I believe most instances when the BP strikes & kills but does not eat are security issues. Snakes are very vulnerable when they are swallowing their food, so if they don't feel safe, they may just decide not to eat.
OP, glad you got him to eat the second time. I think turning out the lights & leaving the room was just the right thing to do. Helps them feel more secure.
Do be careful with the size of the rat, though. According to rodentpro, weaned rats go up to 45 grams. Eating such a big meal would probably cause a regurge (assuming he got it down...but they can get some really BIG meals down), and that can be dangerous. Different pet stores may have slightly different qualifications for what they call a weanling rat, though. It's entirely possible that what this store calls a weanling rat is a fine size for your snake. A good general rule to follow to avoid the question of what the different rat size names mean at different locations is to feed prey items that have about the same girth as the girth of your snake at its widest part.
Reply With Quote