Should I worry-feeding question

[ReptiLady]

Ok, I have now had Chase for 8 days and still not eating. I have offered the mouse 3 times. He will raise his head up and watch it like he wants to eat it but doesn't actually go after it. I am still so new to snakes and trying to learn but I am pretty sure that he NEEDS to eat. I can feel his spine real easy. His skin doesn't seem to sag and he seems to still have "fat stored" on his sides but the spine isn't supposed to be "pronounced" and quite noticeable should it?

I was told at the pet store (which I normally don't put much faith into) that if I couldn't get him to eat to cut the mouse and try that.
Ummm....huh? Cut the mouse? Cut him where? How much? Kill it? I am lost.

If that doesn't help, then what?

HELP guys!!!!!

[Schlyne]

Okay, first, how often are you trying to feed him and what are you feeding ? live, frozen thawed, prekilled?

And yes, the spine shouldn't be pronounced.

I think the petstore is talking about cutting back a section of the mouse to reveal brains (somebody correct me on this one, I don't quite recall exactly how that works).

[joebagadohnut]

I am guessing you are trying to feed him live mice, right?
where is he from? is the snake from the pet store?
Find out what he was eating before you got him.

The pet store was talking about either cutting part of the mouses head (when it;s dead), but I always thought that the best thing to attract the snake is to cut the mouse's nose. That emits lots of blood and smells.

what is the husbandry like? what are your temps and humidity level?
does the snake have a good hiding spot on each side?

Go to this site, it answers and will tell you lots of tricks to try:
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/
Don't worry. He'll eat soon enough.

Tell me what you know about him and what he ate before, and his temps.

Jeremy

[Python-77]

Repti, Chase is about the same size as my sage there is a good chance that he was on med rats prior to coming to you, Bp's can be real picky Sage eats med rats every feed but if i try and offer a mouse she snubs it,

[zennygirl]

your snake is still so new to you. getting him/her to eat may take a bit of time. generally i believe you are supposed to wait a week to feed and then if he doesn't try again in a week. i think if you waited to feed until about 4 days after you got him (which i assume) and then have already tried 3 times in those next consecutive days, that is too much, and possibly a bit stressing

[gen]

Your bp is probably stressed out. You need to give him time to settle in. Wait a week or two and make sure you've got all your husbandry right as far as temps, humidity, hides, etc. Then try to feed again. If he still doesn't eat, wait at least a week between feeding attempts. Repeated feeding attempts can further cause stress.

[ReptiLady]

Ok, I will see if I can go ahead and at least answer what was asked.
I bought Chase at a Reptile Show last Saturday, most likely WC..not CB. He is about 32 inches long, is a male.
He has hide spot on both ends of a 20L. He has a rock to bask on under the heat lamp (not heat rock, just rock) He has aspen bedding by Kaytee. He has a water dish and loves to soak..no mites, eyes clear. Walmart did not have the humidity gauge but did take down my number and said they would call me, should get them in this week(I live in a VERY rural area.) I do have the temps -basking spot right at 90.The cool side is between 75-78...75 for nighttime drop. I have UTH and the lights are set on a timer (12 on-12 off) I keep nice warm moist towels on top of the lid to create a moisture -humidity until I can get the gauge.

Yes, trying to feed live...that's why I asked should I kill it??? Anyway, the medium rats looked awfully big to me to feed him. That's why I went with the regular white mouse. So, should I try a meadium and see if that works? And wait til maybe this Sat to try again? He is awfully thin if I can see his spine though and I am so worried.
I know also with his being most likely WC that he may be going off feed right now, right? So that may also make it hard to get him to eat.
Ugh!!!

[BallPythonBabe448]

Try a weanling rat, in other words, a baby rat.

[Marla]

Your bp is probably stressed out. You need to give him time to settle in. Wait a week or two and make sure you've got all your husbandry right as far as temps, humidity, hides, etc. Then try to feed again. If he still doesn't eat, wait at least a week between feeding attempts. Repeated feeding attempts can further cause stress.

Exactly what she said. At 8 days, you should have tried to feed him once, at most, and that in the last 2 days. Leave him entirely alone except to make sure he has water for the next 5 days or so. If you can, cover the cage to give him better odds of de-stressing. Then you can try to feed him, and if he is WC and wasn't eating for the store, I would continue trying with live mice for now. On the other hand, it's entirely possible that he won't have any interest in eating anything until March or later.

[sk8er4life]

yea let it cool down for awhile then try all that stuff that everyone has suggested! dont forget about the "zombie"dance cuz that always works for my girls!