My snake is afraid of rats?

[VooDooDoc]

He ate live mice originally, but when he was big enough for rats switched to F/T. He had the small rats (40g) no problem, as soon as he seen them he hit.

When I bumped up to the medium size (90g) he acts like he's afraid or something. I'll warm it up a bit with a hair dryer and he comes right out of his hide like he's ready to kill the first thing that moves, but when I put the rat and do the zombie dance he shys away from it. If I hold it real still he'll come up and sniff but eventually ignore it.

If I just toss it in the cage he stares at it like he's making sure it's already dead then proceeds to eat it. Doesn't strike or coil around it.

I figure he's either scared of the rat or super lazy and wants nothing to do with something he might have to kill. Is this just my snake being a strange BP, or is something the matter?

[FoxReptiles]

I've got a couple that will never strike at anything no matter what I do. I pretty much just have to leave the F/T rat/mouse in their tub and check again in the morning to see if they decided to eat.

One of my pickiest females is like this and is a total mouser to boot. She is incredibly shy and once spent a couple of hours outside of her hide because a rat pup had taken up residence in her hide. Just turns out she has absolutely ZERO interest in rats whatsoever! Frustrating when you'd like her to put some size on.

Amazing how each snake seems to have their own distinct eating personality!

[BWyant]

I wouldn't call it the recommended practice, but when I first switched my snake to F/T rats from live, he didn't seem that interested.

I accidentally dropped the rat in the tongs a little bit and it kind of tapped him on the head. I think that got him in a fight or flight mode and he defended himself at that point.

Now, no issues.