Feeding live

[pbyeerts]

The mouse was running around and having a great time..... Ginny was holed up in her hide, looking scared to death. She has absolutely NO interest in this mouse....

[Reinz]

Put the mouse in the enclosure (you don't need to actually put it in her hide with her), close up the enclosure, and check back in 30 minutes. She may just want to be left alone while she eats instead of having someone place a mouse in her hide and then stand there and watch.

Please, please do NOT leave the room with mouse in the enclosure with your snake!

In my experience, when they are fearless and start sitting on the back of the snake is when they get curious and start nibbling on the snake. Those nibbles turn into bites, which turn into ripping, tearring bites!

When our snakes are not in feed mode, it's like they are a gentle scared puppy who will not defend itself.

This is one big reason why many folks refuse to feed live in the first place.

Never leave them alone with a live feeder.

I learned the hard way as a noobie.

Best

[200xth]

Please, please do NOT leave the room with mouse in the enclosure with your snake!

In my experience, when they are fearless and start sitting on the back of the snake is when they get curious and start nibbling on the snake. Those nibbles turn into bites, which turn into ripping, tearring bites!

When our snakes are not in feed mode, it's like they are a gentle scared puppy who will not defend itself.

This is one big reason why many folks refuse to feed live in the first place.

Never leave them alone with a live feeder.

I learned the hard way as a noobie.

Best

Nothing personal, and I'm sure this will make me unpopular, but it's a mouse (25g average) in with a 950g snake for 20 to 30 mins.

If you're worried about that mouse eviscerating your snake in that amount of time, something is wrong somewhere.

Leaving a mouse in with a nearly 1000g snake for 20 to 30 mins so it can eat in peace, is not even close to dangerous.

[Reinz]

Nothing personal, and I'm sure this will make me unpopular, but it's a mouse (25g average) in with a 950g snake for 20 to 30 mins.

If you're worried about that mouse eviscerating your snake in that amount of time, something is wrong somewhere.

Leaving a mouse in with a nearly 1000g snake for 20 to 30 mins so it can eat in peace, is not even close to dangerous.

No I don't take it personal. We are all here to learn. At least I hope so.

I know these snakes are heartier and tougher than a lot folks give them credit for. However, I'm not talking about evisceration. I'm talking bites. Bites that WILL break through their scales into their muscle. It takes no time at all. Bites can cause damage, bites can cause infections. I have seen it first hand and my snake did nothing but wiggle.

The small, well fed rat started on the cloaca and did serious damage in seconds. Had I not been there it would have caused damage that required surgery.

And don't think that a sweet mouse won't do it. They have teeth, curiosity, and chew things. That's what they do.

I'm speaking from experience that I'm not proud of. Sounds to me you are just rolling the dice for someone else with your advice.

Best

[pbyeerts]

Well, here's what happened., and I know that I'm going to get yelled at.....

I left the mouse in with Ginger all night. I looked in before I went to bed, and the mouse was sleeping in one hide, and Ginger was asleep in the other one. I planned on returning the mouse to the pet store in the morning (I'm too sensitive to kill it myself). When I woke up and checked this morning, no mouse! A nice bulge in Ginger's tummy, and no mouse. I can only assume that at some point, Ginger realized the mouse was supper, and down the hatch it went.

[Reinz]

............
Leaving a mouse in with a nearly 1000g snake for 20 to 30 mins so it can eat in peace, is not even close to dangerous.

Something else to add.....

Sorry that I did not make this point clear in ny OP in this thread.

When these gentle Giants are not ready to eat, they want nothing to do with these rats, mice, or even hamsters.

You should watch what happens when one is dropped in with an adult Ball. That mouse will walk straight up to the snakes face and the snake will recoil back as if in fear! The mouse/rat will keep charging forward and the snake will keep retreating to the other side of the cage.
You're thinking, why doesn't he just kill it! But he won't. He wants to be left alone.
That's the mindset, when they are attacked by the mouse/rat. They wiggle and try to get away, they won't strike.

Now if the rat goes in a corner and freezes, or is cleaning, you may then see the snake sneak up on the rat. But if the turns around and charges the snake, he recoils back again.
You have to remember, they are Ambush hunters.

[200xth]

Well, here's what happened., and I know that I'm going to get yelled at.....

I left the mouse in with Ginger all night. I looked in before I went to bed, and the mouse was sleeping in one hide, and Ginger was asleep in the other one. I planned on returning the mouse to the pet store in the morning (I'm too sensitive to kill it myself). When I woke up and checked this morning, no mouse! A nice bulge in Ginger's tummy, and no mouse. I can only assume that at some point, Ginger realized the mouse was supper, and down the hatch it went.

Imagine that.

[DVirginiana]

I'm bad at judging size based on weights, but I agree a mouse would have a tough time really doing harm to a larger BP in 30 min. unless it started in somewhere like the face or cloaca. It's just not that easy for a mouse to break the skin on most of the snake's body.
That being said, I'd never leave a mouse alone with my snake for even a minute. On the offchance it started doing damage I'd never forgive myself.

In the future if you decide to leave a rodent in with your snake (even if it's a low risk, I just can't bring myself to recommend it in any but the most desperate situation), make SURE it is well fed and watered before hand. Maybe even leave water and something for the mouse to nibble on in the tank. A hungry/thirsty mouse is a lot more likely to get curious about what your BP tastes like.

[pbyeerts]

I'm really hoping that I don't have to do this again.....she's always eaten thawed food before.

[h20hunter]

1. I'm happy for you that your snake ate
2. I'd never suggest leaving your prey overnight unsupervised.
3. I'd suggest considering the possible vet bill for an injured snake would far outweigh the risk of a fast IF your bp is not losing considerable weight or showing signs of malnutrition.

I think you dodged a bullet this time and hope you don't put your animal at risk to aleviate your own stress over the fast in the future.