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Fixed one grammatical issue.

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edited Oct 15, 2018 at 16:30

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Update

Over a year later the python has now been feeding consistently for 6 months or more. I can't be sure why they weren't eating to begin with but we made a few changes to the feeding routine;

We place the python in a deep, lidded box half an hour before feeding time, allowing the snake to settle.
Once the rat is defrosted we use feeding tongs to slip the rat in to the box, being careful to avoid being seen by itthe snake.
Wiggle it around a little and once the python has struck, hold on to the rat for a second to ensure the strike was successful.
We then leave the area and after about 20 minutes return the python to it's viv, careful not to be seen as threatening again.

We believe that there may have been a few factors involved;

The python has always been easily threatened and paid a lot of attention to whoever was offering the rat rather than the rat itself so we tried to get out of view.
We also believe that smells inside the viv were playing a part as the python usually ate shortly after cleaning out the viv but hesitated after more than a few days, hence the different container.
We've also noted that it almost never eats a completely dark rat but will eat light coloured or patchy rats.

Update

Over a year later the python has now been feeding consistently for 6 months or more. I can't be sure why they weren't eating to begin with but we made a few changes to the feeding routine;

We place the python in a deep, lidded box half an hour before feeding time, allowing the snake to settle.
Once the rat is defrosted we use feeding tongs to slip the rat in to the box, being careful to avoid being seen by it.
Wiggle it around a little and once the python has struck hold on to the rat for a second to ensure the strike was successful.
We then leave the area and after about 20 minutes return the python to it's viv, careful not to be seen as threatening again.

We believe that there may have been a few factors involved;

The python has always been easily threatened and paid a lot of attention to whoever was offering the rat rather than the rat itself so we tried to get out of view.
We also believe that smells inside the viv were playing a part as the python usually ate shortly after cleaning out the viv but hesitated after more than a few days, hence the different container.
We've also noted that it almost never eats a completely dark rat but will eat light coloured or patchy rats.

Update

Over a year later the python has now been feeding consistently for 6 months or more. I can't be sure why they weren't eating to begin with but we made a few changes to the feeding routine;

We place the python in a deep, lidded box half an hour before feeding time, allowing the snake to settle.
Once the rat is defrosted we use feeding tongs to slip the rat in to the box, being careful to avoid being seen by the snake.
Wiggle it around a little and once the python has struck, hold on to the rat for a second to ensure the strike was successful.
We then leave the area and after about 20 minutes return the python to it's viv, careful not to be seen as threatening again.

We believe that there may have been a few factors involved;

The python has always been easily threatened and paid a lot of attention to whoever was offering the rat rather than the rat itself so we tried to get out of view.
We also believe that smells inside the viv were playing a part as the python usually ate shortly after cleaning out the viv but hesitated after more than a few days, hence the different container.
We've also noted that it almost never eats a completely dark rat but will eat light coloured or patchy rats.

Source Link

created May 2, 2017 at 12:10

R Day

Update

Over a year later the python has now been feeding consistently for 6 months or more. I can't be sure why they weren't eating to begin with but we made a few changes to the feeding routine;

We place the python in a deep, lidded box half an hour before feeding time, allowing the snake to settle.
Once the rat is defrosted we use feeding tongs to slip the rat in to the box, being careful to avoid being seen by it.
Wiggle it around a little and once the python has struck hold on to the rat for a second to ensure the strike was successful.
We then leave the area and after about 20 minutes return the python to it's viv, careful not to be seen as threatening again.

We believe that there may have been a few factors involved;

The python has always been easily threatened and paid a lot of attention to whoever was offering the rat rather than the rat itself so we tried to get out of view.
We also believe that smells inside the viv were playing a part as the python usually ate shortly after cleaning out the viv but hesitated after more than a few days, hence the different container.
We've also noted that it almost never eats a completely dark rat but will eat light coloured or patchy rats.