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  1. #1
    Registered User dangermouth's Avatar
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    Unhappy Another BP not eating

    I received my ball python, Garret, on Sept 12th of this year, shipped from California to New Hampshire. He was hatched (CB) about the third week of August, and according to the breeder was eating f/t pinky rats. He shed about a week before he was shipped, I believe.

    He's housed in a sterilite tub with undertank heating, as well as heat rope along the sides since it's getting cold in my house. He's got two small hides on either side of the tub, with his water in the middle, which he seems to enjoy quite a bit. Temps range from about 80 at the cool side to 90-92 on the hot side, with humidity at 70%.

    He hasn't eaten since before he was shipped. I only handle him to change the papers in the tub and have been trying to feed him about every four days or so. I've attempted pinkies and fuzzy rats, from three different vendors, all warmed to about 90F. I've tried feeding in the tub, wiggling the rat, leaving it alone, putting it in a hide on both cold and warm sides and leaving it overnight. I've tried using a different tub to feed in. He just wriggles around exploring til he bumps into the rat, and then looks freaked out and goes as far away from it as possible.

    I'm starting to get worried and I was going to try live feeders, but can't find anything anywhere, not even plain old fancy mice at Petco. Any suggestions, or is my snake just "special"?

  2. #2
    BPnet Lifer sho220's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    So he was roughly 4 weeks old when you got him? Doesn't it usually take about 2 weeks until they are ready for their first meal, absorbing yolk and then shedding? That would leave maybe 2 feedings before shipping. Doesn't sound like he was off to a very solid start before being shipped?? Have you contacted the breeder?
    Lucifer Sam, Siam cat...
    Always sitting by your side,
    Always by your side...
    That cat's something I can't explain...

  3. #3
    Registered User dangermouth's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by sho220
    So he was roughly 4 weeks old when you got him? Doesn't it usually take about 2 weeks until they are ready for their first meal, absorbing yolk and then shedding? That would leave maybe 2 feedings before shipping. Doesn't sound like he was off to a very solid start before being shipped?? Have you contacted the breeder?
    The breeder sounded great when I first talked to him. Now I'm not so sure. I didn't realize the timeline didn't really work out until now, but he swore that he'd gotten a few good meals, plus shed. I feel like an idiot for just taking his word for everything.

    Crap. I emailed the breeder a couple of weeks ago expressing my concern about his lack of interest in food and he replied to me, and I quote, "Sure...He was actually eating f/t before I sent him. Here are a few tips:
    Make sure it's very warm (90 degrees)
    Make sure it's very dry...
    Wiggle a bit. Sorry, I have to run!"

    Well no crap. This may be the first snake I've owned, but I've handled snakes and at least done enough research to know this much. He's no help at all.

    Do you think feeding live might help? I hate to do it, but I will if that's what it takes. I'm having a heck of a time finding live feeders anywhere around here (SW New Hampshire). I just don't want to lose my Garret, and I'd really like him to start eating so I could handle him once in a while. He's really a bold and fun snake, outside of his tub, the couple of times I let him explore.

  4. #4
    BPnet Lifer sho220's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    I would read up on some of the other "problem feeder" threads before trying a live feeding. There have been alot of them lately.
    Lucifer Sam, Siam cat...
    Always sitting by your side,
    Always by your side...
    That cat's something I can't explain...

  5. #5
    Registered User dangermouth's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    I've been reading them, hoping for some info that will help. I'll keep reading. I'm just a worrier.

  6. #6
    BPnet Royalty JLC's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    How close are you to this:


    http://www.newenglandreptile.com/petstore.html

    ???

    New Hampshire isn't all THAT big of a state (says the girl who grew up in Texas) and I'd make the drive out there just for the heck of it!

    Anyhow...besides that little hint for finding live feeders and anything else you could ever want or need for your BP or other pets.....

    It sounds to me like you may be stressing the little guy out. It's not necessary to feed (or attempt to feed) every four days. He's just barely getting settled when you fuss over him again and try something new and different. Here's what I would suggest...

    Get some newspaper and crumple it into loose balls, and fill his tub with them...leaving just enough room for you to get to his water bowl. Leave him completely alone for a full week, with the newspapers...and don't go into his tub or mess with him in any way except to add water if needed. Once that FULL WEEK is complete...warm up your frozen prey item and place it near the entrance of whatever hide he's in. Leave the newspapers in place...close up the tub...and leave him alone with it.

    Since it's f/t...I'd give it at least several hours, if not overnight, before I disturbed him to see if he'd eaten it. IF NOT...then remove it and wait another full week. At that point, you may try a young live rodent, and see if that stimulates his feeding. But either way, keep him completely secure and only try once every seven days.

    And check out NERD and Zoo Creatures!!!
    -- Judy

  7. #7
    BPnet Lifer sho220's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by dangermouth
    I've been reading them, hoping for some info that will help. I'll keep reading. I'm just a worrier.
    The wadded up newspaper trick seems to be pretty succesful. I think it's most often a security issue...
    Lucifer Sam, Siam cat...
    Always sitting by your side,
    Always by your side...
    That cat's something I can't explain...

  8. #8
    Registered User dangermouth's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    I've been hoping to make a pilgrimage to NERD at some point, but it's over a four hour round trip.

    I guess I'll try the crumpled newspaper, wait a week, then see what happens. Maybe I'm too used to mammalian ways and I'm making him upset (I mostly keep mammals, but I was a vet tech for exotics). We shall see.

  9. #9
    BPnet Royalty JLC's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by dangermouth
    Maybe I'm too used to mammalian ways and I'm making him upset (I mostly keep mammals, but I was a vet tech for exotics). We shall see.
    It does take a whole new paradigm when caring for reptiles...snakes in particular. Their whole method of eating so infrequently, their metabolism and digestive systems...it's all so alien compared to what we're used to with ourselves and our furry pets.
    -- Judy

  10. #10
    Registered User dangermouth's Avatar
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    Re: Another BP not eating

    It's just so totally different going from reading it in a book/online to actually practicing the husbandry. I hate being a noob!

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