| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jayde |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 21:26:53
Ok. So.
Heques is on 1 x defrost Adult mouse every 7 days.
Strike feeds x 1.
So for the 5 times he hasn't strike fed he does this:
Shows immediate interested in the mouse, tongue flailing everywhere, coils back into a strike pose, hovers for a while, edges forward, tongue comes out, edges back, 'yawns' a couple of times, shakes a little as if going to strike.... nothing... will then come right up to the mouse with his tongue out, like he's like he's licking the bluddy thing as if it's an icecream, then turns away and has no interest.
He does this for 40 mins, by which point it's starting to push my buttons, so I leave it for him to take and then within half an hour, it's gone.
(although tonight it's still there)
When feeding him, I've found he prefers to feed with the light off, so I just have a lamp on in the room for my benefit.
I've done everything I can think of to entice him. Broken the nose, brain matter, teasing, even trying to mimic natural prey movement with the damned thing!!!!
I know royals can be notorious feeders, and I think persisting with him for 40 mins is fair game, but I don't want the feeding routine to sink into a habitat of him being left with food.
Is it normal for him to not want to strike? Am I doing something wrong? Is it a time thing?
Share your knowledge guys!!!
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| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| blackskull |
Posted - 24/06/2011 : 14:04:53
as others have said the main thing is that he is eating
in the 7yrs i have had my adult male he has never struck at the rat/mouse and sometimes will only eat in the middle of the night. my pastel female struck the first 3 feeds with and now she won't eat til i leave the room sometimes she will strike when i put the rat in but misses lol. even the royal i used to have never struck so when i saw the pastel strike it was very nice as never seen a royal strike b4. the only one of mine who strike feeds is the jcp and she does this every time without fail
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| reptilemadd |
Posted - 24/06/2011 : 10:02:12
I can't add any great insights to a pythons behaviour I'm affraid but like all the others have said while he is feeding don't stress cause of all the things these lovely little snakes like to make us worry about feeding but not striking shouldn't be one of them  |
| cumbrian eejit |
Posted - 24/06/2011 : 08:55:50
Like everyone else is saying, the main thing is that he is feeding. Don't worry, royals in the wild are oppertunistic feeders and can be known to feed on prey that has already died, without having to strike it. |
| jhk2005 |
Posted - 24/06/2011 : 08:16:17
Hi Jayde, I hope this puts your mind at rest but I have one that changes his habits like the wind.
So far in the past 18mths he's strike fed, eaten in a dark bag, left overnight and been assisted/forcefed on 3 occassions. Fussy is not the word, and he's now feeding regularly if I leave the rat overnight and do not disturb him. I've also had 3 new additions recently that were bought as 'strike feeders', but 2 prefer overnight feeding, whereas 1 will still strike feed.
The main thing to take heart from is that your little lovely is feeding and to keep him feeding. He may well decide that he fancies a strike feed at some point and then go back to overnight feeding ; the joys of keeping royals eh?? lol  |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 24/06/2011 : 00:11:30
Royal Python's are to use the overused term, 'fussy feeders' and if they eat then its a result the only bad feed is a feed where the rat ends up in the bin. It may be that with the move (possibly a change of housing, though not sure you didn't say whats changed other than you been the new owner) that your snake just doesn't quite feel as confident right now to give you the full display, this could also exlplain the first feed been a strike and since then his confidence has dwindled. Give it some time Royals are stressy little buggers and even small changes can knock them off their normal behaviour so a complete change of ownership for them is a massive change, all new smells, sounds (in the form of vibrations) even things such as the lighting in the room may be a different colour to the light the previous owner used, all little things that all add up to sensory overload for poor snakey. |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 22:02:06
He changed his mind. It's a snake's privilege lol.
No, seriously, they do. Last summer I got Shahi accustomed to a feeding rub. Then came the Big Fast. Will he feed in a rub now? No. But if I haul him out of his hide and point him in the direction of his climbing branch he's ready for his grub. So that's what we do.
Just do what Heque wants - I know he's training you, but again that's a snake's privilege - us royal slaves just have to do what they want lol. |
| Jayde |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 21:54:18
He's only started doing it since being with me. The guy he came to me from said he strike fed 99% of the time with him, the only few time he didn't was when he was in blue due a shed. And as far as I'm aware, he's not due a shed. |
| hodgie |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 21:48:43
quote:
Originally posted by Jayde
, but I don't want the feeding routine to sink into a habitat of him being left with food.
Why not? If thats the way he eats thats fine. |
| n/a |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 21:32:31
Aww - if he feeds, that's great and congrats!
Not all royals are strike feeders. I have one, my male, Shahi; the girls like the rat left in with them - I've actually never seen Surahi feed, honest, and I've had her about 8 months.
Whatever floats your royal's boat - that's cool!
ps - my snake rule:-
If the snake won't do
What you want it to do,
The thing to do,
IS,
What the snake wants to do!
LOL - the little gits have us where they want us eh?? |
| markmifsud |
Posted - 23/06/2011 : 21:30:04
I believe some royals dont bother to strike and just take a sneaky bite when they think your not looking. All mine strike feed so I am only saying what I have read / heard.
I think that as long as your snake is feeding, albeit in his own time, I wouldnt worry too much |
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