Should I assist feed?

[myadlosky]

Hello! I'm a long time reader, first time poster.

I recently decided to try my hand at Ball Python breeding. My most recent pick up was a Pastel Piebald hatchling. I picked her up at a show for an amazing price. Almost too amazing... Now I know why. She's been refusing to eat for almost 2 weeks now. In my haste and excitement when I heard her price, I didn't even think to ask about her feeding habits. I just couldn't pull my wallet out fast enough. Lesson learned on that front...

She's 57 grams and becoming fairly skinny now. I've been alternating pinky rats and very small mouse crawlers every other day, but she's taken neither. I also leave for vacation in a week, for a week, and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving without her having a meal in her. I have a few sitters who can feed while I'm gone, but none I would feel comfortable asking them to assist feed.

At what point should I give in and assist feed? Thank you in advance for any assistance.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Assist feeding should be done as a last resort

If you have not done so here is what you need to do

Set her up in a 6 quarts tub (max) with aspen as bedding, use a plastic flower pot saucer as an hide (6 inches wide)



Provide a hot spot of 88 degrees (max), leave her alone for a week (no handling) and offer a live mousse hopper in the enclosure. Prey should be as big as the girth size of your snake.

DO not offer every other day the more you offer the more it leads to refusal, stick with mice for now as they are more enticing.

The animals looks good and for now you need to try to get her to eat on her own.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Yes, like Deb said. Give it some time to relax.
I would bet it had not been fed at all?
After 5 to 7 days get a very active hopper mouse.
Hoppers get it done most every time.

[frostysBP]

I would have to agree it prob has never has a meal or just one. My twin egg was 33g and all others we're 60+ fresh from egg. Do what deb said and ıf that dosent work repeate...ıf that fails consulte us

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[myadlosky]

Assist feeding should be done as a last resort

If you have not done so here is what you need to do

Set her up in a 6 quarts tub (max) with aspen as bedding, use a plastic flower pot saucer as an hide (6 inches wide)



Provide a hot spot of 88 degrees (max), leave her alone for a week (no handling) and offer a live mousse hopper in the enclosure. Prey should be as big as the girth size of your snake.

DO not offer every other day the more you offer the more it leads to refusal, stick with mice for now as they are more enticing.

The animals looks good and for now you need to try to get her to eat on her own.

Husbandry is fine. Humidity is 56 right now. Ambient room is always 79 to 81 and ambient in my tubs is always 81 to 83. Hot spot is a steady 88. Her tub is a little bigger than I'd like (New one is set to ship at the end of my vacation), but I have newspaper as filler.

For her hides, I'm using one of these (the small) :



She also has cork flats that she seems to prefer.

I went in a few minutes ago to pull the crawler out, but she was showing interest. I'll stay up awhile longer and see how things go.

I went to 3 pet shops today, but none sold live that size. I'm going to another expo this Saturday, so I'll pick some up then.

[myadlosky]

I just got her set up in a 6 quart tub. Here are some pics I got (first time I've handled her since she came home with us):

[Billy305]

Do what deb said. Get her feeling secure and leave her alone. I personally like to bump the hot spot to slightly warmer for babies (90-91) ish. But my room is like 77.

Usually I feel they need to be assisted when the tail end is starting look very thin and tapers up toward the mid section when looking from the top down. But not eating in 2 weeks especially after being handled and moved to and from a show isn't a lot of time

[Billy305]

In addition to a hide I give my hatchlings a little extra bedding and maybe a few crumpled up pieces of paper to crowd the bin a little and make them feel safe. Other than that, no handling or even peaking in at them

[DennisM]

don't worry too much. take Deborah's advice. she'll be fine even if she doesn't eat before vacation. I had a little 60 gram hatchling a couple years ago that ate three times in his first 6 months (f/t rat pinks , believe me I tried everything). it's unlikely your girl will be that slow to start. He eventually became a regular feeder, but looked more like a hatching than a yearling on his first birthday. shortly thereafter he became a greedy eater and grew to be a normal sized 2 year old.

[myadlosky]

She took live today without much of an issue. Took her an hour or so to decide she wanted it, but there's food in her so I'm happy. Thank you all for dealing with my anxiety!