Hatchling Non-Eaters

[Rije682]

I bought a trio of hatchlings a few weeks ago. According to the breeder they had all fed at least three times on pinkies. Since I bought them, two have refused to eat. The third has moved on to larger weaned ASF’s. I am running out of ideas with the two problem feeders…I’ve tried moving them to smaller tubs, covering their tubs, and leaving the pinkies in over-night. Each has their own tub and the temps are at a constant 90°, and I’m thinking force feeding is the next step. I've watched them a couple times when the pinkies are in the tubs with them and anytime the pinky touches the snakes they kinda flick their body to push the rodent away. I’m just worried because they are so small to begin with I don’t like them missing meals. Any ideas from anyone about what I can do to get them to eat?

[joepythons]

I bought a trio of hatchlings a few weeks ago. According to the breeder they had all fed at least three times on pinkies. Since I bought them, two have refused to eat. The third has moved on to larger weaned ASF’s. I am running out of ideas with the two problem feeders…I’ve tried moving them to smaller tubs, covering their tubs, and leaving the pinkies in over-night. Each has their own tub and the temps are at a constant 90°, and I’m thinking force feeding is the next step. I've watched them a couple times when the pinkies are in the tubs with them and anytime the pinky touches the snakes they kinda flick their body to push the rodent away. I’m just worried because they are so small to begin with I don’t like them missing meals. Any ideas from anyone about what I can do to get them to eat?

Are you feeding them the exact thing the breeder was feeding them? If not thats the problem.You are also not giving them time to get stress free.To many feeding attempts or moving from tub to tub will make them stressed out

[J.Vandegrift]

Try a live hopper mouse at night. Stick it in the tub and come back in half an hour. I bet it will be gone.

[MPenn]

What kind of pinks are you feeding them? Rats or mice?
Also what was the breeder feeding them?

[WingedWolfPsion]

Pinks are really on the small side. I would go with small fuzzy rats.

Do not remove their hide--leave them under it, and disturb them as little as possible. If they don't have a hide, that's the problem.

Put the fuzzy in at night, at least a half hour after lights out, and leave it there for at least 3 hours (or overnight).
Wait 3 days between attempts.
If they were all eating pinky rats, then they will eat pinky/fuzzy rats for you--do not try anything else at this point. Balls don't care for switching food items most of the time.

If that doesn't work in a week, fill the bin with crumpled paper, wait 2 days, and try again the same way.

If that doesn't work, come back and complain to us, and we'll have more suggestions.

[davidnizmo]

yea u gotta quit moving them around thats the first problem and go with what the breeder was feeding good luck

[don15681]

pinky mice, the hatchling sometimes won't see this as food. too small, I had hatchling that wouldn't feed and I up the size a little and bam.

also you don't want to force feed, assist feeding works well in most cases. but give the hatchlings a chance on their own first. I wait 30 days after the first shed on a hatchling that weighs 55 grams or greater. and I had them eat on day 30 by themselves. so give them some time don't panic, assist feeding is also stressful on them, use it only when needed.

[Rije682]

Ok, taking your suggestions into consideration, I need to keep the snake in their same tube, leave the hide in, and feed the same thing as the breeder was feeding them. I breed ASF’s, but because the breeder told me he used mice pinks I’ll go out and buy some and try to use those. Thanks, I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

[Wildman09]

I had the same problem when I brought my hatchling home, tried pinkys...Nothing...Small mice, from Strike, to Swallowed..less then 5 minutes....

Give it a shot..Hope that helps.

[J.Vandegrift]

Ok, taking your suggestions into consideration, I need to keep the snake in their same tube, leave the hide in, and feed the same thing as the breeder was feeding them. I breed ASF’s, but because the breeder told me he used mice pinks I’ll go out and buy some and try to use those. Thanks, I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

There is absolutely no reason to ever feed a ball python a pinky mouse. Just buy some mouse hoppers. They can eat those easily right out of the egg. I usualy start mine on small adult mice or rat fuzzies.