Not Eating

[OgleRpets]

Okay, I am babysitting a 7-8 week old ball python. The owners bought him on Halloween and were told he was 2 weeks old. They fed him a f/t mouse fuzzy soon after bringing him home and he hasn't eaten since. He is 56 grams and 15 inches long. I brought him home last night and will attempt to feed him an african soft fur rat on Saturday so he has a little time to settle into his new cage. Since he hasn't been eating I can't decide whether to try feeding him in his cage or out of his cage. I'm pretty sure he has not shed since his owners have had him. They told me he is pooping and drinking just fine. I did observe him drinking last night. Here is a picture of the little guy. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on convincing him he wants to eat. Thanks!

[piper]

Okay, I am babysitting a 7-8 week old ball python. The owners bought him on Halloween and were told he was 2 weeks old. They fed him a f/t mouse fuzzy soon after bringing him home and he hasn't eaten since. He is 56 grams and 15 inches long. I brought him home last night and will attempt to feed him an african soft fur rat on Saturday so he has a little time to settle into his new cage. Since he hasn't been eating I can't decide whether to try feeding him in his cage or out of his cage. I'm pretty sure he has not shed since his owners have had him. They told me he is pooping and drinking just fine. I did observe him drinking last night. Here is a picture of the little guy. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on convincing him he wants to eat. Thanks!

If you are "babysitting" this little one, I wouldn't suggest changing to ASF's unless the owners want to feed ASF's. If he has already eaten a mouse, let him settle in for a few days or so with you, let him get comfortable, minimal handling so you don't stress him out. He's very young so he will get stressed out easily.

Stick with the f/t mice, I thaw mine out with a ziploc bag and hot water, weigh it down with a butter nice or something and leave it for about 20 minutes, add more hot water for another 10 minutes or so and it should be nice and thawed out at that point. Also, try thawing the rodent out near the snake as the snake will get the scent of the rodent and allow him to go into feeding mode, grab some tongs and just kind of move it around a bit to make it look "alive" technically speaking, keep it about 3 inches away from his face and let him come to the rodent.

Trust me patience will be needed with ball pythons!

Cheers

[OgleRpets]

They said they didn't care what he ate as long as he ate. Luckily though, I do have some mice fuzzies in the freezer. I'm working on convincing all my snakes that they want to eat frozen thawed so far most of them are doing just fine except for my bps they only want live.

He seems to be having fun in his 10 gallon, he has been roaming around off and on and right now is on. He is climbing all over his cage.

Do you think an in cage or out of cage feeding would be best to try first?

[ballpythonluvr]

Cruising around the enclosure during the day time is a sign of stress. Ball pythons spend most of their time in hiding. Give him some time to settle in and no handling. I'm sure someone with more experience then myself will reply to this thread.

[OgleRpets]

I'm sure he is very stressed currently, with his move and everything. He has settled into his hide as of now. I know his owners are very worried about him.

[Bhikku]

I'd be worried too, that's a pretty little pinstripe. I'm sure it was expensive, lol...

[RichsBallPythons]

DO NOT FEED FROZEN. Hatchlings need to be fed live to establish a good feeding response.

[OgleRpets]

DO NOT FEED FROZEN. Hatchlings need to be fed live to establish a good feeding response.

That was something I was worried about. I have live asfs and live rat pinkies that I could use.

[ScubaDiver007]

I agree with Flame, I would pick up a small mice fuzzies, and put them it in with him.

With the move i bet, that this guy is stressed out at this point.

[Elise.m]

Make sure his tank is nice and cluttered up. If you don't have fake plants in there, try crumbled up newspaper.

I agree with the live feeding. I have a baby pinstripe as well, and he's thriving on live food. Leave him be for 5 days, then try the ASF in my opinion.