Throwing rats!

[Ladyduke]

I have a female BP that was eating PK or FT medium rats when I got her, she continued to eat PK or FT rats without any problem for about the first 3 weeks, then suddenly she went off her feed, and was only eating one every 3 to 4 weeks. She went from 1369g to 1205g. so last week I attempted a live weaner rat. I thought she had a bad strike, as she seemed to pick up the rat and throw it, I continued to watch and twice more she picked it up and threw it, not one time did she actually coil or even attempt too, then she turned suddenly aggressive and started striking towards me. When I went to put her away she actually struck and bit my hand, which is completely unusual for her, she had never bit or struck before.

So this week, I decided to try 2 live mice, she snatched them up and ate them out of the air, so I offered a third PK mouse again she ate with gusto. I decided to see if she was even interested in a weaner rat, since she was eating so well (and 15% of her size is 180g and she had only consumed 75g), again she picked up the rat and threw it, no coil or even attempt to coil, and she immediately turned and struck in my direction. I pulled the rat out, and offered another mouse, she ate him immediately and though she definitely wanted more mice, she did not attempt another strike at me.

She has always eaten rats, and at her weight, feeding her mice seems like an absolutely insane idea! She is going in to the vet next week anyways, but has anyone ever seen a BP do anything like that? I am not kidding she actually throws the rat and retreats from it, and then directs her attention on me.

If she continues to refuse rats, by my calculations she should have about 7 mice per feeding, I can only get one size of mouse around here and they are about 25g a piece sometimes less. What is the max amount of mice I should give her at one time, and how on earth do I get her back on rats, when she is acting this picky??

[steveboos]

Honestly, it sounds like you are having the SAME exact problem as i did. My 1200 gram girl had not eaten since january 21st. All different sized rats i tried she wouldn't eat. Then 2 days ago i got some very small adult mice, she ate 3 in a row no problem, hungry for more. Its weird, but i feel that if she wants mice, i'll get her mice, as long as shes eating. But my girl did eat rats in the past with ease, so sometimes they just want a chane of pace. Its pretty normal from what i hear across the board.

[Ladyduke]

Glad to know I am not the only one with temperamental snakes! I guess I would get bored too if I ate the same thing week after week.

How many mice do you feed her in one sitting? Is there a guideline for how many to give them in one feeding? How do I go about feeding her 7-8 mice, or do I just give her a couple per feeding and hope she decides to go back to rats.

[don15681]

if she's 1200 grams 7 large mice is a lot at one time. And if she hasn't eaten in a while. you don't want to slam her with a lot of rodents right away. get her use to being on feed again. I have a female that's about 3960 grams and she's a mouse feeder. She eats anywhere from 0 to 4 mice every 3 to 4 days. and sometimes when I offer she won't eat.

[pavlovk1025]

if she's 1200 grams 7 large mice is a lot at one time. And if she hasn't eaten in a while. you don't want to slam her with a lot of rodents right away. get her use to being on feed again. I have a female that's about 3960 grams and she's a mouse feeder. She eats anywhere from 0 to 4 mice every 3 to 4 days. and sometimes when I offer she won't eat.

Every 3 days at 4k grams? That seems like youre feeding her too often, but that's just my opinion.

[BPelizabeth]

I just have to say the fact that she picks up the rat and throws it because she doesnt like it is funny. What a sassy girl...lol

[steveboos]

Glad to know I am not the only one with temperamental snakes! I guess I would get bored too if I ate the same thing week after week.

How many mice do you feed her in one sitting? Is there a guideline for how many to give them in one feeding? How do I go about feeding her 7-8 mice, or do I just give her a couple per feeding and hope she decides to go back to rats.

Well just take into consideration the 10-15% of body weight your supposed to feed each time, so i would imagine for a 1200 gram girl a max of 5-6 mice each feeding every 10-14 days would be ideal. I'm going to start breeding mice just for her so she can have a steady supply.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Some BP have their preference, I have 3 of them that no matter what you try, how long they have been of feed will not touch anything but a mouse.

That's ok with me not my preference but since I breed mice as well (I have a need for them for my colubrids) I have no problem with it.

My males get 2 to 3 adult mice a week (depending on their size)

The female get 4 to 5 of them (depending on their size)

The snakes mentioned are adults.

[zantedeschia]

My 700g python just went back on mice. He was eating rats but after 2 rat refusals (at $5 per) I put him back on mice. Just one per feeding, his appetite has dropped way down.

Now my boa once grabbed a hopper I was offering and flung it aside. It was the weirdest thing. I was like okay dude, I'll leave you alone. So I know what you're talking about.

[bman123]

if she's 1200 grams 7 large mice is a lot at one time. And if she hasn't eaten in a while. you don't want to slam her with a lot of rodents right away. get her use to being on feed again. I have a female that's about 3960 grams and she's a mouse feeder. She eats anywhere from 0 to 4 mice every 3 to 4 days. and sometimes when I offer she won't eat.

No wonder she is 3960 grams, you power feed her. I think honestly once a snake is so big the 10% to 15% rule is non existent. 1 medium rat a week max, keep them active and slender not big and fat.

If you can't get big mice local then order them frozen.They are bigger then 25 grams if you need big.