Snake "scared" of rats

[pariahdog]

Yes this is another "my snake won't eat" thread. :p However this one I haven't seen any topics for. My 1100g fire hasn't eaten since the fall, and she's only had 2 f/t small rats in the time I've had her. No biggie I thought, didn't feed her for months. I tried today with a freshly killed rat pup to see if a warm "snack" would entice her.

But she seems to be doing everything to avoid it! She almost looks like she's trying to escape from it. I haven't seen this behaviour in any of my other snakes, who just sit there and stare at it when they don't want to eat. Any thoughts or experience with this?

[200xth]

Yes this is another "my snake won't eat" thread. :p However this one I haven't seen any topics for. My 1100g fire hasn't eaten since the fall, and she's only had 2 f/t small rats in the time I've had her. No biggie I thought, didn't feed her for months. I tried today with a freshly killed rat pup to see if a warm "snack" would entice her.

But she seems to be doing everything to avoid it! She almost looks like she's trying to escape from it. I haven't seen this behaviour in any of my other snakes, who just sit there and stare at it when they don't want to eat. Any thoughts or experience with this?

Rat pups are around 25g. It may just be too small for her, so it's just annoying her.

[pariahdog]

Interesting, I've never heard of a rat being too small to entice a bp back into eating. This has happened a couple times before as well with small f/t rats too.

[DVirginiana]

Many snakes will ignore prey that is too small, so that may very well be what you're dealing with.

[JoshSloane]

Rat pups are around 25g. It may just be too small for her, so it's just annoying her.

Agreed here. Bps especially have this response. Don't keep offering food rapid fire, let her relax a bit and go slow. If you are concerned later on you can start down the usual list of what to do with a non-feeding bp. Try all different color rats, switch to mice, try gerbils, african soft fur rats, live food etc. We've all been there, don't give up hope!

[pariahdog]

Agreed here. Bps especially have this response. Don't keep offering food rapid fire, let her relax a bit and go slow. If you are concerned later on you can start down the usual list of what to do with a non-feeding bp. Try all different color rats, switch to mice, try gerbils, african soft fur rats, live food etc. We've all been there, don't give up hope!

I've been offering around once a month since January, but I guess she's still not feeling it yet. Tried live and mice too but nothing. Maybe next month I'll try a small f/t rubbed with my hamster's shavings lol. Thanks everyone.

[M.P.C]

Im feeding rat pups to my fire and i doubt he is over 300grams still a little Thing, if the preys to small they will ignore it.... energy spent vs enegry gained, they wont waste the energy for prey they wont get much of anything from... of course there are the garbage disposal balls that will eat whatever.... just always remember balls are notoriously picky eaters

[MontyAndMelissa]

Try large f/t mice instead. They have a different scent. Wait until next feed (1/2-2 weeks). Don't assume that because she hasn't eaten that she isn't hungry.