How do I get this darn thing to EAT!?!?!?

[EvesFriend]

I try dangling a [live] mouse, I let it loose in the cage, the BP shows interest but just hasn't been striking hard enough! She used to eat almost instantly, now it's been a battle to get her to eat! I have tried dangling, letting the mouse loose in the cage, seperate enclosure, etc. Each time the BP shows interest and even stalks the prey but she just hasn't been attacking strong enough to do the deed.

What is the deal? What should I do? A month or so ago she would attack and kill/eat almost instantly. How should I go about feeding? Please help.

[Jeremy78]

She's probably fasting. As long as your husbandry is still the same don't worry. One month is nothing for a bp not to eat.
What I reccomend is leaving your snake alone. Only do your regular cleanig/ water filling. No handling!
In one week try again with the same thing you've been feeding.

[EvesFriend]

Thnaks.


It is tempting to not keep trying to feed. When I offer her [live] prey and she shows interest/strikes but doesn't eat, I remove the prey obviously, however I notice she roams the cage looking for it the rest of the night. It is so obvious that she is interested but lately she just hasn't beenstriking with the intensity and technique in order to devour. What the hell.

[Jeremy78]

Like I said,
wait a week. If you continuisly try to feed it will only stress her and she will fast much longer. After the 7 days, try what she has been eating for you.

[Elise.m]

What do you mean by not striking hard enough? If she's striking and letting go, that's a defensive strike. Meaning she's stressed and wants that mouse out of her sight.

How much does she weigh? My female (Who just broke 800g) has been extremely picky. I've been trying all the tricks in the books and she'll eat when she wants to! The best thing to do is double, triple, even quadruple check your husbandry and then wait on them.

[EvesFriend]

What do you mean by not striking hard enough? If she's striking and letting go, that's a defensive strike. Meaning she's stressed and wants that mouse out of her sight.

How much does she weigh? My female (Who just broke 800g) has been extremely picky. I've been trying all the tricks in the books and she'll eat when she wants to! The best thing to do is double, triple, even quadruple check your husbandry and then wait on them.

I figured it was a defensive strike, more than likely you hit the nail right on the head because that's exactly what I thought it was.

[jtyson123]

You could try leaving a pre killed in with her over night and see if she takes to it. I have 4 or 5 that are that way, won't eat during the day, if there is any light, if its still breathing, etc. They get picky, especially if their husbandry isn't totally correct