Ahh!! Why did she do that?!

[elevation24]

My female ball has been feeding great pretty much since I got her (F/T). I had a few failed attempts in the beginning but she's been feeding consistently for weeks now (I have had her since the end of June).

Well, tonight is feeding night. Of course she struck no problem, within 30 seconds of me introducing the mouse, constricted the mouse for a good minute and a half, then let go to start swallowing. Problem is... she didn't swallow!!! For the past 10 minutes she has just left the mouse lying there while she roams her enclosure :confused: There's a big bloody spot on it's belly that she caused but she's just left it alone. Why the heck didn't she swallow??! Is there still a chance she will eat it or should I take it out and try again a little later, or leave her alone and not try to get her to eat it tonight, or...? I am totally confused. She will go over near it every so often and sort of poke her head at it but she just leaves it alone. Is this common?

[BoidKeeper]

So what's happening now?
Trevor

[Pookie]

My cal king did that when i first got her a few years ago. For now i would wait awhile and if she still doesn't seem interested then take the mouse out and try again in a week.

[elevation24]

Originally posted by BoidKeeper
So what's happening now?
Trevor

Nothing, she didn't eat it. After about 20 minutes she went into her hide and poked her head out every once in awhile (the mouse is right outside it) and that's it. I left it in overnight where she struck it and left it but it was still there when I woke, so I've taken it out.

Thanks Pookie. I'll try her again next feeding :(

[Big Mike]

My BP does this all the time. Sometimes I think he is just too stupid to know how to swallow his prey ;)

What I do is take the prey out and dip it back into warm water (just the head). I use tongs and wave the rewarmed prey in front of him and he usually snags it again. Sometimes it takes a few tries before he gets it right.

When I give him 2 or 2 prey items I do the same if he does not swallow it on the first try. Although if I'm getting tired of doing this I just leave the thawed prey in with him over night...if it's not eaten by morning then I dispose of it and he has to wait until the next feeding.

[sapphire_moon]

was it to cold????

[raebug2000]

my three year old girl still does that..... i usually keep her in the feeding cage( a locking tupperware underthe bed container with airholes burned into the side) overnight, usually she will take it then........sometimes they get distracted by too much movement or a different smell....sometimes even a change in pattern with some snakes......

when feeding....supervise from a distance and just be still.....


ps. i feed stunned live.:atom:

[elevation24]

Thanks guys. Sorry for not responding to this, I was out of town for the holiday weekend :)

She had plenty of heat, sapphire_moon :)

I gave it another attempt tonight and she fed just fine, thanks for the advice!! If she ever does this again I'll keep everything said in mind.

[sapphire_moon]

no I meant was the mouse to cold...lol

[elevation24]

Oh, hahahaha :o No, it had just been thawed out and was plenty warm as well :p

[Solid Snake]

mine does it sometimes but eventually eats it.