feeding response theory

[tsdsbd]

so i was thinking.

at one point in time we had 2 pet mice that my fiance kept in the same room as our snakes. now i know the scent was detected by the snakes. but after awhile. do you think with a constant scent of food they could maybe get "used" to the scent, thus resulting in a deficient feeding response?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Not from my experience I had my rats and mice (a rack of each) in my snake room for years and never had any issues.

[tsdsbd]

yeah? alright, it just came to my attention because its been twice now this situation has arose for my BP and right now theres a rat shes refusing, its being kept in a small cage until she accepts, but she seems uninterested, and the same situation happened last time under the same circumstances.

its an interesting thought though.

[rabernet]

My rats are 2 steps away from my snakes - and the snakes eat great!

[j_h_smith]

I would think in the wild, snakes often smell rodents or other prey animals in and around their den. Being an opportunity feeder, they will eat when given the chance. So in your instance, the snake can smell the rodents, but until they are presented as a food item (meaning close enough for them to strike and coil around the rodent), they only think of it as just another animal in the area.

This has not been established by scientific fact or basis. This is just my own personal opinion on the subject.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

[tsdsbd]

awesome! thanks guys. just an interesting thought.

[BPelizabeth]

welcome to the wonderful world of sometimes finicky BP's...

[tsdsbd]

yyyyyep

[Raptor]

I got my cornsnake last year in August. She's been kept in the same room as mice ever since. Her feeding response has stayed the same.