Quote Originally Posted by ckuhn003 View Post
Sorry another BP feeding topic.......but I'm perplexed by the rejections after witnessing such positive and 'interested' pre feeding responses.

3 Year old Male Ball Python (612 grams) (always had a weak feeding response which seems to be getting worse)

Has rejected last 4 meals (been offering small f/t rat every 2 weeks using the hair dryer method.

Last meal was on 5/22 which was 113 days ago where I heated and left it lay in his cage. I couldn't tell you the last time he's struck and coiled (it's been years).

Anyways, lately he's been roaming at night and hanging out of his hide, cocked and ready for the mouse. He seems to study the rat for a little bit and then retreats back in his hide.

Some of the things that have crossed my mind since it feels like the 'moons have to align' to get this guy to eat.

- maybe a new batch of fresh prey will do the trick (current is frozen sealed from an order 8 months ago)

- maybe he needs moved back to a smaller enclosure. He's in an AP10 and his former enclosure was 2 x 1 x 1. I've cluttered up his current AP10 enclosure pretty well

- temps and humidity seem to be dialed in

- maybe he's intimidated by the size of the prey and needs something smaller to kickstart his appetite

- just normal BP feeding responses

Any help would be appreciated.
Oddly enough one of my Royals went off her food when I moved her to a bigger viv - until I put her back in her old, small viv then she ate the next day .

As regards the hairdryer method .. the hairdryer is just a part of the trick .

With many Royals It’s not just a case of warming the mouse /rat up .. they are nocturnal so most will only be active and want to feed in the evenings ( there are a few who will eat anytime of course).

Anyways , in my experience, Royals need to feel secure before the will strike and eat . I let the frozen rodents thaw out in the snake room and that gets the snakes in the mood to eat - after a few hours they’re all ready and waiting . I make sure they are safe under a viv then immediately dangle the warm rodent in front of the hide entrance , feed in dim/low lighting so the heat pits can zoom into the warmed up mouse/rats heat signal ... it it shows interest ( as you mentioned) they normally get it straight away but if not RE-HEAT and offer again whilst warm .. keep repeating until it takes it under the hide .




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