Should i trade in?

[hardball]

So I have had my BP for a couple weeks now and he wont eat for me. He was only about 3 weeks old when i got him. Hes starting to look thin IMO, i can see loose skin hanging off of him and i decided to call up the place i bought him from and try there suggestion of trying a smaller mouse as that is what they have done with the youngns. He said to present it and if he doesnt take it right away to take it back out and try again in a couple hours until he takes it but that hasnt worked either. I like him but with his young age and refusal to eat im wondering if I should ask to trade for a better eater. Think this is possible or worth the trouble? Hes been a very calm docile snake but probably to a point that its not good for his survival. Im concerned.

[Nate]

As your first ball python, I could understand taking him back...but what if you get another just like it?

Ball pythons are notorious picky eaters. It's just one of the bad that comes with the good. I have a few that are like that and my conditions are near perfect...they're just not happy with the switch from live to f/t at the moment

What are you feeding? Frozen/Thawed or Live?

[hardball]

ive been feeding live. Originally offering a small jumper i believe and today i tried a hopper still with no luck. Im thinking of checking with him again tomorow to see if they have one that he knows has been eating good, and whether or not they would accept a trade. I feel like i have bonded with the little guy but i would prefer having a healthy BP in the long run.

[wildlifewarrior]

WHat time of day are you feeding?


~mike

[hardball]

ive been feeding at night typically after hes started cruising. Today was an exception ive been trying to feed him every couple hours like the guy said since about 1pm.

Is there anything else i can do for him? this is kind of a last resort.

[chris B]

IMO dont try feeding him again for a lil while for maybe 4 days and see what happens. Just my opinion though.

[hardball]

how bout handling wise? After he didnt eat last week i didnt handle him from Monday to monday and the only handling of him was to move him into the tub and after he didnt eat there i decided to take him on the couch with me for a few minutes and thats the only handling in the past week.

[SPJ]

What size cage is he in?
What are the temps on the hot/cool sides?
How many hides and where are they located?

If the setup is OK then try leaving him alone for a week and then put a live fuzzie in for him to eat.

[hardball]

What size cage is he in?
What are the temps on the hot/cool sides?
How many hides and where are they located?

If the setup is OK then try leaving him alone for a week and then put a live fuzzie in for him to eat.

10 gallon, 89-95 on warm end, 1 hide on each side.
I tried that this week and no luck.
i bought him a red light bulb today too so as to keep down the disturbance.

[Holbeird]

The only other thing I could say that I tried (as "gruesome" as it may be with mine) I've taken fresh killed mice, and taken a knife to their heads, opening it up so that the brains are showing (and i'll use the knife to smear some of the brains on the mouses head) then I'll use tongs to hold the mouse by the tail and dance it around 3-6 inches away from the snake (dont get too close or bop the snake on the head like i've seen some people because to some snakes this just scares the poor things!) and normally the brains do the trick for my snakes. I've had EVERY one take pre-killed once I've brained em but one snake, and that's because she just has to be stubborn. She was my first and can just be a pain in the arse!