strike. Also, that way you aren't cooking the prey which can hurt digestion and limit nutrient intake.

    Any questions, let us know. There could be other factors contributing to your BP not willingly eating. However, if the above works, I wouldn't sweat it.

    Good luck and keep us posted.
    Last edited by dakski; 03-07-2023 at 11:57 AM.

  7. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Ailuros (03-08-2023),Homebody (03-07-2023),Missiepixie (03-07-2023)

  8. #5
    BPnet Royalty Zincubus's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-22-2011
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,510
    Thanked 4,897 Times in 2,992 Posts

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Thaw in the snake room to get their tastebuds going then feed in the evening.. just blasting with a hairdryer then offer immediately whilst still warm .

    Works amazingly well !!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro




  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Zincubus For This Useful Post:

    GoingPostal (03-08-2023),Missiepixie (03-07-2023)

  10. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    08-02-2022
    Posts
    22
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 30 Times in 14 Posts
    Images: 6

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    I was worried I was getting to the cooking level- I will try the normal heating and hairdryer and see if just the nose being hot will get him to strike. When I don’t “overheat” he will act hungry- but not strike- it’s like he doesn’t register where the yummy smell is coming from.

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Missiepixie For This Useful Post:

    dakski (03-07-2023)

  12. #7
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Quote Originally Posted by Missiepixie View Post
    I was worried I was getting to the cooking level- I will try the normal heating and hairdryer and see if just the nose being hot will get him to strike. When I don’t “overheat” he will act hungry- but not strike- it’s like he doesn’t register where the yummy smell is coming from.
    You're correct that you should avoid "cooking" the prey. The other trigger is offering with a slight jiggle, using snake tongs & being subtle, always going past or slightly away from the snake, not right "at" the snake, which wild rodents don't do & which might freak out a shyer snake into refusing the meal.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    dakski (03-07-2023),OatBoii (03-08-2023)

  14. #8
    BPnet Royalty Zincubus's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-22-2011
    Posts
    6,948
    Thanks
    2,510
    Thanked 4,897 Times in 2,992 Posts

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Quote Originally Posted by Missiepixie View Post
    I was worried I was getting to the cooking level- I will try the normal heating and hairdryer and see if just the nose being hot will get him to strike. When I don’t “overheat” he will act hungry- but not strike- it’s like he doesn’t register where the yummy smell is coming from.
    They must know instinctively know when something is too warm / hot presumably


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro




  15. #9
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    Quote Originally Posted by Zincubus View Post
    They must know instinctively know when something is too warm / hot presumably


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    I don't think so- if that were true, snakes would never get burned by excessively-hot heat sources (remember "hot rocks"?).
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    Malum Argenteum (03-08-2023)

  17. #10
    Registered User Ailuros's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-25-2023
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    60
    Thanks
    182
    Thanked 65 Times in 34 Posts

    Re: Snake likes hot meals!

    My 5 mo ball python will willingly strike at a room-temp baby rat, she's got a big appetite!

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to Ailuros For This Useful Post:

    Homebody (03-08-2023)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1