My snake Won't Eat

[TXCB2004]

Hi Everyone,
I just got a ball python from a pet store in Houston,TX 2 months ago and I can't get it to eat. We've bought 2 mice already and the snake is totally not interested at all. So we have to let the mice go. I don't know how I can get him to eat. Anyone have suggestions..please email me at TXCB2004@hotmail.com
Christy

[elevatethis]

Read the caresheet. If you everything you have at home matches what the caresheet says, we'll go into more depth.

[tigerlily]

Can you describe your setup? Temps?

[jknudson]

So we have to let the mice go.

Please don't release captive animals into the wild...I'm sure your pet shop would be more than willing to take them back.

Otherwise humanely euthanize them and put them in the freezer to try and feed your BP when he gets settled in and the conditions are ideal for him.

[DrEwTiMe]

Please don't release captive animals into the wild...I'm sure your pet shop would be more than willing to take them back.

Well i have to agree that letting them go is not the answer im not sure many pet shopes will take back mice. If you read my post about snakes getting sick from mice that is one of the only ways it would be able to happen. If a mouse stepped into some sick reptiles feces and was then fed to another snake, that snake would get any "illness" that the other snake may have had.

I have asked many pet shopes in my area about taking them back and they all say definitly not. I just bought one of the 5 dollar plastic rodent carriers and keep them fed and whatnot untill my snake is ready to eat. Its never more then 2 so you don't have to worry about that nast stink of mice pee heh

[Vomitore]

Well i have to agree that letting them go is not the answer im not sure many pet shopes will take back mice. If you read my post about snakes getting sick from mice that is one of the only ways it would be able to happen. If a mouse stepped into some sick reptiles feces and was then fed to another snake, that snake would get any "illness" that the other snake may have had.

I have asked many pet shopes in my area about taking them back and they all say definitly not. I just bought one of the 5 dollar plastic rodent carriers and keep them fed and whatnot untill my snake is ready to eat. Its never more then 2 so you don't have to worry about that nast stink of mice pee heh

Ugh. Mouse urine is N-A-S-T-Y! Nothing that I've owened has EVER out smelled the smell of mouse urine.

[JLC]

I have asked many pet shopes in my area about taking them back and they all say definitly not. I just bought one of the 5 dollar plastic rodent carriers and keep them fed and whatnot untill my snake is ready to eat. Its never more then 2 so you don't have to worry about that nast stink of mice pee heh

I think it must vary a lot between shops...especially the "mom-and-pop" shops that may not have to conform to corporate rules. I took two mice back to a store in Virginia where I shopped and they didn't hesitate to take them back after the snake didn't eat them. And the local shop where I buy my feeders here in Tucson told me they'd be glad to take them back if the snakes don't eat.

I would say "It never hurts to ask" and see what your own store's policy is on such returns.

[DrEwTiMe]

ya your right, cause none in my area will take em back. The one that i go to is a "mom and pop" shop and part hobby store hehe. A couple times i would ahve been a lot happier if they did take them back. But after the scare i just had it makes me feel a lot safer about what i feed to my snake.

id personally rather go to the shops that don't take the mice back. Although rare that makes it a lot more likly that your snake will get sick even if you didn't do anythng wrong. After the scare i just had with that, i would rather not take my chances.

[fish21]

hi i found some methods in one of my ball python books. ( i have read about three in the last week as i am new to ball pythons)

brown bag method
basically all you do is get a brown grocery bag. punch a fewsmall holes in it. put you snake in it with a still blind mouse. fold the top shut. put it in your tank over night and do not desturb until morning. make sure the air temp is between 85-90 deg. if it dosent work the first time do not get discourged try once a week for three weeks.


the next is what in my opinion is the most natural for your ball python.

rodent in a hole method.

all you do is take all the hides out of your cage put a bucket in it with a small blind rodent in it. drill a hole in it high enaugh for you snake to reach the hole . but just out of reach for the rodent. put some substrate in the bottom put the lid on then leave it alone till morning. do not peek or touch even if you hear a noise that sounded like you snake just fed. ( he might of just been about to feed then you disrupted the hole shebang.) make sure the air temp is agani 85-90deg. if no success try again once a week for three more weeks. if no success try a small adult mouse for three weeks if that dosent work try a pree killed adult mouse for ....... you guessed it 3 more weeks.
before you resort to force feeding.

ale this info came from the vets and doctors of the herpetocultural libary in the book

the ball python manual

hope this helps

fish

[fish21]

there were a few more in my book that were a little wierd so tyr these first if they dont work i will get you some more procedures.

hope this helps

fish