sort of feeding question

[phantommaggot]

Hi,
this is the first time ive had a real problem feeding a snake, but i recently got ahold of a big normal female, shes aorund 1500 grams. and ive had her for about.. 3 weeks now and she dosent seem hungry.. she had a little belly blisters when i got her, and i tended to those, and i tried to feed her once (abot 5 days after i got her) and she wouldnt eat, she tagged it a couple times, tried to roll it up once and then gave up.. and then i went to feed her again a few days after that and she was blue eyed. so when she finally shed (a few days ago) i decided to try to fed her tonight.
she strikes at it, but for some reason wont really try to wrap it up.. and when she tries (like once..) she just gives up.

i was told shed only eat live.. so i dont know what to do..
any suggestions??

i thumped the hell outta the rat after she gave up on it the first time..
but she still gives up on eating it..

and for refrence shes a wild caught..

thanks alot..

[joepythons]

Hi,
this is the first time ive had a real problem feeding a snake, but i recently got ahold of a big normal female, shes aorund 1500 grams. and ive had her for about.. 3 weeks now and she dosent seem hungry.. she had a little belly blisters when i got her, and i tended to those, and i tried to feed her once (abot 5 days after i got her) and she wouldnt eat, she tagged it a couple times, tried to roll it up once and then gave up.. and then i went to feed her again a few days after that and she was blue eyed. so when she finally shed (a few days ago) i decided to try to fed her tonight.
she strikes at it, but for some reason wont really try to wrap it up.. and when she tries (like once..) she just gives up.

i was told shed only eat live.. so i dont know what to do..
any suggestions??

i thumped the hell outta the rat after she gave up on it the first time..
but she still gives up on eating it..

and for refrence shes a wild caught..

thanks alot..

A few questions before i can assist you here.What were the blisters on her belly? Are they still their? What are your temps on the hot side and the cool side? What type of enclosure is she in? Do you have any hides for her and the sizes of them? When you bought her did the sellar guarentee she is eating? I can give you a little info now until you post the answers to these questions.Several reasons she is not eating right now,you are constantly attempting to feed her before you allow her a full week or two to settle in.Next,she might be in alot of pain from the belly blisters.I think i know what it is but since i am not able to see in person,i can only suggest you take her to a snake vet.Last,some wild caughts never eat.I will keep a eye out for your reply here and i will try to help you out as much as possible.

[phantommaggot]

Well, i gave her just over 7 days to try to feed her the first time..

the hot side is like between 90-95 as of now.. and the cool side is between 80-85 depending ..

her belly bumps, spots were like belly rot from sitting on damp aspen for too long.. (im using peper towels for now..but her belly is healed now..)

she has a hide, and its really snug, but not too small.. even tho she dosent pull herself up into it...

the seller said she was eating fine, and she ate live rats once a week..

she tries to eat, she jsut gives up really easy, like i need to feed her a "special" rat.. or i should just kill it.. but if i kill it, then why not feed frozen like i do with the rest of my snakes...

but ya, id really like to see her eat, cause id really like her to become a mother

anyways, im open to any suggestion
thanks again
-josh

[recycling goddess]

first she needs two hides... so perhaps you can get another like the first and let her have one on the warm side and one on the cool side.

how long did you leave her alone with the rat? did you stay super still so she couldn't see you... standing a ways back from her enclosure?

if my ball knows i'm there... he refused to eat... so does my rtb. i have to leave the room and come back in 10-15 minutes to make sure they've eaten.

[phantommaggot]

how would she have space for 2 hides in a 31 qt tub??

and i always watch snakes eat lol, i guess ill have to try the leaving the room thing...

thanks!!

[joepythons]

Well, i gave her just over 7 days to try to feed her the first time..

the hot side is like between 90-95 as of now.. and the cool side is between 80-85 depending ..

her belly bumps, spots were like belly rot from sitting on damp aspen for too long.. (im using peper towels for now..but her belly is healed now..)

she has a hide, and its really snug, but not too small.. even tho she dosent pull herself up into it...

the seller said she was eating fine, and she ate live rats once a week..

she tries to eat, she jsut gives up really easy, like i need to feed her a "special" rat.. or i should just kill it.. but if i kill it, then why not feed frozen like i do with the rest of my snakes...

but ya, id really like to see her eat, cause id really like her to become a mother

anyways, im open to any suggestion
thanks again
-josh

Josh,i am not being rude here.In your first post you said "you attempted to feed her 5 days after getting her",now you say it was at least 7 days.You also state your temps are between 90-95 as of now,your cool is 80 to 85 depending.In order for a new ball python to be happy and flurish they need to be giving at least a full week or two totaly left alone.Just by your two differant posts with differant days when first attempt made to feed her makes me think she is still stressed from being in a new place.Next what were your temps before now? If the temps are not at the correct levels they will refuse to eat.Since she is a wild caught and if your temps were under the 90 to 95 mark she could be thinking its breeding time and has her mind on other things.You also say you treated her belly can i ask how you treated it? If it is belly rot just keeping her dry is not enough she needs to be seen by a vet.Once again i am not being rude here just pointing out the possible reasons she is refusing to eat.

[Sadie]

Joe, he said that the belly has healed- if it was mild scale rot, it would have been shed with her skin.


Sounds more like she may be striking in self-defence. Or the prey may be too big and intimidating her. I agree that leaving her alone completely for a week and trying again is the best idea.

Also do not leave her alone with a large live rodent. If you do try this, make sure that it is a small one, and leave food in the enclosure for it.

Sometimes sellers lie about the snake eating, esp. wild caught. But it sounds like she'll come around.

Also make sure that you quarantine her for a couple months before trying to breed.

[Sadie]

Try a sheet of newspaper over her in the tub to make her feel more secure.

[frankykeno]

The fact is wild caughts aren't easy, especially if you are inexperienced. What did the seller tell you about how long this snake has been in captivity, what size of prey other than "live rat", etc. I don't know that the seller is going to give you the best information since he/she sold you a snake with belly rot which indicates some problems with that seller (at least it sure does to me).

You may want to have this snake seen by a vet to check for internal parasites and a general good going over. Put her in a very dark, quiet area (a big walk in closet is a great idea) and try to have very little to do with her until she's an established eater. What size live rat are you trying? You may want to go quite small (big pup or weanling size) just to get her interested again in eating then slowly work up to a nice chubby small rat or two a week.

[Ginevive]

I would never, ever recommend leaving a food item in there unattended (especially w/ the intentions of leaving feed for the animal in there also.) Joanna gave all of the rest of the advice I was going to give.. please get a bigger tub so that the snake can properly thermoregulate and doesn't have to choose between the right temperature and a secure hide.