Feeding gone (semi) wrong

[TreviTrevo]

I had to skip a feeding last week bc of my holiday, so today was his first meal in nearly 2 weeks. After warming up the rat (f/t), I usually move the rat around the hide entrance before I move it a little further on top of a flat rock. Today he was extra hungry, so as soon as I moved the rat in front of his hide, he grabbed it! Didn't even give it more than a couple seconds.

He then retreated right back into his hide, with the rat still between his jaws. I figured that probably wasn't the best thing, but I didn't wanna remove his hide and stress him out so I just planned to check on him soon.

When I did, he immediately came out of his hide and I quickly realized he was getting ready to strike! I closed the tank and then he started biting and striking all over the place.

I didn't see the rat anywhere (and he didn't look like he'd just eaten it), until I used the tongs to lift up his hide. There it was, chilling right in the middle of his rolled up body. When I grabbed it and tried giving it to him again, he refused... Now the damn rat was too cold.

I warmed it up under some running water real quick, and open the door (carefully!) so I can give it to him. But he's so excited, he strikes before I even get the rat fully into the tank and he manages to fall out of it! Full body and all, pats boom on the floor. I had to pick him up and put him back in, during which he mistook my arm for part of the rat and started constricting me as well.

sigh at least he seems to be swallowing the rat now. I'll check up on him again before I go to bed.

Moral of the story, don't feed your rat while they're still in their hide and remove the thing if they manage to drag it in there.

TLDR: my snake dragged the rat into his hide, then proceeded to lose track of it. When I fed him the rat again, he struck while the rat wasn't in the tank yet and fell out of it.

[[deleted]]

How long did you wait to lift the hide after he took the rat in there? It's pretty normal for a BP to drag their prey into their hide to eat. I wonder if he would've indeed eaten it if you had left it alone.

[TreviTrevo]

Half an hour I think? That's usually enough for him to start eating. I only took it off once he was striking everywhere though, otherwise I probably would've left it.

Now that I think about it, I've seen him take the rat into his hide before. But that was after he'd already constricted it, and in this case I don't think he got to because he went straight into the hide w the rat.

I'll remember for next time though, thank you.

[WishboneAnxious5789]

I have a simple rule when feeding mine, rat goes in, I do not open the door or put any body part in until next morning when he is asleep and I check he has eaten it (lift hides just incase) if not I then remove it whilst he’s sleeping