trying to figure out the best way to feed

we just adopted our 1st bp. ive always loved snakes and he was a totally spontanious decision. felll madly in love with him the minute i held him. his temperment is perfect, he enjoys being handled and is very active especially at night. he is the perfect package. just trying to figure out how he prefers to be fed. we left him at the pet store for 2 weeks so we could become more educated and properly set up his tank. not sure of his weight but i know hes 53 inches and THICK! actually not posative if it is a boy. ive done a TON of research and have worn the guy at the pet store out! he also owns bps. the 1st time we attempted to feed him was at the pet store. he stunned the rat but not enough and it was bouncing on gomez trying to get out. after that he wouldnt have anything to do with it. the rat died shortly after so we left it in his tank. he said it was gone the next day. we brought him home a few days later and attempted to feed him a few days after that. we tried the same approach. we stunned the rat very well and he still wanted nothing to do with it. we left it in his tank for about 24 hours before we tossed it. needing some good advice on the best approach. i like the idea of a seperate feeding tub for many reasons but am not sure about throwing in a totally alert rat. have heard too much about injuries occuring. but he dosent seem interested in stunned or dead rats. we are TOTAL beginners, a whole week into it so i want to start out doing everything the best way for health, happiness and longevity of our super sweet bp.

First of all, welcome to the site and congrats on your new ball python.

I suggest waiting and leaving your new snake alone for at least another week (that means no handling...as hard as that sounds). I also suggest checking out this caresheet to be sure your husbandry is correct (you'd be surprised how much incorrect info it out there...)

What is your enclosure like? What are you using for heat? What kind of hides are you using? What kind of substrate are you using? What are your temps and humidity? Any and all info would help, pictures would be even better ;)

Again, welcome and congrats :D

he is in a 75 gallon rectangle replite aquarium with screen lids. we cover with towels if needed to regulate temp. 48" long, 22" tall, 24" deep. his substrate is aspen shavings. he has a half log hide, a climbing log and a good size short water bowl. his humidity goes between 50-60 with no interventions. he has a large under tank heater set on a reaostat (sp?) at just under medium on one side which stays between 88-92 degrees. the other side has a UVB light, and a mini combo deep dome set on a timer. day comes on at 530 a.m., night, which is black heat, comes on at 700. p.m. its general temp stays around 80-86. both bulbs are 75 watts. he shed about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks ago. i just joined the site today at work and will try to get some pics up when i get home. i love this site! ive learned sooo much more since ive been lookin around the forums. pleeease ask any other questions or offer any good adivice if it will make for a more comfortable life for gomez. we handeled him several times a week before we brought him home and have handled him since. he really seems to enjoy it. when we put him up he runs along the tank parascoping and looking out like he wants back out. hes very laid back and curious at the same time. have seen nothing that suggests agression or fear.

and his tank is completely covered on 3 sides.

totally agree with LGray23. ive had my BP for a over a month now and feeding has become a very easy routine...i am totally new to this also and understand what your going through... it took my guy 3 weeks before he started eating... i would leave him alone for the week take him out into a tub and feed him.. if he didnt go for it i would put him back and leave him for a week, and so on. finally he realized that "you dont eat u gotta wait"... now once i put him in the tub and show him the mouse he goes right at it.. i leave him for about 10 min so he can do his thing and i put him back in the tank.. believe me dude it gets much easier, just make sure you have the right temps and good hiding places. remember if you cant see him than he cant see you so he feels safe.... good luck :gj:

I'm starting to feel lucky... our new 2 mo old BP ate the first time we tried to feed him, just three days after bringing him home.

He'd been eating live hoppers at the shop, and the owner recommended feeding live for two or three more times before we try to switch to f/t.

Just a word of advice, a 75 gallon terrarium is a little big for a bp. They are solitary animals and actually prefer somewhat confine spaces, hence why they like hides so much, it makes them feel safe. Also, don't put him/her in a seperate "feeding" tub. All that does is create stress on the animal which can lead to them not eating. Hope this helps a little and welcome to the site :D

We just got this years bps both on f/t, it just takes alot of patience. I was sitting with the fuzzy in forcepts soaking it, taking temps waiting for my pinstripe to come out of his hide in the dark. I give it a little action and if they don't hit it I leave it. If the rat is still there a few hours later I give it to my corn snakes. Its a really great feeling when they start hammering those rats! Good luck:)

just lettimg ya know, its been very hard, but havent handled gomez in 4 days. im still continuing the research. were gonna try again monday night, that will be a week since attempting to feed and 8 days since handling. his temps and humidity have been good consistantly. gonna try feeding him in his tank instead of a seprate tub and see how that goes. as for his tank, i wish i could figure out how to post a pic so you can see the whole set up. its not really alot of open space between his bowl, hide and climbing log. hes pretty big and seems to be pretty social/active from what i know about bps. he does spend a lot of time in his hide but also likes to stretch out over his hide and climbing log during the day and is deffinetly active at night. im really hoping its not too big. im gonna hate to have to get a new 1. then i will have to find a new pet to occupy this 1.

I agree that the 75 gallon tank is probably too big, and I really suggest not moving to feed him either. It's not worth the added stress. Why don't you get a 20 gallon long temporarily until he starts eating and puts on weight?? Or better yet, a tub (I know some people don't like them but they really are a lot more useful than tanks).