Finicky or unsatisfied after eating. Hogg x RTB.

DCsharkz · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2010, 02:44 AM

I'm feeding him once a week, and he seems unsatisfied with his meals. If this is normal, then I'd like to know how to go about it.

Basically what he does, is once he's done he starts snapping in position to where my hand is. He seems to be ready for more. Should I just pick him up anyway and take the bite so he gets used to me? Or once I put my hand in and grab him as soon as he smells me is he going to relax? I know he's done that before. Like I gave him a couple days after he ate to handle him last week, and when i reached in to grab him, he seemed ready to chow down on me, but i just picked him up anyway and he chilled out.

Should I leave him in the box for like say 10 - 15 minutes to give him time to calm down and realize nothing else is food?

What do I do?

Sakara · #2 (**permalink**) 08-21-2010, 03:54 AM

you shouldn't be handling him at all after he eats... I feed all mine in cage with absolutely no problems... being a BCI, he should be eating a meal that leaves a slight bump after he's done... Maybe he's ready for a step up? pics after he's done?

HERPHAPPY · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sakara

you shouldn't be handling him at all after he eats.......

I'd agree....most snakes (esp. large boids) stay in feeding mode for some time after eating, just asking for trouble to handle, plus they need to chill out
and digest in peace so as not to regurge...

Now honestly I have ratsnakes that I can hold (cuddle!) after they eat, with no bites or regurges....but I wouldn't try that with my bci! (she's been hoping for a "hand out" for years, LOL!!!)

tucuxi88 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-22-2010, 03:39 AM

Some of mine are almost always in food mode. As soon as I touch them though they know what I'm up to. I would never mess with them the day of or a couple days afterwards though. O_o

It's just a snake thing.

spix14 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-22-2010, 07:40 AM

That's what we affectionately refer to as "feed mode". My retic will stay that way for a good 72 hours after eating. It's perfectly normal. You do, however, need to leave him alone for a couple of days after feeding regardless of whether he is still in food mode or not to give time for digestion. I don't even feed my guys in separate containers for this reason. Some do and some don't, and I see it tossed around a lot as advice for newbies to snake keeping, but in 7 years of keeping snakes (dear lord, it's been 7 years already!) I've never gotten a bite from feeding in cage. Been bitten from other things but that's par for the course.

The way I usually judge if one of my snakes needs to be bumped up a size is if they start cruising their cage a couple of days after eating. If mine are full and content, they're usually lazy bumps for a good week after eating. If the food is too small, they'll start cruising the cage a day or two after eating. If Riley is still hungry he'll shove everything around in his cage and generally be a nuisance until I feed him again.

Aquarius · #6 (**permalink**) 08-22-2010, 08:07 PM

I always pet my snakes before I pick them up as sort of a warning that it's a human in the cage. I've stopped feeding in a tote, but while I was this seemed to stop me from being bitten. I wasn't sure if my petting thing was making a difference but after hearing all of these bite horror stories maybe it was(there was also that time my boy hissed at me when I forgot to give him the warning pet).

Mine is just your average columbian red tail though, sounds like that can make a difference.

DCsharkz · #7 (**permalink**) 08-25-2010, 11:37 PM

I fed him on Thursday. I picked him up last night, I thought he was going to bite me, because he was moving so quickly, and snapping to where my hand was going. I finally just picked him up and he calmed down a lot.

HERPHAPPY · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 04:46 AM

Snakes are usually thinking food when something approaches (or are uncomfortable being approached)...whatever means you let them know you are not dinner is IMO a great idea! Many snakes recognize your touch, and scent also works for many* (I blow air across my hand in the direction of their face); scent recognition is alot less effective though for snakes whose lifestyle is in/around water...at least that has been my experience (and for them 'touch' was the way to go!) I think it's that they have to find their prey even if it's wet, so they rely less on how it smells.

sFlsniper · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 04:18 AM

like the others said about feeding and I have always used a hook, or similar when I want to pick him up. I touch him with the hook and he knows it's me. It really helps a lot when you go to pick him up from their cage so you don't get tagged! good luck!

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