Trouble Feeder

[JodanOrNoDan]

Just put the rodent in there and wait. Usually within minutes or even seconds, I hear a THUMP, as the snake strikes and constricts the poor little rat! If the snake doesn;t attack the rat within 5 minutes, it is not hungry, or is stressed out for some reason.

Feeding live is SO EASY it is feeding pre-killed that is difficult for many snakes.

This is generally correct but it really depends on the animal. My most extreme example is a male I have that is too tame. He will only eat FT rats. Runs from live. Has never eaten live.

I do not recommend the following but it is a qwerk of this particular animal and it took me a long time to figure it out because it is so abnormal and against everything we are taught. This boy does not strike. He will only eat if I hand feed him and hold the rat so that it touches his nose. He just casually takes it into his mouth then wraps it. Strange animal. No other animal I have has ever acted like this. I keep waiting for him to get riled up one day and tag me but it has been years and I have never seen this guy get excited once.

[Prognathodon]

This boy does not strike. He will only eat if I hand feed him and hold the rat so that it touches his nose. He just casually takes it into his mouth then wraps it. Strange animal. No other animal I have has ever acted like this. I keep waiting for him to get riled up one day and tag me but it has been years and I have never seen this guy get excited once.

My spotted python is like your boy, except that sometimes she will strike when I offer prey to her in her enclosure. But if she doesn’t after one offer I get her out and we do the silly-snek hand-feeding routine.



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[JodanOrNoDan]

My spotted python is like your boy, except that sometimes she will strike when I offer prey to her in her enclosure. But if she doesn’t after one offer I get her out and we do the silly-snek hand-feeding routine.

I'm glad to hear I don't have the only oddball.

[maausen]

Is this normal? I finally got my boy to eat on Thanksgiving night after a 5 month fast. He did not take it from my tongs but I decided to leave it in the cage over night and put a dark towel over the entire cage.

I have now offered twice in the last month but both times he has not eaten. Any ideas what is going on? Just normal male and seasonal type thing?

[bcr229]

Any ideas what is going on? Just normal male and seasonal type thing?

Yep. Just keep an eye on his weight. I had one fast for eight months.