feeding question

[Inarikins]

You might need to do the zombie rat dance next time, especially if she was fed live. You can hold the rat by the tail or use tongs to pick it up by the hindquarters or the scruff of the neck and move it around to make it look alive. It might also have not been warm enough for her. Wait a week and try again. If she is a decent size a week won't make a difference. Also, since she's an adult female, she might be off feed for the breeding season, so don't worry too much if she keeps refusing.

[ballpython70]

I forgot to add, her eyes had become blue, so I guess shedding is coming soon.

[ballpython70]

You might need to do the zombie rat dance next time, especially if she was fed live. You can hold the rat by the tail or use tongs to pick it up by the hindquarters or the scruff of the neck and move it around to make it look alive. It might also have not been warm enough for her. Wait a week and try again. If she is a decent size a week won't make a difference. Also, since she's an adult female, she might be off feed for the breeding season, so don't worry too much if she keeps refusing.

I did the rat dance thing with the thong at first, when she went back in her hide I stopped and leaved there. I did thaw the rat in warm water first, than hot tap water, inside a plastic bag so it stays dry. How long is the breeding season? From what month to what month?

Thank you so much guys. I guess I should not worry, but it's a newbie thing I guess! I just love her so much.

[Inarikins]

It might have been too cool... If the head and body aren't hot enough, the snake won't even recognize it as prey. They hunt mostly by heat signature, so if it's cool it looks like nothing to them. Smell is secondary and they barely use their sight to hunt at all, I think. Using a hair dryer or heat lamp to warm mostly the head and also the body really helps a lot. Both should feel warm to the touch and the head warmer than the body.

We're starting to get near the end of the breeding season now, but I don't think it's 'officially' over until April or so, when girls start really laying eggs. Some snakes eat all the way through, some stop in November or October and don't start up again until spring. Was she eating at the store you got her from?

[medicinhed]

If I feed f/t I use a blow dryer on the head for a sec to get it warm enough for her labial pits to "see" the rat.

[ballpython70]

I'll try using a blow dryer next time. But since she has blue eyes I guess she won't eat until the shed is done.

At the petshop they said she eats good, they gave her live rats, (something I won't give), I guess they are telling the truth since she's far from being skinny. They said something else, this snake was for breeding beforehand, since a young age. That's about all the info I got.

[ballpython70]

If I feed f/t I use a blow dryer on the head for a sec to get it warm enough for her labial pits to "see" the rat.

Do you mean you use the blowdryer on the head of the snake, or the f/t rat's head?

[ballpython70]

I guess you mean to heat up the head of the snake, sorry I'm french.

[Inarikins]

The head of the rat. I don't think your snake would react well to you blowing hot air in its face.

[ballpython70]

Okay I'll try that next time. Thank you.