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  1. #1
    Registered User ZacharyPoller's Avatar
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    Need help with live rat

    So I got a live rat pup today bc my friend is on vacation and asked me to feed his snake, its a 230 gram ball python and i bought a rat pup because he told me thats what he feeds he said its always been a crazy eater but hasn't eaten in 10 days as of today so I put the rat in the enclosure and nothing the snake didn't even leave the hide what should i do i have only fed f/t before ! How long can i leave it there , if he doesn't take it what should i do with the rat? so many questions thanks… Also he said the last 2 feeding where his first time eating rats so this would be number 3 and he skipped his meal last week
    Ball Pythons: 0.1 Piebald, 1.0 Barnhart Line Pewter, 1.0 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel ???,
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  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member Archimedes's Avatar
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    Re: Need help with live rat

    Are the pup's eye's open? Sometimes folks will leave younger rodents in for longer periods since they have less ability do do damage without sight or significant teeth/claws.
    Hopefully someone with more live feeding experience can chime in.

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  3. #3
    Registered User ZacharyPoller's Avatar
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    The pups eyes are still closed .
    Ball Pythons: 0.1 Piebald, 1.0 Barnhart Line Pewter, 1.0 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel ???,
    0.1 Butter Pastel Het Orange Ghost, 1.0 Pastel Het Orange Ghost, 0.1 Normal

    Reticulated Python: 1.0 Tiger het albino

    Kingsnake: 0.1 Albino Vertical Stripe

    Boas: 0.1 Motley Nicaraguan Boa, 1.0 Colombian Boa

  4. #4
    Registered User Phantomtip's Avatar
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    Re: Need help with live rat

    Leave it in reach of the hide, and completely black out the enclosure. The snake might want some privacy. Yes I know it sounds weird but I did it with my girl when she was young and she ate fine for me. The snake also might be going into shed. Some won't eat while in shed or for a couple days after. Just keep that in mind.

  5. #5
    BPnet Veteran hypnotixdmp's Avatar
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    Just leave it in and keep an eye on it, even smaller rats have teeth and will bite!!! Turn off all the lights in the room if possible and that could help her get on to eating!!! Does she look big enough to eat it?
    Ball Python
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  6. #6
    BPnet Royalty DooLittle's Avatar
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    Re: Need help with live rat

    If the rats eyes are closed it cannot do much harm, and can be left for a bit with the snake. Are you staying there? Where you can keep an eye? Or leaving, and it would be completely left on its own?
    If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.

  7. #7
    Registered User SKOOT3R's Avatar
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    Dumb question, be it wouldn't be in the stages of shed would it? I know mine won't eat leading up to / during shed.

  8. #8
    BPnet Senior Member Gerardo's Avatar
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    If its that young thn its ok to leave it alone. You can try putting in in the hide.

  9. #9
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    We have a clown female thaf was real picky about libe feeding. We had to leave the pup in there overnight and come back the next morning to a full belly snake and no rat. Security is the biggest thing especially with younger snakes.

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