Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an 18ft female yellowhead that Ive had for 13 years. I usually feed her two dead rabbits per meal. After she gets down the first I wait a little, give her the second. Instantly wraps around it, waits a little then just lays by it and ignores it. This has happened the last three feedings. I give her a good hour, the I get the snake hook, move the rabbit and she'll nail it again then eat it. On one ocassion it took three times. she would wrap around wait. Try it an hour later, wrap around wait an hour. Then on the third time she ate it. Not concerned, shes healthy, and has a strong feeding response. Just wondering why shed constrict, then lose interst? Thanks for reading. Anyone else have similar experience?

i have a retic that does this... i feed her one larger sized live rabbit...and i dont feed her as often as i feed my other snakes, so when she is fed she is hungry.

i really dot like fishing around her cage with a hook at feeding time.

when the feeding responce is turned on, i think some snakes get a thrill out of the kill... ???

I really dont like to fish around w/ the hook either. I try to get the rabbit out, so it doesnt stay in over night, then I notice she shows interst in it, the she takes it. She wont eat frozed thawed, and I dont want to waste a rabbit. Who knows, kinda weird. Also, her head was always by the rabbit, right on the foot, or her nose is always touching part of the rabbit. Its like she is just waiting for it to move so she can nail it.

are you feeding fresh killed? how often do you feed?

if she doesnt take it the first time then try warming it up REALLY good.

i think sometimes when they constrict and then ignore, they are feeling full. its just the feeding response that make them go nuts at first.

i dont let my retics do this... i think it reinforces their aggression inside the cage... i usually skip a meal or two and the next time they eat they dont pass down the meal.

maybe all she needs to eat in one sitting is a single rabbit... thats good for you and her.

She usually eats once to twice a month. It just puzzles me cause she ate the same amount consistantly. I think ill just get one rabbit the largest I can get. Lately they have been smaller so I get two. But yes, the are freshly killed and offered right away to her.

I have a burm that does this. Hes super quick at taking them when they hit the cage, sometimes he'll take it out of my hand. He'll wrap it up and then mess with it for an hour. he'll get a foot, then back off, then another foot, and back off, then he'll get an ear, and back off... its nonsense. It takes a little over 3 hours to feed him. It takes him 2 hours to eat one large rabbit and has no intrest in pigs. I also have a retic thats about 18 ft. she only eats 3 times a year and is an absolute doll inbetween feedings. she eats about a 15-20 lb. pig 3 times a year. I would say, feed her less often. Thats what we're doing with the burm. he's really pissy right now b/c we skipped 2 meals. we're going to feed him sat or sun and see how it goes (please god let it go faster!)
Beth
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