Feeding problems

[NCtrickFL]

Loki has made it quite clear to me that she has been hungry the past couple of days and today I tried to feed her a black rat. She didn't eat and seemed to have trouble hunting. Has anybody else found that their bp has a preference for color of the rat/mouse? Loki has always seemed to have trouble finding black mice, its like she can't track them when they move. Am I just imagining this? Also the black rats seem to be slightly more aggressive and Loki gets skittish when closing in on them

[KMG]

She should be able to track it just fine. That is more off heat than color. However I have heard of snakes not eating certain colors of prey.

I'm sorry but it looks like your snake is racist. Lol!

[The Serpent Merchant]

I know that some BP's prefer brown mice over white mice but that wasn't as issue of being able to track them. It sounds like you are feeding live. Have you tried Pre-killed? I know that one of my BP's isn't the best at hunting so having a Pre-killed rodent that doesn't move as much really helps him.

[Sand]

I've heard of it, seen it a couple times in Coulbrids.. Try offering a different colored feeder and see if it elicits a different reaction.

[NCtrickFL]

Just a quick update, I offered a lighter colored rat a week after this failed feeding occurred. Loki was so excited, she bit the crap out of my finger! Apparently I'm slightly tastier looking than a fresh rat.

No, in all seriousness I got bit because I stupidly had my hand too close to the opening of the tank and wasn't watching her. That being said, I was shocked how bad it hurt. I've never been bit by her before and this was no defensive strike. This was a "that finger is mine and I will eat it now" strike. Wow. Definitely not doing something that stupid again.

[kitedemon]

Just a small thought is the rat f/t? Are you sure that you are thawing it enough and it is warm? I actually check mine I try to get rats up to 100 f the normal body temp of a rat.


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[BeastMaster]

When Simon gets "picky", I use a hair dryer and a infrared temp guage to heat his rats up. Works every time

[S.I.R.]

I have a Blood Python that is very picky on what color of rat he eats. He will usually only eat white or light brown rats. Maybe he's a little racist. haha! Anyway, be patient with them and things generally take care of themselves.