Best way to feed a new BP?

[AshleyL]

my little bp won't eat unless i thaw the rat in hot water. I tried thawing it with heat lamps, but no dice. ah well the water is good for her. i put hot tap water in a tupperwear with the rat for 5 mins before i offer it to her and that seems to do the trick. makes it nice and toasty. Also, if she's part-way in her hide and I dangle it in front of it she'll dive out and bite it eventually. I guess they feel more secure on their own turf.

[GotBalls?]

Thanks everyone,

Joan~ the temp of the bottom of the rubbermaid, under the Orchid bark, is 94. The air temperature is around 80, and on top of the orchid back is alot cooler than the actually bottom of the rubbermaid which he is actually only touching if he burrows under the bark.

i got some tips from Jeff about what he used to do, said he would feed them when they were in thier hide with thier head stickin out, not to try when they are out exploring.. problem is I can't seem to catch him when he is doing that. He is either all the way in, or all the way out LOL.

Nicole

[elevation24]

If he's in his hide and you dangle it in front there's a good chance he'll pop his head out and strike It's kind of a pain in the *** when you can't even see their head because you can't really see them when they are getting ready to strike at you, a bit startling usually.

One of my males almost never came out of his hide for the first few weeks I had him, unless he was coming out after I went to sleep (which is usually 12:00 - 1:00AM). I never saw him anyway. He was in a shed when I received him that went bad most likely on his overnight trip here (since the little bit of skin that was gone was in the container he was in), but he was an awesome feeder. He'd start striking like crazy almost instantly after I dangled rats in front of him.

Now that he's coming out and about and exploring every night he's been harder to feed!!!

[GotBalls?]

yeah, my guy didn't come out until I was asleep the first couple days but now he's almost never in his hide! he is very curious and is always out and about so It is very hard to try and feed him when he's in it. The hide he prefers though has a very small opening so it makes it even harder to feed him. I'm wondering if I should make the opening bigger...

[morph]

Small opening is probably why he likes it so I would just leave it. Balls really like a tight spot the tighter the better.

Scott

[morph]

Note too self proof read before submitting.

Sorry kiddies

scott

[GotBalls?]

LOL.....that post really puts ones mind in the gutter doesn't it....

[morph]

It's weird how you don't notice when you're typing but as soon as it posted and I saw it !!!!

Scott

[ballpython101]

i change the hide spot to a cereal box and that night i stunt the mouse, then i place the mouse in the tank right under the heat lamp.... she wont come out for a while but when i take pics u can see she gets closer n closer..... then i fall asleep like 2am then i wake up to go to the bathroom n the mouse is gone.... she will be in her hide box for the whole day wont come out until the next night... but i check to hide box to see if she ate ! try it n see ! keep the tank hot like 91+...... i feed her mice !

[IMO]

I feed mine in a shoebox size rubbermaid box. It has never failed. My snake will usually strike within 2 minutes or sooner. I ususally keep the lights off. Mine will eat most anytime.