F/T Feeding Behavior... A "killing" machine, my BP is not...

[jjc]

My new BP has eaten twice now (a total of three mouse fuzzies - we're moving up to smallish mice next time), and each time, it's been about as exciting as watching a pet cat eat dry food. I'm not complaining (I didn't get a snake for the "thrill of the kill" or anything), just wondering if that's normal. There's no strike, no coil, no constriction. No fanfare. I was planning to videotape him eating so my mom could watch, but it would be way too boring to sit through. The only way I could convince anyone he was a ferocious killer would be through creatively arranged still pics.

Don't get me wrong, he's great about eating so far. He smells that mouse and goes on the prowl right away, but as soon as he finds it, he simply picks it up and swallows it. I'm tempted to just hand the mouse to him to see what happens (j/k...I'm too much of a sissy to try that any time soon!)

It's just a little anti-climactic after I spent days reading about all the sneaky ways to tempt a snake into eating F/T, found a place to buy long hemostats, etc. Figures! Again, not complaining, just a little (pleasantly) surprised.

I'm sure I've now jinxed myself for all future snakes.

Anybody else have a snake that eats in this manner?

[iCandiBallPythons]

I have a few that refuse to strike..So I place the F/T inside their hide box and its gone very shortly. I have one big female when her bin is opened her response is to either A. come out swinging or B. she will periscope,smell and keep pushing her nose against the rat for a couple mins and then very gently take it from the hemo's.. Its quite funny

[Strtaylor]

You want a real response go live! You will probably see those hard fast strikes your looking for. I feed all 3 of mine live and all 3 hit real hard and wrap real fast.

[Patricia]

You want a real response go live!

I feed mine f/t, and that initial strike is lightning fast and powerful.

[Kaorte]

If you just set it in the enclosure, chances are they won't strike at it. If you offer it with tongs then you are more likely to get a strike and coil.

[cinderbird]

If you just set it in the enclosure, chances are they won't strike at it. If you offer it with tongs then you are more likely to get a strike and coil.

also, tug the tail of the rodent once they pick it up, this will usually make them coil and cause a stronger feeding response. I do this with all of my snakes and its turned even my shyest boy into a coiler.

[Lolo76]

Only two of my BPs will take F/T - Pedro (Mojave) and Toby (Pastel) - and they each react completely differently. Pedro will strike and coil, so aggressively that I can barely open the tub before he grabs it. Toby, on the other hand, is very delicate with his F/T prey... I just place it on the newspaper, and after a few minutes he'll approach slowly and "pick" at it for a moment before swallowing. No strike, no coil, just like a cat eating their food off the ground.

So in my experience, yes that is perfectly normal for some snakes! Toby is a very healthy (and now breeding) big boy, so it's never seemed to affect him - although he does get live more often than frozen, since 5/7 of them will only take live. Hope this helps...

[Lolo76]

If you just set it in the enclosure, chances are they won't strike at it. If you offer it with tongs then you are more likely to get a strike and coil.

That is true, although Toby still doesn't strike... but with the others, it definitely gets a bigger reaction when I do the "zombie dance." The ones who rarely (if ever) take F/T will at least try to strike when I wiggle it on tongs.

Oh, and rather than dangling them by the tail, I'd suggest the neck scruff instead... then drag it on the floor (of the tub/tank) like it's walking normally, and sometimes that gets the snake more excited.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

You would get a kick out the way my baby girl eats! She 5 months now and every time she has ever eaten she strikes the moment its lowered into the tank. She nailed me once because i wasnt faster than she was lol! F/T too! It doesnt have to move for her. She strikes at anything.

[Patricia]

If you just set it in the enclosure, chances are they won't strike at it. If you offer it with tongs then you are more likely to get a strike and coil.

Wow, Patriot must be the exception if that's the rule. Perhaps one day I'll video tape his attack. I never hold the mouse with tongs, never make it move. It's just lying there. BOOM!!!