Weird eating problem..

[NJsGrim55]

Hello!

Me and my fiance are recently new ball python owners. We've had our guy for a few months now. Bought him at our local pet store. He's over a year old, and was and usually is a great eater! I read a lot about what the best way(s) are to feed ur python and all that good stuff.. i read, i look up, and search. I was sick of it, so i joined this page to get answers a little easier!

Like i said, he was a good eater at the pet store (so i heard from them) and he has been for the months we have had him. Yes, unfortunately we feed him live, slightly-stunned rats. Its what he was used to and what he likes.

I have never had a problem with my feeding methods until tonight.. we feed him a small rat every saturday (as long as he isnt shedding), spin the rat around in a bag, drop it in, and then use a pencil just in case the rat tries to bite once Grim strikes. Tonight i did the same..but Grim just wasnt concentrating - he was looking around (RIGHT PAST THE RAT), he was literally slithering near and over the rat, brushing up against it and all! But no strike for about 20 minutes... i finally decided to take him out of the tub we feed him in and put him back in his enclosure away from the rat.

Why would he all the sudden do this?
We never had a rat bite him or scare him, so theres no possible way he could be scared of it.
I just want to make sure that this might be normal, or if it could be something more serious?

Thanks,
Nikki

[Rob]

This is a case of your animal being a ball python. It's completely normal, and part of the joy/frustration that is being a bp keeper.

[Mike41793]

Try feeding him in his enclosure.