Worried for my baby ball?

[Meredithm115]

I just got a newer ball python, her name is Mie. She is probably a couple months old, supposedly only had a few feedings in her and she was rather small when I got her, only about 58 grams, however she hasn't eaten for me the last two weeks and I'm trying everything. I've switched up the sizes I've offered her, I've tried feeding her different times of night, I've put her in a smaller enclosure for a night to see if she felt more comfortable, I've tried just leaving the thawed mouse for a few hours in case she is shy, nothing. I do frozen/thawed, which she has always had, but nothing is working and I'm getting worried. I know they can go weeks without food, but I'm newer to snakes and she doesn't seem like she has much weight to lose in the first place. She's already dropped to 41 grams and is triangulated, but I'm not sure if live mice are the way to go? I've never done live before and I'm not sure what it entails? Any help would be appreciated!

[Moose84]

I just got a newer ball python, her name is Mie. She is probably a couple months old, supposedly only had a few feedings in her and she was rather small when I got her, only about 58 grams, however she hasn't eaten for me the last two weeks and I'm trying everything. I've switched up the sizes I've offered her, I've tried feeding her different times of night, I've put her in a smaller enclosure for a night to see if she felt more comfortable, I've tried just leaving the thawed mouse for a few hours in case she is shy, nothing. I do frozen/thawed, which she has always had, but nothing is working and I'm getting worried. I know they can go weeks without food, but I'm newer to snakes and she doesn't seem like she has much weight to lose in the first place. She's already dropped to 41 grams and is triangulated, but I'm not sure if live mice are the way to go? I've never done live before and I'm not sure what it entails? Any help would be appreciated!

I know people are going to tell you on here to do all kind of stuff to make sure prey is warm and what not but in my opinion you should try a live mouse immediately.. If the snake isn't showing signs of being sick otherwise... That snake has lost almost 50% of its bodyweight and thats never good. What size tank are you keeping it in? As far as a live feeding goes, you buy the mouse and drop it in.. They will do the rest... You can just watch the mouse to make sure it doesn't bite into the snake and give it something to bite on but I have never run into this issue after MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE live feedings...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Knowing you had limited experience you should never have take on an animal so small, but what is done is done, however now it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do this https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101 to a T and I mean a T

Hatchling that are barely out of the eggs cannot and should not go out weeks without food with their new owner, it's a vicious circle and if you don't get them to eat for you soon as they arrive it only get worse.

And yes for an hatchling it is a lot of weight to lose considering they hatch at 45 to 65 grams on average.

[Meredithm115]

She's in a 10 gallon right now, and I had her in a 3 gallon for a night when I attempted a smaller tank. I can try live, I'm just not sure what I will do if that doesn't work. I've seen videos of assist feeding but I've never done it before, so hopefully this will work. Someone told me to that offering her to many chances to feed within a week will just stress her out more? Any idea if there is truth to that? The last thing I want to do is stress her more!

[Meredithm115]

I do have one snake I've had for about a year and I think she was about 3 months when I got her, and she is now almost a year old, but she was never a picky eater for me. I now realize that that young is too young, and I'll email who I got her from!

[Moose84]

She's in a 10 gallon right now, and I had her in a 3 gallon for a night when I attempted a smaller tank. I can try live, I'm just not sure what I will do if that doesn't work. I've seen videos of assist feeding but I've never done it before, so hopefully this will work. Someone told me to that offering her to many chances to feed within a week will just stress her out more? Any idea if there is truth to that? The last thing I want to do is stress her more!

For starters do what Deborah said to a T and don't waver... And yes... Constantly dangling something in there he/she doesn't want is going to stress it out more... Get it in the set up Deb talked about and give it a couple days and try a live mouse...

[Meredithm115]

I will! I just want her to be happy and healthy! Thanks so much guys!

[Moose84]

I do have one snake I've had for about a year and I think she was about 3 months when I got her, and she is now almost a year old, but she was never a picky eater for me. I now realize that that young is too young, and I'll email who I got her from!

It's not too young... When they are kept in the right environment they eat like vacuums at that age... A breeder should never sell you an animal that is off food since it was hatched.. Setting you up to fail in my opinion. They should have a minimum of their first shed and three meals... When you change them from breeder racks to these big open tanks its stresses them out... I will be honest with you too.. Most breeders will tell you they are on FT and the more realistic scenarios is they aren't. I have had very little success with hatchlings and first meal(s)being FT.. Just because they are captive bred doesn't mean they come out used to frozen thawed rodents.. You have to get that snake up to a healthy weight before you even consider switching back..

[Moose84]

I will! I just want her to be happy and healthy! Thanks so much guys!

Good deal! I know it will be hard to leave it alone as well but you have to. Get it in that set up and don't open until you drop a mouse in.. Keep us updated!

[Meredithm115]

Baby girl ate! It took 20 mins and I had to remove her hide to get her to notice the mouse, but she ate! Not sure if I should wait a full week for next feed or just a 4-5 days because I want her to gain that weight back? Any suggestions?