Snake suck in feed mode, or has he turned evil?

[VooDooDoc]

My snake was on a few week hunger strike. Then he ate a 50g rat, then went on strike for another few weeks. This week we chomped down a 50g rat, then was still acting hungry so 2 days later I fed him a 90g rat that was 2 days ago. Tonight he is still acting hungry, comes out of his hide a little bit when someone comes in the room, gets all S-shaped. I figure what the heck he's gotta know the difference between my hand and a rat. WRONG. I opened the cage door, he struck at my hand, so I nudged him back in his hide with his water bowl, think maybe he's calmed down, take his hide off of him and reach in to pick him up so I could check under to make sure he hadn't peed and bam he decides to proceed to bite me.

He is 1200 grams last time I weighed him (before his hunger strikes) and the 90g rat is just about the right size for him. Is he just super hungry from being on strike? Or has he decided to hate me?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Get him on a consistent feeding schedule and stick to it (every 5 days or every 7 days) see if that helps.

[heathers*bps]

Has there been any temp or humidity changes? Change anything inside his tank?

- - - Updated - - -

Nevermind, I just thought about it and realized if he was stressed about something, he probably wouldn't eat. Der......

I agree about keeping him on a schedule. Wait another 5-7 days to feed.

[VooDooDoc]

His hunger strike was undoubtedly brought on by a new cage. But husbandry is spot on and he's obviously settled in and ready to eat, be it man or rat. He has been on a 7 day schedule up until this recent hunger strike. Usually feed every Friday, but the other day he was actually acting hungry so I took the opportunity. Then he was still hungry two days later so I figured hey, can't hurt. He'll definitely be going back to every 7 days now that he's eaten something that should last him that long.

[Salamander Rising]

His hunger strike was undoubtedly brought on by a new cage. But husbandry is spot on and he's obviously settled in and ready to eat, be it man or rat. He has been on a 7 day schedule up until this recent hunger strike. Usually feed every Friday, but the other day he was actually acting hungry so I took the opportunity. Then he was still hungry two days later so I figured hey, can't hurt. He'll definitely be going back to every 7 days now that he's eaten something that should last him that long.

Most of my snakes are suddenly eating like starving psychos and even the 'sweet' ones are leaping out of their tubs for their food.

If it's not feeding day, they're tracking me like little nasty Copperheads, hoping for more food.

One literally launched out of his tub, grabbed the rat midair, constricted so hard it exploded rat guts and blood everywhere and then hung there, halfway out of the tub until he was sure it was 'deader' and then slowly, creepily slithered back into his tub to inhale it.

{{{shudder}}}

Somebody here said it was breeding season related.

They're eating good so whatever it is, I'm not complaining.

[Anna.Sitarski]

yeah summertime makes males crazy especially deep summer and the start of breeding season riles all the sexual mature ones up or "teenagers" too haha. I wouldn't worry all of my big ones are having crazy feed responses. My large male sable BP almost took a chunk out of my thigh when i opened him up to feed. If you house males near females could also be getting them going and femmes are getting ready

[UpNorth]

A 90g rat seems fairly small for a 1200g ball python. 10% of his body weight is 120g, and that is the low end of the feeding "rule of thumb". Possible he is still hungry?

I'm feeding my 800g ball python rats that are bigger than that.

[Salamander Rising]

yeah summertime makes males crazy especially deep summer and the start of breeding season riles all the sexual mature ones up or "teenagers" too haha. I wouldn't worry all of my big ones are having crazy feed responses. My large male sable BP almost took a chunk out of my thigh when i opened him up to feed. If you house males near females could also be getting them going and femmes are getting ready

Maybe you should start carrying a cane when you feed Abel.

[Mike41793]

A 90g rat seems fairly small for a 1200g ball python. 10% of his body weight is 120g, and that is the low end of the feeding "rule of thumb". Possible he is still hungry?

I'm feeding my 800g ball python rats that are bigger than that.

Nah that rat is ok.

A 50g rat once a week seems too small imo.

[VooDooDoc]

yeah hes been on 90-100g rats I just happened to have one last small one.