Defensive Strikes?

[Bogertophis]

Finally ran into a problem feeder! My youngest female came to me cold and stressed. After giving her a week to settle in, I tried feeding her a pre killed rat. I’ve never had a ball do what I call defensive strikes while being presented with food. She was hissing and striking, but not trying to actually grab the rat. She did this twice during the feeding. After the third strike she took the rat and constricted.

That was on 4-19. Today I presented her with food again and got the same thing. Hissing, defensive strikes. She did it twice and I stopped the feeding to keep her from stressing. Should I plan on waiting another week before trying again? Feeding pre killed, not f/t. I’m sure it’s nothing to be worried about and I’m not panicking. I’m guessing she will grow accustomed to the process in time.

Anyone else experienced this with young balls?


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Are you POSITIVE she was fed rats, not mice, prior? Also, besides rats & mice smelling vastly different, fresh killed can freak out a snake too...same reason, much more scent. Always best to feed exactly what they had before. Also, snakes going into shed cycle (even before WE can see any changes, they 'know') often react this way to prey. I'd wait a week before trying again to offer food, so as to minimize stress.

It didn't help that she arrived chilled either, poor baby. If you're using only fresh-killed prey, you should have saved what she just refused in your freezer...
that would minimize & normalize the scent for her (unless she was previously on mice). And you can also thaw it in water, then blot on paper towel prior to
offering.