Striked but didnt eat !?

[Slithers]

ya i used to think Baby was a murderer...cuz she used to like to kill but not eat her prey.

turns out she was just afraid/stressed out. I tried live every week for 7 weeks, but on the 8th week, she ate a F/T. never went back to live.

There was no reason for her to not eat other than stress, so I changed my presentation (now i give it to her in a dark room, when I know she is hunting) (or give it to her in a small dark box)

I think if Baby ever saw another live rat she would faint...but ya she used to kill them out of defense and then leave them.

Snakes are not used to being 'trapped' in close quarters with a live rat...if they feel stressed they might strike out of defense not hunger.

It seems like my snakes search for the head excessively when the prey item is too small. They want to eat the side or the tail. I up the size if possible and then they go straight for the nose.

[lisa77]

ya i used to think Baby was a murderer...cuz she used to like to kill but not eat her prey.

turns out she was just afraid/stressed out. I tried live every week for 7 weeks, but on the 8th week, she ate a F/T. never went back to live.

There was no reason for her to not eat other than stress, so I changed my presentation (now i give it to her in a dark room, when I know she is hunting) (or give it to her in a small dark box)

I think if Baby ever saw another live rat she would faint...but ya she used to kill them out of defense and then leave them.

Snakes are not used to being 'trapped' in close quarters with a live rat...if they feel stressed they might strike out of defense not hunger.

It seems like my snakes search for the head excessively when the prey item is too small. They want to eat the side or the tail. I up the size if possible and then they go straight for the nose.

I dont feed live so it cant be that...I have only ever fed F/T.

Another thing, since he did this on weds he is out & about all the time..I havent once seen him in his hide.. even during the day

[frankykeno]

Could the mouse be somewhat small for him Lisa. I'm not sure what size mouse you feed to what size snake here but am wondering if your snake is perhaps still hungry and hunting. Also it could be stress so you could add in crumpled newspaper to fill any of the empty space of his enclosure. This is a wonderful little trick that works very well to help snakes calm down and feel less open to be preyed upon themselves.

[lisa77]

He is 5 months..& is on small mice..he has no trouble at all with them..but he has only had a few feeds with these, so wouldnt feel comfortable with upping size as yet..




Just to jog your memory !

[frankykeno]

He should be fine on that and you're right, don't mess with food changes too often. I'm thinking maybe he's just needing some newspaper "litter" in there to help him settle and stop roaming when he should be resting during the day. Is he in a busy part of the house where a lot of foot traffic or other pets go by his enclosure?

[lisa77]

No not really, I live in a top floor flat so noise free really..

I will take yr advice & add some paper - cheers