Trying to feed for first time...

[JoRandom]

So, I've had my ball python about a week now. He's a little 100 g normal male. Iv'e had him about 12 days. The reptile shop I got him from says he'd been eating pre-killed fuzzies, so that's what I thought I'd try first. I went to the shop today and got two, just in case, and came home and used forcepts to dangle the mouse around near him for about 45 mins, with mild interest, but that's it. I left the fuzzie in the cage a bit hoping maybe he'd eat it, I'll take it out in an hour if nothing happens.

Anyways, this is my first snake and I'm really concerned I'm doing something wrong. How can I get him to eat?

~Jo

[BallPythonGuy007]

Don't worry. Snakes will eat when they want to. They are not as dumb as some think. Just make sure the tank is at right temps, right hotspot temps, around 60% humidity. Feeding in a different tub is suggested to some people because it helps the snake to think you're hand is not food when you stick it in the tank. I'd try once a week, maybe twice. In a month, if he doesn't eat, you can try smearing it in tuna, split the head, or even live (with correct precautions).you're snake is fine, though. Same thing is happening to my friend who is a new ball python owner.
~Ray

[blk02ssmonte]

At 100 grams he should be able to eat a Rat pink. I would leave him settle a week and then try live mouse hopper. Also try a good sized brown paper bag. Put them both in there seal the bag...make sure neither can get out and put it in the enclosure in case the mouse eats its way out. He should eat then. If leave him be til next week. It should only take a couple weeks and you should be ok. I did this with my baby corn snake and now he eats like a champ. My pied was also picky and hasn't switched to rats yet. So give it time and patients and he will come around.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

While BP sometime fast this is not a "they eat when the want to situation so let's not worry about it"

In most cases with new owners the main cause to food refusal is husbandry related.

How big is your snake's enclosure?

What are your temps? How do you measure them.

What type of hides are you providing? Are they tight?

What type of substrate are you providing?

Have you been handling your snakes during the last 12 days? How often?

Answering those question will really help.

Now as far as the food itself pinkies rats or fuzzy mice are way too small for any BP and at this size your BP can take down an adult mouse or a large fuzzy rat/ small pup.

Forget about tuna or braining the prey this is also something unnecessary.

Also forget about feeding in a different tub this is a MYTH and it can actually cause enough stress to lead to a refusal, not to mention that it is the best way for you to get tagged.

It is most likely that you need to fix your husbandry and needing to feed the appropriate size and type of prey, preferably live to get him eating and then when he is consistent you will be able to switch to f/t




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[JoRandom]

While BP sometime fast this is not a "they eat when the want to situation so let's not worry about it"

In most cases with new owners the main cause to food refusal is husbandry related.

How big is your snake's enclosure?

I've got him in a 20 gal tank.

What are your temps? How do you measure them.

Temps are approx in correct ranges, between 93-86 on hot side, high 70s on cool side. I use a digital acurite digital thermometer and just move it around and check between that and the UTH thermostat. I know that's not extremely precise, and a temp gun is on my wishlist, just waiting to build up a bit more cash.

What type of hides are you providing? Are they tight?

At first I just had a half log and fake rock cave, but i realized a few days ago that they may be too big/not provide enough cover so I made some smaller ones out of cardboard boxes and added them in there.

What type of substrate are you providing?

He's on aspen because the reptile shop gave me a giant bag when I got him, I was gonna use the entire bag up before switching to something that holds humidity better.

Have you been handling your snakes during the last 12 days? How often?

Yeah, I'm probably guilty of handling him a bit too much. I was excited. A little bit each day minus the past 3 or 4 days because I was out of town this weekend.

[Ripsaw642]

Are you heating the f/t up correctly as well? My baby still thinks they're alive, constricts for a good 5 mins or so before swallowing, not sure about mice, but rats body temp is 100f....And he should be on at least rat fuzzies as well....

[JoRandom]

So, I double checked the humidity, tank temps and thermostat settings, but in the smaller hides pictured in previous post, and am not gonna mess with him this week. Will try next Sunday to get him to eat again.

Do you guys think I should get fuzzie rats or small/large mice? Also I can either get them pre-killed, frozen, or live? (This is based off how the shop I use sells their feeders)

I was hoping to never need to try live, and want to avoid it if I can, but if it will encourage him to eat I will. (My room mates got extremely uneasy when I mentioned live feeding.)

Also.. Thanks for the help. I don't have a lot of people I can turn to for advice in these matters. So it's nice that people care to help.


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[JoRandom]

Are you heating the f/t up correctly as well? My baby still thinks they're alive, constricts for a good 5 mins or so before swallowing, not sure about mice, but rats body temp is 100f....And he should be on at least rat fuzzies as well....

They killed them in shop for me then I went straight home and offered them to him. So I didn't heat it at all, since they had not been dead that long. Perhaps that was my mistake.


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

Enclosure size is one of the issue among a few other. Here is how to ensure that a small BP that size will eat.

1# downsize the enclosure (this is temporary), get a 6 quarts or 15 quarts tubs.

Buy some aspen bedding for your tub, make it deep enough that your BP can bury himself in it.

Get some PLASTIC flower pot saucers (1 or 2 depending on the tub size) they should be 6 to 8 inches wide.

Stabilize your temps there is too much fluctuation on the warm side and make sure they do not go above 88/90 (you do not want him too hot)

2# Put him in his new enclosure (no more handling from this point until he easts 3 to 5 meals for you).

3# Wait a week and offer a live adult mouse about the size of it's girth.

His refusal is husbandry related and a few adjustments will put you back on track.

Note: having a snake means being prepared to feed live, right now the priority is to get him to eat for you.


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[JoRandom]

Ok. Is the tub temporary till he eats consistently or till he is bigger?