Refused a Rat after changing rutine.

[Grishnákh]

I always feed my BP in the same cage, but after a few weeks of getting a hiss when opening the cage, I decide to feed in a separate tank. I didn't wanted her to asimilate the actions one with the other. I put the rat in the tank and soon after I introduced the snake. She didn't eat it. She even "stood" back a couple of times. After that I put the snake in her cage and introduced the rat, but she did the same thing. It's very strange, she's been eating every week and a half for almost a year and a half now.

I don't know if this is a factor too, but I recently bought a personal fan to keep the cooler area of the cage below the 87-88 degrees, that is the normal temperature here. I am using a timer and every half hour it turns on/off.

Could the fan have stressed out the snake? Or should I consider never changing her from the cage to the tank for feeding?

[Shaun J]

All that stuff about associating the hand with food is a big myth. He didn't eat probably because he was stressed from being moved

[Grishnákh]

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...

[JLC]

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...

I'm sorry. I thought Shaun did a fine job of answering and I try not to be redundant sometimes.

It's a myth that a snake will associate your hand with feeding in its enclosure...but if you're still afraid of that, you can still establish different feeding routines that will disassociate your hand from the feeding practice, without stressing the snake by moving it. (Such as offering the rodent from the ends of tongs)

I believe it is the action of moving the snake into a separate box that caused it to not eat. Wait 'til your next regular feeding day and go back to your normal routine.

[Slithers]

chillax...
it sounds like you took it out 'feeding mode' by moving it to another cage. dont be afraid to feed it in its cage. remember it has worked fine for a year and a half for you. Wait a week and offer again...without moving the snake.

about the fan...i know drafts are not good. i would say pointing the fan directly at the tank is not good...but a fan in the room is okay.

Good Luck.

and I agree with the others

[SatanicIntention]

Hun, you pretty much answered your own question. Balls don't like change, and a change in their routine that has been the same for the past year and a half, is a BIG change in their life to them. If he has been eating this way for that long and has been doing just fine, why change? There is no evidence to support that feeding in the cage constitutes a feeding response everytime you open the cage.

I feed all 8 of my Ball Pythons, 2 cornsnakes and 1 boa in their tubs every week(every other week for the boa), and NONE have ever tried to snap at me out of a feeding response, unless it is feeding day.

Also, it's saturday night, and it's also only been an hour since you posted. Don't worry so much! Everyone is probably out partying or doing SOMETHING other than being here(I wish I was, where's the Goldschlager?).

[Slithers]

Also, it's saturday night, and it's also only been an hour since you posted. Don't worry so much! Everyone is probably out partying or doing SOMETHING other than being here(I wish I was, where's the Goldschlager?).

For real. Please be patient, people will respond. But give us time!

[recycling goddess]

snakes are very sensitive to vibrations. perhaps the vibration of the fan is upsetting your snake.

i would take away the fan and try to get your snake eating again inside it's enclosure. then... try introducing the fan again and see if your snake, once again refuses food. this way you'll know if it's the fan.

[Slithers]

snakes are very sensitive to vibrations. perhaps the vibration of the fan is upsetting your snake.

i agree 100%. If the snake can feel the vibrations from the fan, it will stress out most def.

[recycling goddess]

I guess everyone in this forum is more interested in MKR (with almost 200 replies in less than 3 hours) and their prices, than helping each other with questions like mine. Thanks for nothing...

take a deep breath...

okay, so here's what i do when i have a question and no one answers it. i find the person i would most like to answer the question and pm them with a link to the thread... and then i patiently wait for them to get the pm and answer me.