A little confused about my BRB\'s feeding last night....

[coferj]

Last night I tried to feed my brb, and it seemed like it was going to be a regular type feeding. I put him in his box, went to get the rat, dangled it in front of him...he hit at it, but it almost seemed like he just couldn't hook up...so I picked it back up, and went back after him. Needless to say, for about five minutes he just kept striking at the rat like, out of defense! He was acting like the rat was a predator that was going to harm him. Anyone seen anything like this? Normally he's a ferocious feeder, but this wasn't like him at all. TIA
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[StaticKaos]

I'm not sure about this.. Sounds very weird to me but is your snake in a shed by any chance? my only guess at this problem is that he cannot see at the moment, sensed the food source an was in a blind feeding mode..

PS: Do you have any relatives in North Carolina? My bestfriend's last name is Cofer, might be some relationship to him you never even knew about huh?
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[Bry]

Yeah Cofer, I've seen it happen. Usually it's when they're going through their shed cycle. Sometimes they go ahead and take it, sometimes they don't take it at all. Just see if he goes in blue in a few days, he should eat for you afterwards.

Bry
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[Snake18]

Are you feeding frozen thawed. My boa does that when its food is not warm enough. Make sure it is thawed out all the way and if it is and it needs a little more warmth blow dry it for a few seconds.

[Shadrach]

Hum??? Snake18 That seem's weird in it's self that your Boa would need to have it's food warmed with the hairdryer seeing they don't have heat pit's like python's to detect food??? Never heard of this before???
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[StaticKaos]

Well how do boa's sence there for Shadrach? They have good vision, good smell or what? I believe all snakes have pretty bad sight so i think heating it with a hair drier would be good on any occasion.. it would make it give off more of a scent and be warmer ya know? im not aruging with ya on this 1, juss wondering..
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[Karen]

You're probably not going to find an exact reason. It's an animal and animals do strange things. haha There are many reasons this can happen. I really wouldnt give it any thought or worry unless it keeps happening.
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[Snake18]

Shadrach I am aware that boas do not have heat sensing pits. I dont know why he likes em warm but he does. He wont eat it if it is room temp.
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[coferj]

Well, I'll keep out the eye for the shed. I noticed his belly had turned pink, but he's fed while he was blue before. Just surprised me b/c there's never been a time that I've offered food that he's not taken it...oh, well...Thanks as usual, all!
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[Bettina]

Even though boas don't have heat pits they do have heat sensitive tissue on their snouts. Lack of pit structures reduces the accuracy of the tissue but they can still sense heat.

[faze]

Originally Posted by Shadrach

Hum??? Snake18 That seem's weird in it's self that your Boa would need to have it's food warmed with the hairdryer seeing they don't have heat pit's like python's to detect food??? Never heard of this before???
[addsig]

Hey shad would YOU wanna eat a still cold tv dinner?

[TrowaIkari]

My ball python does that when he's not hungry...He'll attack it and sometimes even constrict it, then he drops it and slithers away. He was feed live for 3 years, so I think he may see the ft rat as a threat and 'kills' it because it's in his personal space. It's an annoying habit though...I hate wasting rats

[SnakeBabe]

I have had that reaction. Something may have made him feel scared or uncomfortable. I try a few hours later and usually all is well.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria