Looks like she's hunting

[Jenn]

My new BP has settled in and has eaten twice. A live baby rat both times and about ten days apart. Her last feeding was Tuesday night and she chilled in her hide for the usual day or so. But here's my question... She has been, what I can only describe as, hunting. She hides behind one of her hides where she caught the last rat, poking her head around one side then the other, and then over the top. Always coiled and ready to strike. When she's not doing that, she is hanging from her branch with her head ready to strike just above the spot where she caught the rat. Do you think she is still hungry and I should up her feeding amount/times? Or is she just finally settled in enough to act like a snake?

[darkangel]

Are you talking like a pinky? I would think she's still hungry. Have you tried fuzzies?

[juddb]

One appropriate sized prey item a week is good. Otherwise she is just being a bp thats all.

[Jenn]

Not pinkies. She is about twenty inches long and about an inch around. I gave her rat pups almost the same size around as her.

[Sunny1]

You could try feeding your BP every 7 days instead of 10. I feed my snakes on the same day every week (mondays are feeding day for the 3 of them around here ) and have had good results. Everyone eats good every week none have missed a meal yet. Plus if you feed on the same day everyweek then you set up a routine that they will learn to expect. It may tone down her wanting to "hunt" all the time, but then again my BP's poke their heads out of their hides too on occassion to kinda check things out. Just BPs being BPs.

[Brimstone111888]

I feed my hatchling every 5 days until she gets to about 200g. Then I can start feeding adult mice once a week for a long time. I have done it with both my BP's. 10 days is too long I would try a weekly schedule. Easier to remember and snakes work good on routine.

[frankykeno]

We feed every 5 days until the hatchling reaches 200 grams as well. Then they go to every 7 days.

Usually on the night before and the day of feeding (we feed in the evening) I will see the snakes out and about. Some will use the hide to peek around, some will lurk where their body is in the hide but their head is out watching from the doorway of the hide, some will crawl up on top of the hide and watch for prey to walk by. My really big females just coil up out in plain sight and give me the "hey lady, drop in my rat will ya!" glare LOL. I like to see them out, alert and ready to hunt this way.

By the time we put in their live prey they are all primed and hit their dinner within seconds.