Biting butts

[warlord]

My Bp keeps hitting the rats butt first and tries to swallow them that way and can't so after awhile he gives up and won't take the rat at all but still acts hungry so when I try the next day he will eat as long as he tries head first

I'm thinking I'm holding it wrong or something so where should I hold the rat for my Bp to get the best strike

[John1982]

When feeding f/t or prekilled I hold them by the tail and keep it slightly elevated so the strike is near the face(hopefully, then they don't have to nose around long before finding a good starting point for swallowing). That being said, I sometimes have a snake eat an animal from the tail end without any problems.

[warlord]

I have seen other people said there snakes took rats backwards no problem but for some reason mine can't do it and after he stops trying to back swallow he just gives up all together...if I try again tomorrow he will eat he just can't figure out backwards eating lol

[Ashleigh91]

How do you heat them? Just wondering if the head is the hottest part.

If you aren't doing so already, try heating up the head for a minute or so with a blow dryer.

[LLLReptile]

+1 for the suggestion to heat the heat with a blow dryer first. That should help the snake figure out which end is which!

I also usually offer any F/T with tweezers holding the rat by the loose skin between the shoulders, and then point the nose of the rat at the snake. Seems to work well for me!

-Jen

[Royal Hijinx]

I would agree with heating the head.

At least he is not doing this:




That was a live one that he snagged as it ran past. He did eat it head first though.

[warlord]

That last picture is what mine does but doesn't search for the head. I di use a blow dryer but I have been warming the whole thing so I'm going to try only the head tonight and see how it goes

[Lisn123]

Its funny to read these posts. And that last picture is hilarious.

We've only fed ours twice since being home- (tonight is her 3rd feeding) Usually we just drop it in the cage, but after reading these, im wondering if we should be using tongs to "dangle the mouse"??
She's eating F/T. And the first 2 strikes have been right to the Side of the mouse- she wraps around it-- to "kill" the already dead mouse- lol- Then she sort of rotates it to eat. First time it was head first. second time- butt first....

maybe we'll attempt to warm the head more then rest of body. And try the tongs.

[Trackstrong83]

Its funny to read these posts. And that last picture is hilarious.

We've only fed ours twice since being home- (tonight is her 3rd feeding) Usually we just drop it in the cage, but after reading these, im wondering if we should be using tongs to "dangle the mouse"??
She's eating F/T. And the first 2 strikes have been right to the Side of the mouse- she wraps around it-- to "kill" the already dead mouse- lol- Then she sort of rotates it to eat. First time it was head first. second time- butt first....

maybe we'll attempt to warm the head more then rest of body. And try the tongs.

Sometimes mine will take it from the tongs, sometimes I just have to leave it in her tub when feels like being a "closet eater"

[FoxReptiles]

We thaw our F/T feeders in water and then give the head a few second blast with a heat gun before offering to get them a better target. It does seem like some animals are more diligent about searching for the head before trying to eat. I had a hatchling eat a hopper mouse sideways once though.... I was very impressed.