First ball Not feeding

[Hprice93]

Hey everyone

I have a ball python he's a cb15, I Brought him on the 13/03/16 he was in shed and hadn't eaten for a week but was told last time he had eaten he took a small weanling rat.

On the 18/03/16 I gave him a soak and he passed a solid greeny white mass I belive is something to do with urine but can't remember what its call, a few hours later he passes a rather large poo, I thought this was odd as it had been so long since he had eaten.

He shed that night, I waited a couple of days and offered him a small weanling rat that I had brought from the place I Brought him, I offered it him in the viv I place it on his hide on the warm side and left him too it. Come morning he had not eaten.

I weighed him and he only weights 225g so went out and Brought him some rat pups to try, waited a couple more days and tried again still nothing.

Have offered him another one today after not handling him for 48 hours and he seems to not be interested I will leave it over night as I'm aware they are nocturnal.

I have read up of them fasting, needing time to settle, getting the right temp (mine are 28 Celsius cold side and 32 Celsius warm side), he has a hide on both sides of his viv, a moss box in the middle and a large water bowl and climbing things in his viv as well as a few decorations.

My worry is that when I first got Him he felt alot more solid then he does now, he feels all squidgy if that makes any sense. I didn't measure him straight away as wanted to let him shed and settle in now I am regretting it as I don't know if he's lost weight and his age is making me worry aswell.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and sorry for the bit of an essay






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[Hprice93]

I will also add I have tried teasing him with the first pup I gave him that I also brained and he just started hissing at me so I stoped

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[Aercadia]

You brought this guy home 13 days ago and he hasn't eaten... he looks like he's a well started guy, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. He's probably still stressed out from the move, from being offered food so often, and... he's a Ball, they are notorious for going off food for no discernible reason except that they're being picky little butts and just don't feel like eating.

Keep an eye on him and watch his weight if it looks like his skin is getting looser, but don't offer him food every couple of days. Don't handle him for a week and give him time to settle in - he's got hides and fresh water, so just let him be. After a week, try offering food again, and if he doesn't take it, give him a weigh and track his weight. Then don't offer again for another 5-7 days. When he's ready, he'll eat for you. He doesn't look like a little worm who hasn't got it figured out yet... he's just being a stressball.

[Stormy]

I will also add I have tried teasing him with the first pup I gave him that I also brained and he just started hissing at me so I stoped

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We brought home a trick pinstripe male on March 4th; his last feed date was February 27th. He weighs a whopping 150 grams (a little guy!) and he just ate for us yesterday. We tried offering food every week but he was so scared of his new home he would dart back into his hide and stay there. The last few days he finally started coming out and not darting back into his hide when we walked into the room.

Give you new little one some time to settle in; he'll eat when he's ready and comfortable.

[Hprice93]

Okay I will try give him a week without handling then offer again, would you offer rat pup or offer weanling?

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[Stewart_Reptiles]

While they have a reputation to go off feed at this size however they tend to be voracious, now it's not uncommon for them to skip a meal during shed and during acclimation period however in my experience 99% of the time anew snake will not eat for it's new owner because of husbandry issues.

How big is your enclosure?
What are your temps, How o you measure them, (where and with what type of thermometer)?
What is your humidity (type of hygrometer used)?
How many hides do you provide, how they tight?
How often have you been handling your BP since it's arrival?
How have you been offering the food (in the enclosure or feeding tub)?

[ReptiMoto]

I had the same problem as you. My bp wouldn't eat for 4 weeks until I offered a live rat pup. But listen to Deborah and wait at least a week to let him settle in.

[Hprice93]

How big is your enclosure?

About 2ft

What are your temps, How o you measure them, (where and with what type of thermometer)?

28 cold 33 hot

Digital thermometer

What is your humidity (type of hygrometer used)?

Around 40 hot side around 70 cold

Built into thermometer digital ones

How many hides do you provide, how they tight?

He's got one small hide very tight supprised he fits on cold side, one larger hide on hot side, he's got a large semi enclosed bowl type hide full of his moss, and he has a skull ornament he's often inside.

How often have you been handling your BP since it's arrival?

He got a few days when I first got Him untouched then he has been coming out most days for 5/10 mins untill the past 48 hours where he has only been out to weight.

How have you been offering the food (in the enclosure or feeding tub)?

I have tried in the viv, and in a feeding tub

I tried just putting it in and leaving, I tied teasing and moving the rat around in front of him, when In the viv and when I offer in feeding box I completely covered and left alone

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[Scottywelsh]

This may sound stupid or normal im not quite sure but when I got my phantom she missed 2 meals. I feed in a feeding tub and I had to "piss her off" for a good 5 mins and then she grabbed the rat fuzzy, eat it and hasn't missed a meal since.
By "pissed her off" I mean I kept touching her tail with the rat and putting it right on her nose. Stuff like that. . Obviously I wasn't aggressive or hurting her in any way
Just remember if you do this there might be a risk of him biting you when putting him back in his viv.

But ye I would definitely leave him alone for a good few days and not attempt to handle or even put your face up against the glass to much lol. Each BP is different. One may take 2 hours to settle in and one may take 2 months.

Good luck