Quick Q: Hatchling BP strikes back!

[frost0214]

Hi All, just a quick q. why does my female pastel strike like crazy!! i mean man, she is furious every time i open her bin...

i tried feeding her a rat pinky but she almost killed the rat by striking, but she never constricted... ...

she is in a small shoe box sized tub with water and hide... i use zoomed aspen bedding as substrate. and my temps are 91 in the hot side...

is she gonna be a problem feeder? how do i feed her? her last meal was friday last week.

[John1982]

Sounds like she's striking defensively.. I'd give her some more time to settle in before offering food - she's probably just stressed.

[Simple Man]

John has it right. That snake is stressed. Hold off food for 4 or 5 days and try again with lights low and leave it alone.

Regards,

B

[loonunit]

Same as above. How long have you had her, and was she shipped to you or bought locally?

[frost0214]

thanks ya'll! appreciate it! i bought her locally from a breeder here... i just had to transport her via car (1.5 hours drive). I didnt touch her for 4 days, only water replacement...

anyway, i will follow your advice. 4 days no touch.. thanks i will post pics also soon.

[RestlessRobie]

Sounds like she's striking defensively.. I'd give her some more time to settle in before offering food - she's probably just stressed.

x2

[snakesRkewl]

I would offer the appropriate sized prey, pinkies don't always register as food for young ball pythons, try a small fuzzy rat or larger hopper mouse.

is she gonna be a problem feeder? how do i feed her? her last meal was friday last week.

I actually enjoy my hatchlings that strike at anything that moves, they typically eat better than the docile ones.
Let her settle in a few more days and try again

[frost0214]

I would offer the appropriate sized prey, pinkies don't always register as food for young ball pythons, try a small fuzzy rat or larger hopper mouse.


I actually enjoy my hatchlings that strike at anything that moves, they typically eat better than the docile ones.
Let her settle in a few more days and try again

She is currently at 70ish grams i am not sure if i can offer anything bigger than a pinky? she just had her 1st shed 2 weeks ago, and 1st feeding last week with the breeder i got her from.

but yeah i actually them feisty ones also.. hehehe

[heathers*bps]

Yea you can give her something slightly bigger. Of course, after giving her a few days do calm down

[snakesRkewl]

She is currently at 70ish grams i am not sure if i can offer anything bigger than a pinky? she just had her 1st shed 2 weeks ago, and 1st feeding last week with the breeder i got her from.

but yeah i actually them feisty ones also.. hehehe

Some hatchlings will eat rats right off but many will need a mouse or asf fuzzy to start off with.
About 50% of our hatchlings started on rats but the rest needed a few meals of asf's or mice to get going before switching to rat fuzzies.

Good luck!