How long to leave the mouse?

[Dagen]

I am feeding my newly bought ball python frozen feeder mice, defrosted by soaking in hot water, she shed today and has been active since, I figure that she is hungry so I gave her a mouse around 10am and I am wondering how long to leave it in there? Thanks for any feedback...no pun intended!!!

[Shelby]

First off it is better to feed nocturnal snakes such as ball pythons at night. I typically leave a mouse overnight. Leave it at the entrance of the snake's hide spot while it's in there. Leave the snake alone so it feels secure enough to eat.

[daniel1983]

Are you defrosting directly in the water or are you defrosting with a bag in the water? Both ways are fine. I was just wondering. If you defrost directly in the water, the mouse will get wet and weaken the odor. This can sometimes be a problem with a picky feeder.

I feed my bps at about 7 pm usually....but I have fed anywhere between noon and 2 in the morning. I have always figured that if the mouse is in there for 2 hours and your bp has not taken it.....he probably will not. I feed each of my bp two f/t adult mice each week. First, I offer each mouse with tongs. If no interest is shown, I just set them in the enclosure and give them 2-3 hours to eat. If they dont eat(which rarely happens to me ), I just toss the mouse and wait til the next week. If they miss a feeding it is generally no big deal. I hope that helps a bit.

[Dagen]

If she doesn't eat the mouse after leaving it over night, do I refreeze or throw out? Also I have her in a 40 gallon tank in my living room with two young kids running around and about, is this annoying to my Bp or will she adjust? Thanks for your reply.

[daniel1983]

Is you bp a hatchling or an adult? exactly how long ago did you get your bp?

[Shelby]

I'd throw the mouse out.. they get stinky pretty quickly.

Running kids can surely stress a BP. I'd put the snake in a low traffic area.

[Dagen]

I got her 2 weeks ago and I think she is a sub adult, she is maybe 14 inches long, captive bred, bought from Petco.

[Shelby]

Petco in general sucks when it comes to taking care of herps..

14" is pretty small to be living in a 40 gallon tank. I'd put the snake in a 20 gallon, or at least put a bunch of tight, dark hide spots in the 40 gallon to make it feel more secure.

[Adam_Wysocki]

captive bred, bought from Petco.

LOL!!!

-adam

[daniel1983]

if the bp was bought at petco I am pretty much 99% sure that it is Captive Hatched not Captive Bred. And yes there is a big difference.

I wish I could laugh with you adam.....but Thor came from Petco... ha ha ha...never again....just one of those things...oh well