Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For about once a week for a month, my roommate would try to feed his snake a small adult mouse in a box. The snake would either climb out of the box or strike at the mouse repeatedly for about an hour, never once making contact or attempting to eat. I was wondering if this is normal behavior for snakes or should we consider taking him to a vet? Temperatures are fine and there's no sign of mites. His hide seems a little small but he can still fit under it.

Stupid question, but: Is the snake big enough to be eating adult mice? Could be that the mouse is too big, especially if it's a younger snake.
What are your temperatures? Have you tried feeding in the enclosure? When my snakes won't eat I try feeding them where they are most comfortable, and that usually does the trick. Try leaving the mouse in front of the hide, but if an adult mouse is the correct size of food, stun it first (bang its head on something) so that a) it doesn't hurt your snake and b) it still moves but not too much so that it doesn't scare the snake.

Good luck!

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (Tetris)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire

The mouse is the perfect size for him, and the temperature was between 65-70 F when i checked it last. The enclosure is a 30 gal tank with a mesh top and we usually keep humidity at 30-40. Someone else mentioned how he could want to hibernate for the winter, but if I'm wrong could he die?

Bluerosy's response said it best.
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (Tetris)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire

Your snake wants to shut down for the winter. Take the snake off heat and place in cool spot in house (like a closet) . Temps should be between 50-60F. Make sure the snake has water that is changed weekly. Come spring you snake will resume eating.

If you keep the heat on the snake it will eat up its reserves and possibly starve.