Aggresive feeder strikes coils but doesnt eat the rat help!

[Bogertophis]

Thanks for the tips, and yeah I'll try that next time, keeping still until she eats, and maybe just close her tub lid later when she's almost done

I give her small/medium rats usually. Do you think she might be intimidated by the larger rat? If so, wouldn't she avoid striking and coiling?

And, I DO have long thongs but she always move real fast towards my hand when I try to take the uneaten rat it scares the heelll outta me lolol

Yes, keep still & be patient. And wait to close the top also. It's distracting to some snakes.

Larger rat- intimidation (or too large)- yes! Very possible. Try offering a small one, I bet she eats it! Snakes aren't visual- she doesn't "know" it's so big until she wraps it. It FEELS wrong.

This could also be related to the season- snakes can digest smaller rats much faster than large ones- again, they instinctively don't want to get stuck with undigestible food in their gut in cold weather.

Hands & tongs- try not to be so appetizing! I have 18" & 24" feeding tongs, but I rarely use the 24" ones- they feel too awkward, & for many years I've fed everything from large (fast!) rat snakes (7'+), a 7 1/2'+ BCI, & adult rattlesnakes with these tongs. Oh, & I still have all my fingers! (no feeding bites ever) I mostly keep my 24" tongs for picking up things that fall behind my desk, lol.

I guess you could put a leather glove on your hand to help hide your heat signature though, if you feel the need. Or hold an ice cube for a few minutes first? Or put your glove in the freezer...