BP grabs & constricts mice but won't eat it

[luvzebra3]

One of my '10 BPs gets excited at feeding time and stricks and constricts th f/t mouse but then does not eat it. He acts all hungry and excited at the thought of food but then doesn't eat. The female I got at the same time is eating great and is twice his size now! Any thoughts?

[Mrgbb]

maybe the body temp of the mouse isnt high enough its probably cooling down before he gets to the eating part...

[luvzebra3]

Thanks for the reply! I thought that too, so i have been placing the mice under the heat lamps over my beardie cage to make sure they are around 100 degrees when he gets them. Unless he just squeezes them too long and they cool off by the time he gets around to eating them. i also learned that you can , in fact "cook" them too long under heat lamps! One of my corn snakes grabbed one I cooked too long and it popped! Really gross - but she ate it anyway!

[Homegrownscales]

Yuk that sounds gross. I had a year old cinny female that I had changed into the adult tubs. Even though she had perfect hides and the tub wasn't too lg for her size she apparently felt uncomfortable in it. So every time I'd feed she would kill it but not eat it. I had the feeling it was more of a defensive thing. And switched her back to her old size tub and she resumed feeding normally there after. She was in the lager tub for 2 months and had plenty of time to adjust but I guess the space freaked her out. Idk if it's the same situation but hopefully this is helpful. Good luck!
Morgan

[snakesRkewl]

I have a female het albino that has constricted and not eaten 8 times in a row then ate twice then constricted without eating 2 more times before eating 2 times in a row
No clue what is her issue I just pass off the dead rat to my spider male who will eat any prey any way
She eats plenty and at her own pace which may not be the pace I'd like her to eat at but whatever...lol

[jsmorphs2]

I've had a few snakes go through "dropping" periods and it gets really frustrating. What works for me is feeding them smaller meals and making sure the f/t prey is really warm and dried well. I thaw in hot water and if the rats are too wet I think they cool off too fast.

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[Amon Ra Reptiles]

Also stay out of the room. Once they grab the prey leave the room or try turning off the lights. We have a few that once they constrict and go to swallow if your around they will leave the prey until they no longer see you. One of our young ones likes the lights out.

[luvzebra3]

Thank you everyone who answered!
Regarding size of tank - he was eating well when I first got him, it is just the past 3 - 4 weeks he has started doing this
Also, I do feed, then turn off the lights, leave the room and close & latch the door so no one goes in!
I'll just keep trying - the joys & challenges of BPs!

[Homegrownscales]

Absolutely that's why we love em!! I
Think it'll all work out in the end.

[Clint Bundy]

Have you tried to buy a live mouse and kill it then offer it to the snake? It will be the right temp for eating that way. If it still coils and doesn't eat I would just try live and see what happens. I have a Dumerals Boa that will not eat anything but fresh killed mice. She is picky but I like her that way.