HI all, Im new to snakes and have had this nearly 2yr old Stimpson python since May. Don't know whether male or female. It was eating fine initially, the first 2 months, taking mouse and eating straight away. Now it takes the mouse eventually but will hold it for a very long time before eating. Is this normal for this time of year? Its making me wonder whether or not we are preparing the food right for it or not. At first, we had the fireplace going so the mice were thawed near fireplace, that was working well, not thawing too quickly and they were being taken. Since the fire has been put to rest for the year, is when our problems started, as it wasn't really warm and the nights were still quite cool. I am thinking the snake feels as though winter has just hit and is slowing down the food intake, but not totally sure.
I was placing the mouse in a sealed bag and placing this mouse in a bowl of warm water and thawing that way. Then I was told to place the mouse in a steel bowl and float it in another steel bowl filled with hot water, cover with another bowl and thaw that way, but I tried that last night but I think that method, the mouse thawed too quickly. The snake took it instantly though but took about 15 mins to start to eat it. I had let it cool first before giving it to the snake but maybe it was still a bit hot and that's why it wouldn't eat it..??? Im a bit lost as to why its not eating as well as it was when we first got it. Im thinking maybe I should just take mouse from freezer the night before Im going to feed to thaw in fridge then take out an hour or so before feeding to allow it to get to room temp. Any suggestions>?
I was placing the mouse in a sealed bag and placing this mouse in a bowl of warm water and thawing that way. Then I was told to place the mouse in a steel bowl and float it in another steel bowl filled with hot water, cover with another bowl and thaw that way, but I tried that last night but I think that method, the mouse thawed too quickly. The snake took it instantly though but took about 15 mins to start to eat it. I had let it cool first before giving it to the snake but maybe it was still a bit hot and that's why it wouldn't eat it..??? Im a bit lost as to why its not eating as well as it was when we first got it. Im thinking maybe I should just take mouse from freezer the night before Im going to feed to thaw in fridge then take out an hour or so before feeding to allow it to get to room temp. Any suggestions>?