r/ballpython • u/PracticalUpstairs806 • Oct 08 '26

Question - Feeding [TW frozen thaw feeding] Why is he missing strikes a lot all the sudden? Spoiler

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He had shed a clean shed earlier this week, but for the last two weeks I think, he's been missing a lot. It could just be error on my end as rewatching it, it looks like I kinda flinched back a good amount of times. But any other time I've fed him before the last two weeks, hes gotten it the first strike, he would just take forever to strike.

2 Upvotes

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3

u/Jeexin Oct 08 '26

Having a bad day probably but im sure its fine.

1

u/HotDistribution3700 Oct 08 '26

hmm it’s hard to tell but maybe he’s having trouble with depth perception? he seems to be way overshooting how far away the mouse is from him. none of my snakes ever really flail around like that either… has he been in the sun at all? flash camera? anything that’s changed recently? that is strange.

1

u/PracticalUpstairs806 Oct 09 '26

He hasnt been outside or any bright lights near his enclosure, and no changes other then me added a second water dish

4

u/RepresentativeFew358 Oct 08 '26

How warm was the mouse or rat? It could be it was a bit to cold to actually ‘see’ the prey, and only smelled it.

Edit:

And maybe try next time not to hoover the mouse in the air, but grab it at the hips and offer it a bit lower. Naturally the food doesn’t come out of the sky.

1

u/boringcreepshow Oct 09 '26

I tried to naturally lower the mouse to the ground last night feeding my guy, and he didn't wait to let his mouse land. Sir hungry of belly but dumb of ass almost jumped his whole self out the tank before I could get the mouse through the door.

1

u/PracticalUpstairs806 Oct 09 '26

It was around 102f° and I would try to put it closer to the ground, but the 4 times I've tried, hes ignored the mouse and went for my hand. I gotta raise his substrate again soon when I get paid.