Zombie dance or leave it?

[monty_python9]

My ball python is super food aggressive and was wondering if it's better to leave his f/t sm. rat in his bin and let him find it or dangle the rat in front of him and letting him strike. He will take the rat both ways. Thoughts?

[piedlover79]

I have one that I just toss a f/t rat in and she eats it ever time. Always worth a shot since it's nice and easy. Just always remember to check to make sure its really eaten.

[Reinz]

I don't think it really matters just so your snake is eating and healthy.

For me, I enjoy the interaction of offering with tongs and the excitement of the strike. I know it's not too natural, but it's about the closest way to it when offering frozen.

Plus it's just so interesting watching the wrap/coil, and then going to the swallowing process. That part is somewhat close to watching in nature.

Basically do you want boring or interesting/exciting?

[Mangiapane85]

I love the use of tongs as well. My snakes would just be like "what the hell is that?" If I just dropped it in lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[redshepherd]

Whatever you want, as long as they eat!

I have one where if I just drop it at the entrance to her hide and make some noise on top of the tub (ie: click my fingernails on the lid), she will strike. LOL.

I'm paranoid hanging the prey at the entrance of the hide when she's inside, because when I did this one time, she almost gave me a heart attack when she flew out and slammed it. She's a lot faster and more out of nowhere than any of my other snakes for some reason, especially when the rest of the room is silent.

[Sallos]

I would think that if you consistently let him find the food, over time he might be less likely to greet your hand with a food response.

[KMG]

I would think that if you consistently let him find the food, over time he might be less likely to greet your hand with a food response.

The only snake I own that will bite for sure is my GTP and that is only at night. He chases shadows on his cage wall.

All my other snakes have never showed any signs of the food aggression myth being true. I have even reached in front of my BP not knowing she was in the hide I was working around. She didn't tag me or even come toward me. As soon as the rat was lowered she slammed it. That told me snakes are smarter than many people give them credit.

That's not to say that when some of mine strike its not aggressive. Many of my snakes slam their food.

[KMG]

Personally when I feed my collection I like to make sure each snake takes the feeder and starts to eat before I leave the room. Then I give them some time and check to make sure everybody ate and I don't have a dead rat laying around to smell up the place.

The only snake I will throw a rat in and not worry about watching her start to eat it is my big Blood. She is a garage disposal and has never missed a meal. She has picked up plenty of others refusals though.

[Mangiapane85]

Personally when I feed my collection I like to make sure each snake takes the feeder and starts to eat before I leave the room.

This is the main reason why I tong feed. It gives ME the satisfaction of KNOWING that they took it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KMG]

This is the main reason why I tong feed. It gives ME the satisfaction of KNOWING that they took it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do too. I need some better tongs....stronger. XXL rats are a bit much for the ones I have.