Striking off during feed-- seriously freeking out

[j_h_smith]

If you don't have it heated up properly, then he's smelling the prey, but he's zero'ing in on YOUR heat signature (aiming for the warmest area he "sees" with his heat pits).

Touch the nose of the prey onto a heat lamp for about 20 seconds to get it nice and warm to give him a better heat signature next time.

x2

A common problem. Just make sure the rodent is nice and warm.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[WingedWolfPsion]

X3, etc. Ball pythons have extremely poor vision, but they 'see' infrared with their heat pits. A room temperature rodent is virtually invisible to them.

[Bleepr]

x4.

Use a blowdryer after the prey item is thawed. Works wonders for me. Much better then scalding hot water.

[zantedeschia]

A room temperature rodent is virtually invisible to them.

They can smell it tho. My shy feeder can take as long as 5-10 minutes to come out and take his prey, by then I'm pretty sure it's cooled down to room temp.

[angllady2]

It sounds like you remove him from his home tank to feed, that can also cause problems. Is there a reason why you do?

I recommend leaving him in his tank to feed him. I do with all eight of mine, and I don't have any problems.

I use a common hairdryer to heat the heads of my rats/mice, and my babies rarely miss.

Gale

[West Coast Jungle]

It sounds like you remove him from his home tank to feed, that can also cause problems. Is there a reason why you do?

I recommend leaving him in his tank to feed him. I do with all eight of mine, and I don't have any problems.

I use a common hairdryer to heat the heads of my rats/mice, and my babies rarely miss.

Gale

Both are good points