Help with feeding

[Shelley1306]

Hello ball python experts I need your help/advice!
I have a 5 month old ball python (Ruby) that we have had approx 3-3 and a half weeks and she has only eaten twice, one of those times was when my boyfriend held the mouse with tweezers inside the tank and she struck.
She seems to be a very scared python, almost scared of her own shadow! I have only held her once, today she hissed at me when I tried to handle her. I'm worried that if I don't handle her a bit more often then she won't trust us...
I also don't want her striking everytime she feeds as she might do that eveytime we open the tank?
I know that ball pythons are notorious for not feeding but I think she is hungry and just scared to eat. At night she is coming out of her hide and seems expectant.
I have changed tact from putting the mouse at the other side of the tank to just outside her hide and have made sure she can't see me/I am not disturbing her. Perhaps I need to feed her just before I go to bed so I am not there at all, or feed her outside the tank?

I have read a few python care sheets and many many forum threads from other new python owners and experts and believe I have the correct set up etc. Although I see varying opinions on what is right for a set up. The temperature seems correct in my tank and I have bought a humidity checking thermometer etc.

Any advice much needed as I want my python to feel at ease and not stressed!

Thanks,
Shelley

[Shelley1306]

Oh I'm also feeding her fuzzies (trying twice a week) and feeding her at night 😊

[Maddlesrain]

@Shelley1306
The problem might be that you're just leaving the prey in the tank. I know you're wanting to create as much disassociation as possible between you and food, but my snake typically won't eat unless I'm holding the rodent with tongs. Sometimes I even have to do a "zombie dance," and he heavily associates the smell of thawing rodent and the tongues to feeding. When I pull them out he'll stick his head out of his hide and wait. He strikes (very aggressively - he's ripped his prey in half) every time I feed, but has never once been aggressive towards me. I always feed at night so he knows when it gets dark I won't be taking him out, but he'll instead be getting fed.

Not really sure if that helps at all, but I think your snake needs a little more coaxing to be fed. Someone with more experience will know better, but this has worked for me(:


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[tttaylorrr]

fuzzy mice? how much does the snake weigh?

you need to leave the snake alone for a while until it's more consistant with feeding. you have 20+ years to bond, so a week or two won't affect the snake for the long-term.

"cage aggression" is a myth. the snake will not associate you entering the enclosure with getting fed. i promise. keep feeding inside the enclosure.

this could also be a husbandry issue. what is your setup like? heating element(s), enclosure type and size, thermostats and thermometers, exact temperatures and humidity, etc.

[Zincubus]

I'd read as much as you can , in this forum about getting them feeding .. Feeding in the evening , as you do , is a good start . ...

Every Royal / Ball I've ever fed STRUCK at the mouse / rat - it's what they do ....


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[Shelley1306]

Ok thank you! I will keep reading and keep feeding with tongs then and let her strike.

[Shelley1306]

Thank you I will leave her alone to get a bit more used to feeding then...do I need to take the mouse out if she doesn't eat it and leave her be or leave it in a bit longer than one night? I will post a picture of my tank set up tomorrow...I admit my boyfriend has done all of the set up and bought the snake as a surprise. I will read the feed charts more thoroughly to check we are feeding the right mice. We were told the small 'furry mice were appropriate for our age snake, but I will keep researching that one and perhaps ask our local reptile store 😊 thanks so much everyone I've been worried

[Shelley1306]

Hi all,
Thank you very much for your advice. I am happy to report Riny is now feeding.I have strike fed her two days in a row now as she seemed to be very hungry. Unfortunately the guy we bought her off told us she was feeding from the floor so that's what we were doing. Poor thing must have been starving! So she is ok now and feeding properly. I have been warming up the rodent before feeding in a bag above hot water and then feeding her from just outside her hide as you suggested and it's working really well. Such a relief!

Thanks again,
Shelley
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[Zincubus]

Hi all,
Thank you very much for your advice. I am happy to report Riny is now feeding.I have strike fed her two days in a row now as she seemed to be very hungry. Unfortunately the guy we bought her off told us she was feeding from the floor so that's what we were doing. Poor thing must have been starving! So she is ok now and feeding properly. I have been warming up the rodent before feeding in a bag above hot water and then feeding her from just outside her hide as you suggested and it's working really well. Such a relief!

Thanks again,
Shelley
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Excellent .... all mine strike from within their hides as well , oddly enough .


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