Newbie with a feeding question...

[STORMS]

Hi all! I am curious to know (since I am relatively new with the whole snake experience) when feeding your balls - how many strike attempts do your snakes take at their food before actually hitting their target??? I have two balls - a female baby & a male thats about a year old. The female strikes and hits the mouse on the 1st try every time. The male on the other hand takes 3-4 attempts before he hits his target and wraps the mouse up. I feed f/t to both of them and do the little dance thing. They both eat outside of their enclosures. Could he be blind? Can snakes be blind? I read everything I can get my hands on regarding ball pythons. I researched them for months before I purchased. I want everything to be right - am I doing something wrong. I PROMISE I WON'T BE RUDE IF YOU TELL ME I AM DOING SOMETHING INCORRECTLY - I JUST WANT HAPPY SNAKES.

Thanks in advance for any input you have to offer!!!!!

[Windridge Kennels]

I am sure snakes can be blind... you might have to ask a vet to check yours out if you think he could be.

Mine usually get it one strike- I can say that- and having eight of them, that's a decent amount to go by. Sometimes it takes a couple hits, though.

[STORMS]

Thanks 4 the input. I really do appreciate it.

One more question...

Can snakes see like we see or do they only see heat or both? That's probably a stupid question... If it is - sorry.

[daniel1983]

If the snake is stiking and missing or hitting the prey and not holding on.....my first thought is that those initial strikes are defensive. Defensive strikes are somewhat random unlike strikes for prey which are usually spot on. The snake might have to strike a few times to realize the thing they are striking at is prey...then it changes its method of attack.

The initial defensiveness may also have something to do with you moving the snake around before feeding it. I would offer the snake the rodent inside of it's enclosure for the next feeding and see if the issue still occurs. If it does not miss, then that may be the issue.

I would also suggest trying to prescent the area a bit more before trying the rodent dance. Set the rodent in the feeding container for a bit. Remove the rodent. Place the ball python in the feeding container and give it a few minutes to take in the smells and become a bit more accustomed to its surroundings......then offer the rodent.

Just my thoughts.

[STORMS]

I would also suggest trying to prescent the area a bit more before trying the rodent dance. Set the rodent in the feeding container for a bit. Remove the rodent. Place the ball python in the feeding container and give it a few minutes to take in the smells and become a bit more accustomed to its surroundings......then offer the rodent.

Just my thoughts.

I do the prescenting thing already..... And as silly as it may sound I would rather not feed him in his enclosure. The whole associate my hand with food thing ya know?

Thanks 4 ur input

[daniel1983]

The whole associate my hand with food thing ya know?

That is somewhat of a common myth.

To follow the same idea, wouldn't taking your snake out of it's enclosure be a trigger for a feeding response since you take it out in order to feed?

As long as you change it up(i.e. take out to handle, take out to feed, take out to clean), you will do fine feeding anywhere. The problems occur when a person only interacts with their snake during feeding time.

[missi182]

I do the prescenting thing already..... And as silly as it may sound I would rather not feed him in his enclosure. The whole associate my hand with food thing ya know?

Thanks 4 ur input

Your snake should not associate your hands with feeding at all if you handle them, and feed with tongs/dont stick your hands right in when feeding. But I can understand why you would feel nervous about it. Keeping your snake(s) in their enclosures during feeding does help them feel much more secure while eating (my bp drags his dinner into his hide, somehow, and eats in there often)

It does sound like your bp may be striking defensively first, and Daniel makes a great point for you to try feeding in the enclosure. It is much less stressfull for your snake to not have to be removed and returned to his enclosure for dinner.

*Daniel, your fingers are faster than mine*

[daniel1983]

Just so we don't seem to be too strong in pushing the idea of feeding inside the enclosure....

How long do you let the snake 'settle in' to the feed box before offering food?

Another thing is that f/t rodent's smell is not always the best at prescenting. Next time you go to the pet store to pick up something, bring a ziplock and ask someone if you can have some used rodent bedding (they will look at you like you are crazy ). Put the rodent bedding in a old piece of stocking and use it to prescent. Works wonders. The stocking full of bedding can be stored in a ziplock and useds for a few months before you need to replace it. I use a similar method to get some of my snakes to have a stronger feeding response.

[STORMS]

I know you're not pushing the "feed in the enclosure" issue. I do understand I am probably creating stress 4 my snakes by feeding out of the enclosure. I am open to change - like I mentioned b4 I want whats best for my snakes and for them to be as stress free as possible. Blah, blah, blah.... Anyway back to the subject at hand - the feeding tank is 20L w/newspaper substrate, UTH (only) and 1 hide identical to what is in there enclosure. Once I put him in, I let him chill for 1-2 hours b4 offering food. Always for a minimum of an hour, sometimes I get busy with something else... he has been in there close to 2 hours. Too long? Not long enuff????

[STORMS]

Since I am still new at this (and have NEVER been bitten) I am still a bit nervous around the male more so than the female - big size difference between the 2. And I do use tongs - I happen to like my fingers .