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Snake not striking to eat?

carmond

carmond

New member
My hatchling initially when i first got it loved to strike at its prey (doest matter if it was f/t or live). After its first shed, it just totally lost its behaviour to strike at prey. Now it just hides and runs from the prey. After hours it comes out to eat the prey without me knowing. I was wondering if there are any methods of getting a snake to start striking at prey again. Its just not the same if it doesnt strike :(
I stopped feeding it for a week and a half and it still refuses to strike BUT still ate it. It has only missed two meals during its first shed. if anyone has any suggestions, it would be great thanks :)
 
If you want him to strike, dangle the mouse with tongs a little to simulate live movement, but if he's eating, it doesn't really matter if he strikes or not...
 
JasonGranger said:
but if he's eating, it doesn't really matter if he strikes or not...
Click to expand...
Good Point!:cheers:

The goal is to get him to eat, but that said, I love when my snakes grab and constrict, too. I have a male that always grabs and constricts........that is until the last 2 meals which happen to be right after a shed. Now he smells it when I dangle it over his head and turns away. I've left it and he's eaten both times about 15 minutes later. I don't know if it's influenced by his shedding or weather change or what, but at least he's eating. I'll continue to dangle the mouse over his head though.:grin01:
 
I'm a fan of not messing with what works. If your snake is feeding within 15 minutes of being offered food, I would not change my routine for fear of putting him off his food. Some snakes that are accustomed to eating f/t or previously killed food will be frightened by prey that moves.

I have one snake that hangs out in the artificial plant in his viv and will wait till I've placed his f/t mousie on a plate below the plant. Once I've withdrawn to a discreet distance he will hang by his tail, snatch up the mouse, pull it up into the plant, and consume the mouse in his elevated dining room. It's terribly entertaining, but I am just happy he's eating. During his last shed he took a three week break from eating.
 
my Terra use to strike at her pinky but she doesn't anymore she just goes up to it and starts eating....which i don't mind that she doesn't stirke anymore because i'd rather have a snake that eats everytime its offered food save shedding time cause none of mine eat during their shed period. Striking at prey shouldn't be a concern whats important is that the snake eats when offered.
 
thanks for your input :)
yes she has eaten almost everytime i've tried to feed except when she was going through shed. And I do agree with you guys that it doesnt really matter because she is still eating fine. I just found it more entertaining during feed if she struck at her prey when i dangled it infront of her. But it seems like thats quite common for everyone else. So I guess I wont try to get her to strike but I'll continue to dangle the f/t's infront of her in hopes of a strike anyways. :crazy02:
I figure it is from her personality, she seems really shy and likes to hide alot. i rarely see her do anything but most of the time i catch her hanging out on this branch in my viv :grin01:
 
I have a couple of two year olds, and one strikes and constricts like there's no tomorrow. The other one never strikes or constricts, and never has. They both get f/t mice.

Incidentally, the one who strikes now used to not do it either. Then after breeding season this past spring, he became my most voracious, not to mention vicious, eater.
 
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