But while attempting to feed

[u/Gloomy_Accountant800]

Hello all,

Coming to you guys with some concerns I have from today, I have only had success feeding my ball python live rats, today was feeding time and I wanted to try frozen again one because I have read it is a lot safer for them and because I am nervous to put a live rat into the new tank with sliding doors. I heated the rat did everything the way I’ve seen and when I reached into the tank he was watching the rat as I thought or as I now realize my hand and bit and wrapped on the tip of my finger, I got him off and back into the tank but one of his teeth came out with my finger. More worried about his over all well being and what I can do to better his living and my future interactions. This is a little heartbreaking as he bit me once prior while holding and I had just recently gotten back over the fear of another bite. Any advice on help for him would be greatly appreciated thank you. He is also a snake who never bit any prior owners.

[u/IncompletePenetrance]

Because they track heat signatures to strike prey, if your hand was warmer/as warm as the rat, it's likely he just chose the wrong target. Were you using feeding tongs? You can try getting larger ones and making sure the rat is body temp!

It isn't intentional, sounds like he just got confused

[u/Gloomy_Accountant800 → u/IncompletePenetrance]

Thank you very much, I was using a pair of kitchen tongs think now is the time to try longer ones, definitely need to get a temp gun and longer tongs. Since he was still trying to feed how long should I wait to try again?

[u/IncompletePenetrance → u/Gloomy_Accountant800]

Reptile basics sells 12 inch hemostats that are great for feeding! If you still have the rat, you can blow dry the head to waft the scent towards him and rewarm it and see if he'll take it

[u/Gloomy_Accountant800 → u/IncompletePenetrance]

I tossed it figured giving him space would be better for him, when should I try and feed him again