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07-15-13, 09:04 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2013
Location: Hemet
Posts: 12
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strange behavior?
hey guys so i've noticed something pretty interesting with my snake. i've switched a couple times between feeding her rats and mice. Whenever i go to feed her a rat, a few feet from her tank she'll start striking at it like crazy and the second it goes in the feeding tank with her it's gone. But when i feed her mice, she won't even attempt to strike when it's getting close. She only strikes at it after it's been in the tank for about 20 seconds. I just think it's interesting how she's so aggressive towards rats and not mice, have any of you had this experience before? what are your thoughts about it?
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07-15-13, 09:16 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 762
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Re: strange behavior?
racist snake
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07-15-13, 09:22 AM
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#3
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Banned
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 974
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Re: strange behavior?
You should stick to one type of prey.
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07-15-13, 09:26 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2013
Location: CT
Posts: 3,888
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amadeus
You should stick to one type of prey.
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Theres no harm in feeding different types of prey...
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07-15-13, 09:28 AM
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#5
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Banned
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 974
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by smy_749
Theres no harm in feeding different types of prey...
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There is no point to feed different prey.
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07-15-13, 09:35 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2013
Location: Hemet
Posts: 12
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Re: strange behavior?
I normally keep her on rats. But sometimes the store by my house doesn't have any available so I want to make sure she's fine with taking either one since they can be picky.
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07-15-13, 10:04 AM
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#7
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Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: ATL
Posts: 6,744
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amadeus
There is no point to feed different prey.
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I was curious about feeding different prey too. I understand that a snake will be just fine eating one kind of prey all the time, but I can't see how feeding different prey could be a problem either. I figure since they eat multiple prey in nature why not with us?
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07-15-13, 11:07 AM
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#8
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Banned
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 974
Country:
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy
I was curious about feeding different prey too. I understand that a snake will be just fine eating one kind of prey all the time, but I can't see how feeding different prey could be a problem either. I figure since they eat multiple prey in nature why not with us?
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You'll be sorry you didn't keep to one prey when you buy a freezer full of one kind and then realize your snake only eats the other kind.
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07-15-13, 12:09 PM
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#9
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Twist and Shout
Join Date: Dec-2011
Location: New York
Posts: 1,664
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by smy_749
Theres no harm in feeding different types of prey...
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Yes there is.
It's common for a captive snake to form a preference for one or the other. Many times once a snake has a set preference, they will refuse all other types of prey. Now consider that some snakes get so big that they NEED to be fed rats unless their owner is willing to feed them 15+ mice every week. IMO it's best to stick strictly to rats for larger snakes, last thing you want is a big snake that's hooked onto mice. It commonly happens with Carpet Pythons, and it happened to my Ball Python (it will only eat mice).
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07-15-13, 12:14 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2013
Location: CT
Posts: 3,888
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoreliAddict
Yes there is.
It's common for a captive snake to form a preference for one or the other. Many times once a snake has a set preference, they will refuse all other types of prey. Now consider that some snakes get so big that they NEED to be fed rats unless their owner is willing to feed them 15+ mice every week. IMO it's best to stick strictly to rats for larger snakes, last thing you want is a big snake that's hooked onto mice. It commonly happens with Carpet Pythons, and it happened to my Ball Python (it will only eat mice).
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Is that harmful, or inconvenient for you? I wasn't only referring to rats vs mice, but some people like to feed the occasional rabbit to have an animal put on weight, or a quail or whatever. I don't see how its harmful per se...
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07-15-13, 12:24 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb-2013
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 270
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Re: strange behavior?
Quote:
Originally Posted by smy_749
Is that harmful, or inconvenient for you? I wasn't only referring to rats vs mice, but some people like to feed the occasional rabbit to have an animal put on weight, or a quail or whatever. I don't see how its harmful per se...
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I wouldn't flip a ball python to mice if it's taking rats as the last thing I need is a 2000gr female mouser who will gobble down mice like they're popcorn chicken.
OTOH if the snake can take rabbits then you're feeding something that's most likely much less picky, like a burm, retic, or boa. I've noticed the same with my milk and king snakes, they're little garbage disposals.
__________________
I buy the kid a pony, she asks for a snake! If only I'd known...
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07-15-13, 11:20 AM
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#12
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Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: ATL
Posts: 6,744
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Re: strange behavior?
I understand animals may have preferences but aren't they opportunistic eaters? Will they let a rat or a chick pass by in the wild and hope for a mouse later? I normally feed my kings mice but was contemplating feeding the occasional rat or chick for variety. I wouldn't buy too many that it would be a big financial loss though.
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07-15-13, 04:16 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2013
Posts: 10
Country: 
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Re: strange behavior?
I think its all about getting the size right for the snake. No point feeding a ball python tonnes of rst pups instead of a small/medium mouse and as has bee mentioned if a ball python will take rsts better to get them to take something like a large rat instead of numerous jumbo or large mice :-)
Getting back to the original topic though....  I find some of my snakes are strike feeders and others are drop feeders.....fussy little things
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