Frustrated with feeding

[franken_stein]

Hey party people.

Before I even got my BP I did a lot of reading up so I knew they were finicky eaters! I never thought I'd get this frustrated though. My BP last ate around Christmastime. Soon after I noticed he was going to shed, so I decided not to even bother offering food til after the shed was complete. So that took a few weeks.

After he shed, I started to offer him food, and he refused to eat one time -- okay, fine. Had to let the rodent go. The next time he struck at the rat a couple of times and missed, thoroughly freaking out the rat so that I got bitten, and then I guess since he failed to properly strike he just... gave up. The poor rat was so traumatized I had to let it go, I just couldn't try feeding that same rat again another time.

ANYway. Now today he successfully took the rat and killed it, and tried to eat it. I have no idea why he was so stupid today though. He couldn't swallow it! It's like he couldn't get the front legs in. I have consistenly fed him this size before, too. Today he just couldn't do it. He was trying for about fifteen minutes and then just left behind a dead rat, half-drenched in saliva, and retreated to his hide. Now he keeps poking his head out of the hide intermittently but not eating as if just to annoy me.

I love this snake, but man, he is really getting on my nerves right now. I completely understand people who are squeamish about rodents, but I've never minded handling them or seeing dead ones or anything. At least til now. Now I'm getting a little grossed out at the thought of having to throw out this dead, half-soaked-in-spit rat, which is starting to stick to the newspaper I use as substrate. *SIGH*

Thank you for listening.

EDIT: Also, a quick question. How long would you normally leave a dead rodent around the snake before calling it quits and taking it away? I keep wondering if he MIGHT try to eat it again later. It's been about 30-40 minutes now.

[Domepiece]

I havnt come across many picky ball pythons. I have 20 and only one is picky and only one gives up on her food half way through. But try feeding him a mouse instead of a rat. Ive had some of mine give up on eating before as well, they just do it sometimes, who knows. Also you dont need to waste money and a rat by letting it go. Just throw it in the freezer and you can try to feed it later. I only leave the dead rodents in as long as they are still showing interest in it. But if they crawl away and leave it I take it out.

[anatess]

Try smaller sized rat for the next time. I've had a picky eater do this before. I went down a size and he was fine the next time. I stayed that size but fed him every 5 days instead of every 7 for a while before I upped the size again. He got constipated after I upped the size on him and I had to take him to the vet and all that to get fixed up. So, yeah, I'm bringing him back to the smaller size again.

[8-Ball]

Hey party people.

Before I even got my BP I did a lot of reading up so I knew they were finicky eaters! I never thought I'd get this frustrated though. My BP last ate around Christmastime. Soon after I noticed he was going to shed, so I decided not to even bother offering food til after the shed was complete. So that took a few weeks.

After he shed, I started to offer him food, and he refused to eat one time -- okay, fine. Had to let the rodent go. The next time he struck at the rat a couple of times and missed, thoroughly freaking out the rat so that I got bitten, and then I guess since he failed to properly strike he just... gave up. The poor rat was so traumatized I had to let it go, I just couldn't try feeding that same rat again another time.

ANYway. Now today he successfully took the rat and killed it, and tried to eat it. I have no idea why he was so stupid today though. He couldn't swallow it! It's like he couldn't get the front legs in. I have consistenly fed him this size before, too. Today he just couldn't do it. He was trying for about fifteen minutes and then just left behind a dead rat, half-drenched in saliva, and retreated to his hide. Now he keeps poking his head out of the hide intermittently but not eating as if just to annoy me.

I love this snake, but man, he is really getting on my nerves right now. I completely understand people who are squeamish about rodents, but I've never minded handling them or seeing dead ones or anything. At least til now. Now I'm getting a little grossed out at the thought of having to throw out this dead, half-soaked-in-spit rat, which is starting to stick to the newspaper I use as substrate. *SIGH*

Thank you for listening.

EDIT: Also, a quick question. How long would you normally leave a dead rodent around the snake before calling it quits and taking it away? I keep wondering if he MIGHT try to eat it again later. It's been about 30-40 minutes now.

When all else fails, go back to their natural prey=African soft fur rats.
You don't want to get them used to gerbils. That will cost an arm and a leg a year to buy.
If the ASFR'S don't work it's time to force/assist feed him with some hemostats.
Best of luck though!

[Jeo123]

Try putting the dead rat in the hide. It may be that she doesn't feel safe attempting to eat out in the open.

I've left dead mice in the tank overnight. Usually mine will eat if I do that. If the mouse is still there in the morning though I get rid of it.