RCReptiles.com

[dbvol26]

Our 8 month old ball has eaten consistently each week and has shed 2 times since we have had him ( 6 months). Last night, he struck the frozen/thawed mouse, wrapped him up and we figured all is well. But this morning, the mouse was still in the aquarium! Just wondering what may have caused this. I removed the mouse and have not given him another. Nothing has changed including size of the mouse or anything. He is about to shed but since he came right out and struck as usual i figured it the upcoming shed had nothing to do with it.

[RonCrawford]

I've had several bp's strike, constrict and leave it there. Why? I have no idea.

Try offering a food item to your snake after it comes out of shed. I usually don't offer food when they are in shed. Some will eat but the majority don't.

I've got a theory about why they sometimes strike, coil and don't eat but I'm still working on gathering data to try to prove it out.

[deborahbroadus]

[lindsey_marshall00]

Would changing the food item change this problem? Like trying gerbiles or other small prey? I know I would get rather tired of eating mice every meal.

[Radical]

Snakes aren't very bright though, the food they eat is usually smarter than the snake.

Maybe the snake wants a smaller prey, or maybe it just wasn't hungry at that time and was just doing what it's natural instincts told it to.

[lindsey_marshall00]

Fang has only killed one and did not eat. I then went the next day and bought a small rat kinda thing and he ate it all.. By the way if the prey that a snake eats is smarter than the snake, why does it get eaten?

[Radical]

[lindsey_marshall00]

That is from not paying attention, not from being stupider (not sure if that is a word-well it is for today). No not physically dom. just full till their next meal.

[Radical]

I'm not exactly sure about what you were trying to say there.

But if you were being chased down by a hungry cougar, I doubt that paying attention would save you from the inevitable.

[slitheringin]

[lindsey_marshall00]

no but paying attention before hand might have kept you from being chased be a hungry cougar.. ex. would you go fishing without a pole??

[slitheringin]

Sorrry, Radical, that was cougar, not bear.

[Radical]

Well the original question was if the prey is smarter, why does it get eaten?

Simply put, the prey is on the lower end of the food chain, even if it is smarter.

The only reason we're on the top of the food chain is because our intelligence has allowed us to overcome predators with weaponry, but if we were a head on battle with say a bear or a cougar, chances are you're going to get killed or severely mauled.

[deborahbroadus]