Feeding Failure

After having him for a week, I tried to feed my new baby ball. He is really small, smaller than the babies I've seen friends buy.

I tried to feed him a F/T hopper, because I have tons and it's a good size for him. Needless to say he didn't go for it. He got excited and looked it over, then just left it alone.

I learned my baby was fed live mice before I got him, so I've decided to go with live until he's fatter and trusts me more, then try the switch.

How long until I try again?

How much does he weigh/how big is he?

Generally, it would be okay to try and feed him in the next 3-5 days and I would definitely offer live if that is what he was eating before you got him.

He's not that big, but I don't have an actual weight because I haven't handled him except to put him in his enclosure. He was about the size of a hopper at his widest point. I'm thinking of trying a live mouse friday or saturday night. At this point would it be worth taking him out to get a weight? I'm curious now.

When I got my girl she was 67 grams and fed live mice, I am unsure of what size. I first tried a rat pup a couple days after getting her, she didn't take it. I really wasn't expecting her to though. Then I tried a live mouse hopper and she at it. She was fed live hoppers two more times, the last time off tongs. Next I gave her a live rat pup that was about the same size as the mice she was eating. She ate that, so the next feeding was another rat pup, live, from tongs. Since then she has been eating F/T rat pups from tongs for me with no issue at all. I did it slowly because I know that some BP can be really picking. And I really wanted her to eat rats because I breed them. I started with what she was already taking to get her eating. She is not about 150 grams or so. Maybe 160.

Awesome story Annageckos. I would like to get my new python eating like yours eventually. It would be great if my would eat frozen rat pups someday. I have quite a few because my corn snake likes them.

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Originally Posted by King Neptune

He's not that big, but I don't have an actual weight because I haven't handled him except to put him in his enclosure. He was about the size of a hopper at his widest point. I'm thinking of trying a live mouse friday or saturday night. At this point would it be worth taking him out to get a weight? I'm curious now.

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Eh, I wouldn't stress him out by putting him on a scale and getting his weight. I would start regularly weighing him though, especially if he continues to not eat.

I was just trying to get a visual on how big he was and you did a fine job with your explanation above. Friday sounds like a good day to try and feed again and yes, I would definitely go with something that he is use to (i.e. live). Just let us know how it goes, okay? :)

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Originally Posted by RuthlessReptiles

Eh, I wouldn't stress him out by putting him on a scale .:)

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I just want to second this.
It is more important that he settles in and feels comfortable, so he will then eat.

Harry

Just an update, I fed him a live mouse today and he ate it no problem. I also was too curious and weighed him prior to feeding. He's only 63 grams! I fed him a "crawler" mouse and it left a nice lump in his belly.

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Originally Posted by King Neptune

Just an update, I fed him a live mouse today and he ate it no problem. I also was too curious and weighed him prior to feeding. He's only 63 grams! I fed him a "crawler" mouse and it left a nice lump in his belly.

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Congrats! You could easily up the prey size to a hopper next time.