cranky rat

knoerr3232 · 06-16-04, 03:06 PM

Ok, as some of you know, I gave up trying f/t prey, as nothing worked. I have been using live mice. Everyone told me the pros and cons on live rats and that mice actually could cause more danger than a rat. I tried my first rat today and this is what happened....my snake struck within minutes, the rat squealed and fought a bit, my snake let go and wouldnt go near it again. He would curl up in the corner and flinch when the rat neared him. That stupid rat kept creeping up to him and biting him!! (The mice I used never acted like that). I took him out and Im taking the rat back....I know all the nutrition stuff....under- feeding stuff...money factor...etc...BUT I will never try a rat again. I will continue to use numorous mice as opposed to one rat.....Has this happened to anyone? Im sooooooo pissed. Is this normal behavior for a rat or did I get a grumpy one?

mykee · 06-16-04, 03:55 PM

That's just irresponsible, you mean to say you actually WATCHED the rat bite your snake and you just sat there picking your nose?!!! IF the snake attempted to kill the rat at all, he was interested, so try f/t rats. However, after all that, good luck if your ball EVER eats anything you offer him now. Holy smokes!! I could understand this from a 12 year old who lives in a bubble, but common sense dude!..........

knoerr3232 · 06-16-04, 04:17 PM

That stupid rat kept creeping up to him and biting him!! (The mice I used never acted like that

I should have worded better.........as SOON as I seen him nipping at my snake, I got the rat out of there...and yes, mykee, common sense tells me that he was interested in the rat if he struck him...and no, mykee, I didnt sit there and pick my nose...And, if you would have read the beginning, I said that I tried f/t prey and my snake will not touch them. So after insulting me and implying I have no common sense...you didnt even answer my questions, ...AND, by the way, my snake did eat dinner tonight even after I so cruelly neglected and mistreated him like a 12 year old......Get a grip, DUDE...we are all here to help AND learn.

Nicky · 06-16-04, 04:23 PM

Who told you mice can be more dangerous than rats because that pure bs. I had a friend back in calgary that lost her full grown ball python to a live rat (i was only 11 so i didn;t know you couldn;t feed live or i would of told her). I also know that someone on this site(I'm pretty sure it was this one) a few years back posted a pic of her mauled bp that died from a rat i think i still have the pic not sure i'd have to check either way good luck in the future
kayla

smeagel · 06-16-04, 04:35 PM

you shouldn't have left your bp alone with the rat, if you ever feed live, which you shouldn't, you absolutly need to stay and watch to make sure the rat doesn't do anything to your snake, you should have taked it out as soon as your snake retreated to the corner, not left it in to see what happens. i hope you have beter luck in the future.

mykee · 06-16-04, 04:40 PM

Quote:

"That stupid rat kept creeping up to him and biting him!!!"

KEPT. Continued to. That means more than once. Say what you mean.

Quote:

"He would curl up in the corner and flinch when the rat neared him."

Sorry, but common sense would hopefully dictate that it is human nature that when something cowers in a corner and fliches, it means that it is scared. No?

Quote:

"This is my first snake but I did a LOT of research before and after I got him..."

This is commendable, but if you read as much as you say, you would know that pet store snakes for the most part are imported (wild caught) and shipped here from Africa. These snakes are notorious for being terrible eaters, and it seems you have one. Research, aside from finding out what temps to keep a snake at and all that hooplah, also means researching the actual snake you're interested in, and it's lineage. Maybe a ball python is not the snake for you?

mykee · 06-16-04, 04:42 PM

As I responded in a different thread started by you to this same question; if you're going to feed live, you feed restrained. Not free-range. There are some circumstances where feeding live is an alternative or an only option. I personally feed many of my balls live, BUT I do it responsibly. I have fed over 600 live rats to my balls over the years, and not ONCE have I have any incident.

knoerr3232 · 06-16-04, 05:25 PM

The rat was nippy but, I got him out of there quick, fortunately there is not a mark on my bp. Like I said, it was my first attempt with a rat and as much reading as one can do, a lot of knowledge is through experience. I didnt restrain the rat but I NEVER once walked away from the cage. This all happened within 3-4 minutes.....Although I cant remember who told me mice are more apt to do more damage, it was someone from this site. Thank you Nicky and Smeagel for the advice and support...its nicer to get constructive criticism rather than be insulted and made to feel like an ***.

Artemis · 06-16-04, 05:54 PM

grrrr. you really get to me.. maybe if yo wouldnt act like an *** then people wouldnt treat you like one.

Did I hear correctly that the snake actually STRUCK the rats, and you plan to take the rat BACK? Its not the RATS fault that all this happened, so perhaps you might want to mention the rat has a few FANG HOLES in him when you take him back to the LPS.

If i was the rat, I might be a bit "cranky" too if i got thwacked by the BP's teeth.

Pespective, kiddo.... your still in dire need of it.

Artemis

knoerr3232 · 06-16-04, 06:32 PM

My bp doesnt have fangs, does yours? AND the rat is fine AND I was totally honest with the pet store. I appologize for posting this thread, I didnt do it to get attacked nor to argue. I loved this site to ask questions and learn and up until now, I THOUGHT the people were nice here up until now...apparently your right, Artemis...I am the ***...And that, I wont argue.

mykee · 06-16-04, 07:11 PM

(*** Standing ovation for Artemis ***). Advice was given; if you're going to feed live, you RESTRAIN THE FOOD ITEM. If you choose not to listen, put your ball in danger, and then stage a hissy fit, in my opinion, you're on your own, and I truly feel sorry for your ball python.

sapphire_moon · 06-16-04, 07:21 PM

BP's can go a year or MORE without eating. It's just who gives in first that looses (you gave in, you lose)

Mice (in my mind) are WAY more mean than rats. I have had ONE rat that was just plain mean.

ALL my mice like to charge me when I get into the cage. They bite and climb up their tails during transfers to attempt to bite.

Try feeding a SMALLER live rat, not mouse, it is worth it if you do it right.

(***agrees with Artemis as well***)

And yes, my snake has fangs (teeth) I sure as hell hope yours does.

Freakonaleash · 06-16-04, 11:56 PM

ok knoerr, now im not one of these mid 30's single herpetologists sitting in they're apartments with temperature controlled rubbermaids and a freezer full of dead rodents, fondling themselves to "Anaconda" so this is by no means expert advice, but i will give you some advice of mine that has so far worked wonderfully. feed your ball python gerbils, they are very closely related to gerboas which are the ball pythons natural prey. a lot of people on the site yelled at me for not taking theyre advice as far as feeding goes, but hey, the whole fresh killed gerbil thing is working so why the hell not? just go to your pet store or something once a week, find the biggest fattest gerbil you can find, and buy it. I, just about 2 hours ago, successfully fed my ball python for the second time in a row. The first time i tried feeding him, i was ignorant, and tried feeding him the day i got him, two weeks later, i offered him a fresh killed gerbil, he ate it, one week later (tonight) i offered him a fresh killed gerbil, he ate it. it is true that the gerbils arent a real huge meal for a ball python, especially when they get older, as i could see absolutely NO bulge in his body from the rodent, which is why next week im going to try to feed him two gerbils. now i think the fastest , most painless way to kill a rodent, is to put it in a plastic bag, and maybe even put that bag inside another bag. Take it outside... start swinging it around... real fast... and then slam it down on the concrete. boom, your snakes meal is ready. i have yet to hear a single noise from a gerbil after impact... so this makes me think its the most humane way to kill your rodents. forget all that crazy co2 crap. some say this is messy... well i noticed maybe a little blood coming out the gerbils ear... but damn... i slammed it on the conrete at 50 mph so what can you expect... some people go so far as to split the rodents head open before feeding it to theyre snakes... this is what i call sadistic.
anyways... dont leave the site... these forums are an absolute treasure trove of information. i would be completely lost without the help ive received along the way. you may have to put up with some know-it-all's along the way... but you have to remember... thats why they are here... to help people like you and i who dont know it all =). you just gotta learn to take the good with the bad.
TRY GERBILS

balakoth · 06-17-04, 12:17 AM

Some of these peoples responses are rediculous. Funny how a few of you managed to give constructive advice without attacking.. I applaud those.

I feed live, nor have I ever understood the "Rubbermade" phenom or the margarin tubs, cereal box hides and papertowel substrates...

I have tried F/T, I have tried Pre Killed. Im slowly working my BP towards a prekilled Rat.. If i hit the rat to hard, he seisures and dies, the BP proceeds to look at me and wait for her meal crawling all over the now dead rat

If you are unsuccesful (After SEVERAL attempts) to feed F/T or PreKilled, at least give the rat a nice smack against the wall. It's not wether or not a Mice or a Rat is more aggressive, it is nature, the act of defense and an animal instinct. In short give your snake the upper hand in some way.

To follow up Freakonaleashes advice... im sorry but that is some pretty poor advice. Gerbils and Hamsters are some of the most bite prone rodents as many will tell you who keep them as pets... Secondly the amount of fur these animals have calls for a high risk of impact. Same for chicks and other "treat" food items. Stick to rats and save yourself a load of trouble in the future.

Mykee, Remind me to jump down your throat and call you a 12 year old in a bubble when you dont explain EXACTLY what you ment in your post.

Get real man and get out of YOUR bubble.

balakoth · 06-17-04, 12:22 AM

Gah have to add one more thing..

"This is commendable, but if you read as much as you say, you would know that pet store snakes for the most part are imported (wild caught) and shipped here from Africa."

Ahhh yes.. the internet forums, a great source for DEFINITIVE non bias information..