Tried to feed for the first time.

[Hammer2576]

Well I tried to feed my ball python for the first time tonight and he didn't seem very interested in eating at all. Just kinda slithered around his feeding box trying to get out. I just got him about 4 days ago... But I wanted to get him on a regularly weekly feeding schedule for Sundays. What should I do now? Thanks for any advice.

[nachash]

play the waiting game. If a snake doesn't eat, reduce stress via handling and ensure optimum cage environment. Wait a week making sure your snake is cozy and well maintained, and try again. Sometimes balls have personal kinks (ha) regarding feeding. Some like having a f/t rodent wiggled, some like having it left in the tank and unobserved because it's a shy eater. One of the great pleasures of owning a ball python is learning exactly what kind of brat (said with all kinds of love) you have on your hands.

Oh, and most of all, don't panic. You don't put your snake on a feeding schedule, it puts you on hunger notice.

[Hammer2576]

Alright man. All of those sound good. Could I help it out by getting the mouse a little hotter so it seems fresher? And I have a seperate area for him to eat not in his cage. Hmmm and yeah I just don't want the little guy to go hungry ya know? Like I've said in another post I just really want him to be as healthy as possible.

[nachash]

Well let me say this:

The f/t item should always be all the way thawed, and then gently raised in temperature to mimic body heat. Ball pythons are perceptive of heat so it will know a cold prey item means less than fresh. But, don't heat it to the point of cooking the rodent, as that isn't good either. put the thawed rodent in a water tight bag and run it under hot water to achieve that result.

I don't recommend feeding in a separate container. If you fed live and thought that the rodent would poop around in the cage, perhaps I could see why a separate container would be alright. Think about this from the snake's view. It just got carried away by a hawk/monkey/man predator, and then put in a place with an impromptu rodent in it's face, 4 days after it had it's world turned upside down being taken home. It's not worried about food right now, it's worried about becoming food. Offer food in the cage in a week, using a body temp prey item (shouldn't feel warm or cool to touch) and hopefully it'll happen

[Hammer2576]

Alright man sounds good. So when I try to give it too him in his tank should I take all the other things. Hide, water bowl out? I put the mouse in his tank now just to let it sit there for a hour or so to see if he is interested but he's in his hide....

[carolynjane]

Little guy probably didn't feel too secure-- what Nachash said. You only just brought the snake home a few days ago, so there's a good chance that he may not want to eat right away until he is used to his new environment. Give him a few more days to settle down without handling and whatnot and you might see a change in his behavior.

It's a good rule of thumb to go by~

[Hammer2576]

Alright then. So should I not even handle him for a few days and then feed him in his actual cage?? I've heard that you shouldn't feed him in his cage..

[bcr229]

Try feeding him again in his enclosure in a week. He should be comfortable and happy there. Also, make sure that the humidity and temperatures in the enclosure are correct, and he has a hide on both the hot and cold sides. Don't remove any of the hides, water bowl, etc. when feeding either.

[Hammer2576]

Alight man... I'm still trying to get the temps in there right as well... The humidity stays around 50.. And when I mist it it goes to about 77 for awhile then around 60ish. And the heating I'm still getting to the right stuff. I have a uth on the hot side and it's way hot on the bottom like 110... But above the substrate is at 80-82. He does stay in his hide on the hot side most of the time though.

[Mr Oni]

When i first got my Bee he did the same thing.
If he won't strike just place it down and let him be.
Mine relaxed after doing that twice and now the little pig is a food champ.
Patience and whatever these dudes tell you is the key.
All these replys are sound advice for success so don't worry.

I also did the seperate container thing but now i feed in tub.
If you like the container idea just get him eating first, most important.

Good luck