How long should attempt to feed a Ball Python??

[Yaqcubper]

Today was my second attempt at feeding my Normal Caramel. (Last time I tried was Wednesday). After about 15-20 minutes of trying to feed her I wanted to stop (she kept flinching away from the mouse and trying to get out the feeding tank, or if I tried putting her in there again she would stay in a corner and not move as long as it was the furthest corner from the mouse), but my friend (who has a 1 yr old BP) said he wanted to try a few things first to try and get her to at least find some interest in it. We tried putting them nose to nose but she wanted to be no where near it (would move her head side to side like to get away). We didn't have any tuna so we tried putting some chicken broth on the mouse but that didn't peak her interest either. All these things went on for about an hour and even though my husband and friend wanted to keep trying I decided to call it quits because she was getting very flighty and agitated and seemed to want to be no where near the mouse.

It doesn't matter what size we have put in front of her (pinky, fuzzy, hopper [hopper is about the size she should be on]) She just slides away from them or flinches when it touches her.

I don't really know what to do at this point. I decided I'm going to try F/T this weekend coming up and thaw it near her so she can smell it and hopefully after not eating for 2 1/2 weeks she will be hungry and go into feeding mode. I want to save busting brains out and assisted feeding as a last resort. Here's to hoping it doesn't get to that point.

EDIT: I meant to say "How long should YOU attempt..."

[Vypyrz]

The first thing I would suggest is to not put her in a separate tank. Try feeding her in her enclosure. Moving her may be stressing her, and the security and familiararity of her enclosure may help.

If you are going to try F/T, and she doesn't come out after it, then just leave it laying about 2 inches in front of her hide, turn off the lights, leave her alone, and check on her in the morning.

If you are going to try feeding live prey again, do not leave her alone, or unsupervised. Usually, if they don't strike within about 3-5 minutes then they aren't going to.

A couple of other things that you can do is contact the person that you got her from and verify whether she was started on mice or rats.
Also, if you aren't using aspen substrate, try that. I honestly don't know why, but sometimes, that works. Good Luck.

[Riv]

Everything in the above post sounded like great ideas to me, but I did want to add one other thing. Granted ive only been feeding my little girl, so im not sure if this is her own little quirk or not. She acted very much like the way your ball is acting for the first three months we had her. We were attempting F/T in a feeding box, but she just acted scared of it and spent the entire time trying to escape her box either running away from or ignoring the mouse. Eventually we tried an act of desperation and set her on the basement floor(Which is carpeted) after making a circle with a blanket so she wouldnt run off and get lost and she took the mouse immediately. Like I said im not sure if it would work for yours or anyone elses, but its the only place my little pakul will feed XD. (I dont feed in the hide because I heard that they will associate your hand entering the enclosure as dinner time, and strike at you unintentionally)

One other thing ive heard from a friend of mine with a ball python. He also feeds frozen thawed and found that his snake wasnt taking the mouse because he was holding it too high. The snake only went for the mouse if it with within an inch from the snakes ground level.

Good luck! I hope he/she decides to eat soon. I know the frustration and worry of having them not eat for you and its awful

[Yaqcubper]

Thank you both very much for your suggestions !

She does have Aspen in her enclosure but when I tried putting the mouse in there for her to see if she'd take it that way she immediately got as far away from it as possible (I never took my yes off them). I was told today that I should try moving her to a smaller enclosure (because I was given a 20gal tank so that's what I was using) because the huge open tank might be stressing her out. So to Sterilite Tubs I go! Lol.

Thats so interesting that your BP only eats on the carpet! If she still doesn't eat this weekend I might just attempt that I'll also try dangling the mouse closer to the ground instead of up in the air. Thanks again for your suggestions I appreciate it. And yeah them not eating really is stressful!

[mandalorian]

My little pastel was a bit picky when i first started to feed him f/t rat pups. After the rats are completely thawed, I pull out my trusty ole hair dryer that I no longer use and get the room all scented up. My 7 yr old normal goes crazy once the dryer is blasting all over the rat. the little pastel peeks his head out and starts to lick the air. By the time their rats are all good and warm, they strike with gusto when I dangle the rats over their heads.

I have to do the zombie dance for my JCP. Hope this helps.

[heathkno89]

Have you tried live mice?

[KatStoverReptiles]

I would definitely try feeding in her enclosure. I've had success with that. If she's small, a 20G is quite large. Try "cluttering" it up with some fake vegetation or even crumpled newspaper so she feels like she's hidden.

If you're dangling it, I'd try getting some tongs and grasping the rat at the nape of the neck and "dancing" it sort've in front of her. I was using the dangle-by-the-tail method until recently and have noticed mine have been striking quicker when the rat's in a more "rat-like" position (aka on all fours).

If you're using rats, try mice and vice versa.

You could also try leaving it in front of her hide (like in the doorway) overnight. I've had success with this. If I don't get a strike I leave them for about an hour, but then they get fed off to someone else (I really hate to waste).

Whatever you do, don't try gerbils or hamsters...I've heard this is like crack to balls and once you get them on, you can't get them back off. And gerbils and hamsters are expensive.

If you're still having trouble, try live.

Also, don't handle her at all until she's feeding regularly. Like seriously. Nothing but water changes and spot-cleaning. And I wouldn't offer more than once every 5 days. Preferably once a week until she starts eating regularly.

I know this was kinda rambly but this ^^ is the extent of my advice on how to get these silly snakes to eat! LOL

[Yaqcubper]

Have you tried live mice?

Yeah, I've been attempting to feed live since I got her because that was what she was "supposedly" being fed before.

I know this was kinda rambly but this ^^ is the extent of my advice on how to get these silly snakes to eat! LOL

No, no I appreciate all and any advice! lol
Yeah on Friday I am just gonna go to Wal-Mart and switch over to a Tub that is appropriate to her size so maybe that way she won't feel stressed/overwhelmed. I was dangling it but putting it on all fours makes more sense haha. Feeding tongs are definitely in order as well.

You leave them in the enclosures Live for an hour? Or F/T?

Yeah my friend asked me if I wanted to go get a gerbil this weekend but I said absolutely not because I don't even want to go that route unless I really have to. Like if she won't touch or go at it with any other method.

It'll be hard not to handle her but if it's what it takes to get her eating and healthy I'll live.

[piedplus]

Ditto on all the good advice so far. I'd just like to add that one of my BP's wouldn't eat while I had a dog staying in the house. So if you have other pets, you might consider keeping them away.

[KevinK]

I would try frozen thawed. Put her in a shoe box with the mouse in a quiet room and just walk away. Check back after a few hours. It sounds like she's just stressed out.

If she still doesn't eat I'd let her cool down for a few days at least.