He is in defense mode because something is still scaring him, bothering him, or not quite right with him. Maybe he's not used to the live mouse, you, the color of your clothing, the way you approach the cage, etc...



There could be many, many different reasons to trigger this in him. There are many things that can be done to help him settle in and be comfortable with his surroundings.



Sometimes it helps to cover the cage for a while, sometimes just a hide-spot is good.





Sometimes my snakes will keep striking at it defensively and then suddenly wrap it while still hissing.. sometimes it just takes a bit of coaxing for him to 'turn off' his defensive switch and realize there is food right in front of him..

I always blow the rats scent towards the snake.. the premise being, he smells it/realizes it is food before he see's something that may make him defensive..



Then there are some that will NEVER get over that.. lol.. they'll just sit and hiss and puff for hours and hours! lol
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo

'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

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