Nervous BP hissing at f/t prey

[icygirl]

Tonight I attempted to feed my new ball for the first time. He has been a bit shy since I got him, although not overly so. The breeder I bought him from fed live, but I figured I would at least give a good attempt to get him onto frozen/thawed, since it is easier for me. I brought him out of his hide and showed him the mouse, and his head and neck immediately went into "S-shape". Mind you, I didn't stick it directly in his nose. I just wanted to get him out of the hide so he would see it. I shook it around a little, did the "zombie dance", and he struck it a few times. But I think this was fear striking and not food-striking. (When my female strikes to eat she will immediately wrap herself around the prey.) Then he started hissing at it, which I figured was a sign he probably wasn't going to eat. I left it in there and he has hastily retreated into the hide. I don't have high hopes for him eating tonight.

A few questions...
1. Should I bother leaving it in there overnight? Because if I remove it soon, I can salvage the mouse and give it to my corn, who will probably take it.

2. When is the next time I should try to feed him?

3. Should I try f/t again, or pre-killed? If I do pre-killed, I don't have a CO2 chamber or anything, so I'd probably have to use the "whack" method, or just stun the mouse and feed him live/stunned.

4. Was it a bad idea for me to have taken him out of his hide to show him the mouse - do you think this just scared him further?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Icygirl

[kc261]

1) - This is a new snake, and you should be practicing quarantine. If you take the mouse and give it to your corn, that would be violating quarantine. If you are really worried about wasting the mouse, you could re-freeze it, as long as you keep it separate so you know it can only go to your new snake. I think my choice would be to leave it overnight and see what happens.

2) - The most common recommendation when new snakes don't eat seems to be to wait 5 days then try again.

3) - You could try f/t again. Most people recommend to feed a new snake whatever it was getting at its old home until it is settled. So give it live until the snake is settled and you've got a few successful feedings. When we first got out snake, she was used to live. We tried 1 f/t, which she refused. We gave her live a few times, 3 I think, and then tried f/t again. She took the f/t then and has never refused a feeding since.

4) - Yes, you probably scared him by taking him out of his hide. He is still getting used to his new home. Especially if he is a baby; they get frightened more easily. You will probably have better success if you feed at a time when he is active anyway (late evening) so you won't have to worry about removing him from his hide. Also, pre-scent to get him in the mood to eat.

[frankykeno]

Darn Casey it's too soon for me to give you a good rep hit again. Nice post!

[starmom]

I'd pre-scent, don't remove the hide (they ambush hunt) and if you want to feed F/T then offer only F/T to your snake. Your snake will eat it when your snake has stressed down. Wait a week and offer it another mouse!
AND, don't worry- your snake WILL eat at one point!!

[Papa Burgundy]

Pe senting is key. I have tried it out the last few weeks and it has worked wonders. That will also eliminate the need of you having to take it out of the hide.

[Spaniard]

Removing his hide was probably what triggered the defensive strikes but in case you run into problems next feed make sure your prey item isn't too big. Some snakes are very picky about the sizes of food and too large an item can trigger defense mode instead of hunt mode.

[Jenn]

PRE-SCENT PRE-SCENT PRE-SCENT. Think in terms of letting your snake hunt, rather than you spoon feeding him.

[littleindiangirl]

Imagine your in the bushes, watching a ball python hunt. He's sitting there with his head happily sitting outside of his hide. Night is falling, crickets are chirping, a few buffalo groan in the distance. Our BP suddenly smells something. This perks him up and he draws a little bit more into his hide, waiting tensely for what is coming.

Across the way through some tall grass, a little mouse darts into the opening. Nibbles some food, darts again, poops, eats some food he finds on the ground.

He continues his little trek, inching closer and closer to the BP's hole. You are watching the BP, you can see his head staying completely still, his tongue is flicking... his body is tense and ready to strike.

It's quiet, hardly any movement, except from our little mouse.

Then with out warning, BAM! Our BP pulls the mouse into his dark hide, constricting it with his coils.


Key is prescenting, quiet and dim, no disturbances, and let him hunt from his hide.

[Spaniard]

Very descriptive scene Connie...

I almost jumped out of my chair for the "BAM!"

[littleindiangirl]

Very descriptive scene Connie...

I almost jumped out of my chair for the "BAM!"

Hahaha, you've got one heck of an imagination!