Please Please Help.

[swtbrat]

I know you all have heard this before but my ball python won't eat.

I bought 4 snakes together from the same breeder.All are kept in the same kind of enviroment,same heat,same setup but all in seperate racks.

I received them Sept 9th,2008.

Three have been great eaters and eat once a week and have gained weigh but one female albino has not eaten on her own for 2 months.The others who weighed the same as her are now 150 grams plus while she is still at 62 grams.
There is really nothing I haven't tried that I know of,I have taken and tried every suggestion.
I have tried mice,rats,hamsters,gerbils,asf rat,all sizes pinkys to hoppers,dead and alive.Some were brained.deli cups,chicken broth,paper bags,she spends the night with them and they are still there in the morning.
I am really upset because nothing works.

I did force feed her 3 weeks ago but I donot want to do that again unless it would help get her started.
The breeder did offer to exchange her if I pay to ship her back and at this time I can't afford it and I am kinda attached to her.
Breeder said I was handling her too much so I didn't handle her at all and it doesn't seem to matter.
I really hope someone out there has an answer for me.
Brat!

[anendeloflorien]

How is her tub setup? Does she have a secure hide at either end? What temps are you keeping them at? Was she sold to you as a well-started feeding snake?

[Freakie_frog]

My first question to you is have you contacted the breeder yet and let them know that your having issues. Its in your best interest to get with the breeder and let them know. If the worst is to happen you can't expect to get any kind of help from the breeder if your hitting them out of the blue with "she didn't eat for 4 months and died".
Did the breeder offer feeding records with the animal?
Next I'd say get some more food in her even if it means force feeding. Then fill her tub with crumpled up news paper and leave her alone just check her water and make sure still still among the living. Getting her eating is first priority.

[FatBoy]

Next I'd say get some more food in her even if it means force feeding. Then fill her tub with crumpled up news paper and leave her alone just check her water and make sure still still among the living. Getting her eating is first priority.

My thoughts exactly. I had a hatchling this year that refused meal after meal and I had to force feed her 4 meals, after that things kicked in and she hasn't refused since and is growing well and catching up.

[swtbrat]

Freakie Frog,if you read my complete post you will see that I have been in contact with the breeder the whole time,he is aware of the problem.

The breeder did offer to exchange her if I pay to ship her back and at this time I can't afford it and I am kinda attached to her.
Breeder said I was handling her too much so I didn't handle her at all and it doesn't seem to matter.

As far as her set up is concerned,I have 10 ball pythons and all are set up the same way and 9 are doing great and this girl is not.
As I said I have tried everything I was told to do.
She has 2 hides,one on each side of rack,she has paper towels for hiding also.
She was sold as a eating snake as were the other three I bought her with.
One end is 90 degrees while the cooler side is 78 degrees,she has a water dish and the humidity is at 55 %.
Brat!

[Freakie_frog]

Freakie Frog,if you read my complete post you will see that I have been in contact with the breeder the whole time,he is aware of the problem.

Best of luck

[West Coast Jungle]

I would try to bump up the cool side to 84. 78 might just be enough to make her go off feed. Usually temps and security are the biggest reasons why they wont eat. Higher temps will increase her metabolism making her hungry and covering the enclosure with newspaper should make her more secure. Leave her for a week try too feed again. If that doesnt get her started than and assist feeding should get her going.

Best of luck

[Somed00d]

I would bump the warm side to 94 and raise the humidity. Both are known to stimulate feeding.

Since you have already assist fed her you may have to keep doing it until she feeds on her own, it is likely the smell of food is associated with the stress of assist feeding. I would assist once a week until it eats on its own again.

[rabernet]

.
The breeder did offer to exchange her if I pay to ship her back and at this time I can't afford it

This begs the question - if you can't afford shipping, will you be able to afford to get her to a vet if she starts to decline in health?

Remember when you ask for help - people are taking the time to respond to your problem by asking additional questions. Don't be so quick to blow them off.

[FatBoy]

This begs the question - if you can't afford shipping, will you be able to afford to get her to a vet if she starts to decline in health?

Remember when you ask for help - people are taking the time to respond to your problem by asking additional questions. Don't be so quick to blow them off.

Was wondering kinda the same thing....can afford a female Albino and 3 other snakes but can't afford to ship one snake...huh???