BP Extra hungry

[Bogertophis]

I would feed her a bit more AND get her next (fresh!) stool to the vet A.S.A.P for a parasite check. A snake that is uncomfortable, in any sort of internal pain
or that is sharing their food with intestinal worms cannot tell you that...they just act out as cranky. Intestinal parasites would explain both her mood, her hunger
and her size if she is somewhat underweight.

Nothing against hook training, that can be helpful, but an older snake should not suddenly need that. If you had a kid that was suddenly acting this way, you
would not "train" them to be quiet & sit still...you'd look for the medical reason for their behavior. Snakes are no different, they just cannot talk.

[Maverick67]

Fair points. She has always been on the smaller side. I kind of attributed that to her lack of care from previous owners. It could also be my lack of handling her so she just expects food when I'm around.

[dakski]

She weighs in around 1800 or so and has been steadily around that since I fixed her up after her second owner. She's somewhere around 20 maybe 25 years old can't really peg it down due to her past. She got the name Scarlett from the burn marks from her first owner and an unregulated heat rock. ( no I don't use one) but she's has a tough go. I've had her for about 10 or so years and she has thrived from the scrawny dehydrated shape I originally got her in.

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Good you've given her a good life.

At 1800G I would try 4 mice at each feeding instead of 3 and see if that makes a difference.

That is very small BP for that age !?!

There are smaller females out there.

My Albino BP female is 6 and weighs 1650G and is happy and healthy. She's barely 4FT.

[dakski]

I would feed her a bit more AND get her next (fresh!) stool to the vet A.S.A.P for a parasite check. A snake that is uncomfortable, in any sort of internal pain
or that is sharing their food with intestinal worms cannot tell you that...they just act out as cranky. Intestinal parasites would explain both her mood, her hunger
and her size if she is somewhat underweight.

Nothing against hook training, that can be helpful, but an older snake should not suddenly need that. If you had a kid that was suddenly acting this way, you
would not "train" them to be quiet & sit still...you'd look for the medical reason for their behavior. Snakes are no different, they just cannot talk.

Cannot hurt to get her checked out. Especially if she's up there in age and her behavior changed quickly.

[Maverick67]

I will at least get a stool sample checked and up her feeding amount and see where thing go. Perhaps I will see if she ill start taking rats again but she has always been skiddish about large prey and only eats live.

[Bogertophis]

I will at least get a stool sample checked and up her feeding amount and see where thing go. Perhaps I will see if she ill start taking rats again but she has always been skiddish about large prey and only eats live.

Great idea on the stool sample, but large live rats? Please DON'T! She's likely to be injured & then what?

[Maverick67]

No not large rats. Holy crap. I've never had success above small. Even then she gets spooked of them. I meant rats (small) are large prey compared to mice that's all.

[Bogertophis]

Whew...(you had said she's always been skittish about large prey so I thought that's where you were going) but still, any rats big enough to have eyes
open WILL bite back. For her sake, please work on getting her to f/k (fresh killed) or f/t...it's so worth it. Vet bills are hard on the budget too.

[Maverick67]

believe i have tries to get her on frozen thawed or fresh kills that i have bought live and dispatched myself directly before feeding. She will not have it. I can dance them with tongs for an hour and she wont take it. So I feed her live but I always have eyes on her when feeding. I understand the risk but its better than her not eating at all and I am not willing to attempt force feeding her. I doubt that would go over well.

[Bogertophis]

No, force-feeding is a lousy thing to do, best avoided altogether. Have you tried giving the preferred food first (very small though, as an appetizer) and
then offering a small f/t rat, right away, as soon as the "appetizer" is swallowed & while snake is still in "feeding mode"? (the 2nd item must be ready
immediately or it may not work)

As far as "eyes on her while feeding", even if you could see & move with the speed of lightning, you'll never be faster than a rat or mouse bite.

Have you tried leaving food overnight in total darkness? I'd try leaving an eyes-closed fuzzy mouse in a flat-bottom crock bowl in her
cage...bowl must be deep enough that mouse can't jump or climb out of...maybe try leaving a small f/t rat in bowl too...it will pick up
the scent of the fuzzy mouse & be right there...if she takes the small mouse, she just might keep going. Also, if you can get some used
mouse litter from pet store to help scent the f/t rat before you leave overnight, even better.