Newbie first post

[Mr. Morph]

Hello everyone

Hi everyone I got my first ball pythons last tuesday. A couple questions. I recieved the snakes normal females 400gms and I gottem in a rack. With a herpstat thermo with night drop cable and digital timer. I keep the day temp at 92 dgs and at night drop it to 78 dgs. I left them alone to get acclimated for the first 3 days. So last friday I tried to feed them but only 1 of the took the mouse. The only one that fed was the only one thats not begining to shed. The 2 that didnt eat look like thier beging thier sheds. Her colors look dull and eyes dont look clear Will a ball python refuse to eat when she's shedding. Or should I just wait for them to get more comfortable in thier new surroundings.

I left the mouse with the other 2 snakes that didnt eat for 10-15 min. they refuse so I removed the mouse and offered it to them again the next day Sat. and Sun. still wont eat. The mouse was a small/meduim mouse so I fed it to the first ball that ate on friday. She didnt waste no time at all

I try to handle them often so that they can relax. When I first take them out of thier racks thier alittle stiff but after a few minutes they relax and seem fine.

If Im doing something wrong let me nkow any advice would great appreciated thanks

[JLC]

Hi and welcome! :


Just a few things I want to note for you:

1. You should not have a night-drop in the temps. Get a proper gradient of 92-94 warm side and 82-84 cool side...and keep it just like that.

2. You should give them at least a full week to settle in before attempting any handling at all. While you think handling them relaxes them, it is in fact doing the opposite. They need time to adjust to their new homes and feel safe and secure...then you can start with brief, regular handling, but not more than once a day at the very most. I would recommend starting off even slower than that.

3. And only offer food once a week...period. If they don't eat it that day, they can easily wait another week to try again. Doing so will get them onto a consistent, predictable feeding routine that they seem to thrive on.

Good luck with them! We'd love to see pics if you got'em!

[Mr. Morph]

So the 2 who havnt eaten has nothing to do with that thier shedding ?

[JLC]

~shrug~ It might. But it could just as easily be the fact that they are stressed. There are certainly snakes with plenty of appetite that will eat no matter what the circumstances are, including the occassional bp. But as a general rule, most bp's will refuse to eat until they are feeling completely secure in their home. And just because some ate doesn't mean they don't need a "settling in" period.

The trick is to remember that they are not social creatures like most pets we are used to having. They don't need us to hold them and talk to them. Doing so is primarily for our own benefit. Of course, regular handling is a good idea to keep them used to the process and less likely to feel defensive about it....but it's not something they have an emotional or mental need for.

[gmmuscle91]

So the 2 who havnt eaten has nothing to do with that thier shedding ?

It could have something to do with their shedding or it could be that they are still stressed from being moved. My bp doesnt eat when she is in shedding. It all depends on the snake itself and if it wants to eat while in shedding or not.

(Edit: You beat me to it JLC!!!)

[tigerlily]

So the 2 who havnt eaten has nothing to do with that thier shedding ?

The stress of moving, shedding and such low temps could all contribute to their refusal to eat. No big deal. I currently have a new girl, who refused food last Thursday after a move and is shedding. I have not handled her, and don't plan to until I have at least one successful feed. I also adhere to a strict rule of no handling 48 hours after a feed. (which is also only offered once a week)

[Mr. Morph]

No handling until feeding
Only once a week feeding
No handling of 48 hrs after feeding

check.check,check

[frankykeno]

Congrats on acquiring the three new females and welcome to BPNet.

[Mr. Morph]

Congrats on acquiring the three new females and welcome to BPNet.

Thanks

Well the one female that has begun to eat has a strong apetite I put a live mouse in the rack close walk away and by my third step I hear a SQWEEEEEEEEK Oh she goes to town.

Unfortunatly my 2 other females still show no interest in feeding. I put a live mouse 2 weekends in a row for 15-20 minutes nothing I go to check and the mouse is sleeping in the middle of the balls coils Im like . Todays the 3rd feeding attempt but this time I put the mouse out of its misery first and left the dead mouse 45 minutes first with 1 snake then the other. Think mabey they prefer and dead mouse. NOTHING I got pissed and flushed it in toilet

[rabernet]

Todays the 3rd feeding attempt but this time I put the mouse out of its misery first and left the dead mouse 45 minutes first with 1 snake then the other. Think mabey they prefer and dead mouse. NOTHING I got pissed and flushed it in toilet

You're trying way too often to feed them if you just got them last Tuesday.

Once a week is all they need. Since you tried to feed today, don't try to feed again until next Saturday. Sometimes it takes my new acquisitions a few weeks to get settled, but with a proper acclimation period of no handling, temps corrected (as outlined above) and offering once a week - they'll start.

If there's one thing that ball pythons will teach you - it's patience!