Proud of my Ball

[homegrown terror]

i wonder if i could invent a machine that attaches to the side of a terrarium and will keep a mouse or rat corpse wiggling until the snake decides to eat it. maybe a rotary motor like a desk fan, attached to a semi-slacked cord that would jerk the food back and forth.

[ChoclateBetta]

Snakes see in body heat.

[homegrown terror]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

Snakes see in body heat.

i've not done a lot of reading on snakes for the last ten years or so, but if i remember correctly they use their heat sense to locate prey at a distance, then when preparing to strike, they primarily guide themselves by vision.

[ChoclateBetta]

Really?

[homegrown terror]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

Really?

yeah. it's best because the light used by their eyes travels faster than heat, and snakes are fully capable of striking fast enough that the difference between the two is actually noticeable to them.

[ChoclateBetta]

Do you think shaking the food will interest them? I think keeping it warm would interest them more?

[Olympia]

My snake will not strike a moving target that isn't warm. I have about 2 minutes of prime time before I have to reheat.
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[ChoclateBetta]

So they only attack warm food?

[Olympia]

Yea, well as far as I know the pythons do. If you look up a picture of one, those little holes along the mouth are the heat pits, which let them see warmth.

[SpookyTooth]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

So they only attack warm food?

Bit like me in that case

Congratulations, mplsmommy! It must be a lot easier for you now, I hope the trend continues. I've never owned a snake but I find them utterly fascinating.