Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this has been brought up before on here but when skimming I couldnt find it. Plus I wanted it to be as up to date as possible.

So lets hear it people. Gimme ALL your tips for feeding the beautiful blood python. I've tried quite a few things. Such as F/T left over night with both a rat and a mouse. A live mouse under my nightvision for two hours in the middle of the night (total darkness). Tried both in a separate container, and in her tank.

Background for this snake: Look down the forum! Short stint with RI (appears to be gone), stuck shedding (taken care of). Now I've got temps under control for about two weeks now(75-80 night, 82-87 day), and the Humidity back in my control for about a week now(60%-75%). I've tried all these methods over the last week or so. Snake seems REALLY dis-interested in any food.

I know they can fast for months, and especially during the winter, but she seems way too active to be in a hybernation stage. I havent noticed any weight loss, but dont have a scale yet to weight her. She is beyond docile. Loves to be picked up and help but I wont touch her for the whole day when I feed her, just to give her a hunting mode mindset.

What the heck am I doing wrong? What can I be doing better?

Maybe it's time to just leave your snake be for a while. Give her a week with all the right temps and so forth dialed in, but all by itself.

I've got a little blood that did the same thing when I first got her. She came around once she calmed down. Your snake might just be stressed, what with the RI issue and maybe some low temps.

Alot of it has to do with correct temps and humidity. My juvie STP lives in a 40 gal. tank but never comes out of his humid hide box (plastic shoe box with damp spagnum moss) except to eat or when I handle him. Even then he just sticks his head out and takes his time with it. Now there have been more times than not when he won't take his prey item when offered. What works is after about twenty minutes is to remove the prey item, a rat in this instance, and put it back in the plastic baggie and rewarm it under hot tap water. I have never had to do this more than twice for a total of three offerings. Last week, I offered only once that evening. The next morning it was still there--no big surprise. I just warmed it up and WHAMMO he struck and grabbed that rat right off the 15" tweezers (a fine investment indeed), coiled around and swallowed it down in record time. Also since mine is a bit shy most of the time, I will leave the room in order to let him feel secure enough to begin feeding. Once feeding is underway, it's possible to come back and watch if you want. Once you get used to it, it's not that hard. Hope that helps.

Mike

Yeah I havent tried re-warming. I didnt even think of it! I feel dumb now! lol I will try that. But I dont think the snake has ever had a F/T meal. But I will try it.