Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I first got my blood over the summer he ate very quickly, stricking the hoppers the instant they were dropped in the tank. I moved him to my apt at school a month later and he settled down very quickly although whenever he was fed he didn't show much interest in the food and would wait awhile before killing it, and would sometimes even act as though the mouse stressed him out and try to get away from it. He's done this for the past 3 months although he always eventually eats and has grown a substantial amount. I went home the other weekend and decided to get some mice there because they're cheaper at my local pet shop, as compared to PETCO when I'm at school, and take them back with me. The instant I dropped one of the mice from home in the tank he at it immediately, just as he had done when I got him. So it occured to me that every mouse he ate quickly was brown and every one that he hesitated on was white. Has anyone ever had this experience? Will it be a problem when I switch him over to frozen?

You may well get a better, more consistant feeding response if you switch to rats. If he's slow to "warm up" to thawed, try presenting just inside his favorite hide after lights out. You may even have to convince him by a fresh pre-killed offering a few times before he'll take f/t. But he is overdue to become a rat-eater. Please also reconsider the live presentation. Its not needed; it could prove harmful to your snake and may be contributing to his hesitancy to feed presently.

...and also forgive me for not responding directly to your question re: color of mice. I dunno. Too many variables...maybe he likes the smell of cheaper rodents, or the brown ones are comfort food...reminds him of home