Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all, question for ya. I have a male het pied and he's kinda confusing me. A few of the times I've tried to feed him, right after I drop the mouse in he strikes and kills it, but then leaves it sitting in the cage and doesn't eat it. I leave it in there for a day or so, then it starts to stink and I have to take it out.

He eats fine at other times, but sometimes he just decides he wants to kill the thing and not eat it. ...Anybody know what's up? I've not heard of this before. The conditions are right and all. Ideas?

Generally a sign of a stressed ball. Those are defensive strikes and wrap ups. Make sure you have him/her in a low stress enviornment(not hallways, livingrooms, etc.) and make sure he has a suitable setup...proper temps and hides, etc. Keep the handling to a minimum until this behavior stops.

Of course this could be something else entirely but the times I've seen or witnessed it, it was stress related. I'm sure there will be other ideas coming....

Jason

I kinda thought I'd get this kind of advice, but the temperatures are perfect and he lives in a bedroom, and I'm at work all day. I don't have a hygrometer, but the windows are closed and the reading on the house hygrometer is correct. So the ambient should be nearly the same. (I realize this isn't perfect). Generally speaking, I can't think of any reason why he'd be stressed. He does this once out of every three or four feeds. The other ones he pounds eagerly.

...Anybody?

Sorry to add on again, but I forgot to mention I also have two hides for him, one on each temp. side of the tank. ...Anybody think it could be need of a humidity box? (Shot in the dark)

I have had two of my balls do that, but only once each in over a year. I don't have a clue why. I do have fewer issues when I feed rats, I don't know why, but you might give them a try. CM

I have a monster 3000 gram female het axanthic that does that at probably every 2-3 feedings. She will eat 3-4 live medium rats at a time but she still acts hungry so i drop another in and she will coil and kill it but wont eat it. Other times she will only eat 1-2 and do the same thing, so i dont know and my girl like I said is about 6 years old and as happy as a captive snake can bee. Shes about 3000 grams and I have produced axanthics from her and shes not aggressive to me. But I wouldnt worry to much about it like I tell everyone thats asks me about snakes they ae like every other animal they all have different mannerisms.
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Damian Macioce
www.strongholdreptiles.com