New ball python not eating

I got a new ball python 2 weeks ago and he still has not eaten. I understand that he needs time to adjust still, but does anyone have any tips to get him eating?

How old (or how big) is your snake?

What type/size prey is being offered?

How often do you offer food?

What type and size of enclosure does it live in?

What are you using as substrate? If it has depth, how deep is it?

What type of heating do you use?

Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures?

What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures?

What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure?

What is the average humidity level?

How many and what type of hides does the snake have?

Is water readily available at all times?

How often and for how long is the snake typically handled?

Can you describe your setup? Enclosure size? Temps? Humidity? Substrate? Do you have tight hides? Do you use a digital thermometer?

How big is your BP? Have you handled it since you have had him? How often?

What prey type and size have you been offering?

He was hatched 2nd last year.

I got him 3/8/14.

230g

I offered him food on:
All food offerings were thawed out
3/10/14 Frozen mouse
3/12/14 Frozen mouse
3/14/14 Fuzzy (frozen)
3/16/14 Fuzzy (frozen)

10 gallon

shredded aspen. 1/4 to 1/2 in deep

large heat pad and lamp (day bulb)

hydro-farm thermostat regulator

70 on cool side. 80 on warm

60%

1 large half log (hides there in the day)

A large water dish is in the cage to keep humidity up that is always full

I was excited the first two days i got him. I handled him for about 5 minuets the first 2 days. and about 2 days after that another 15 minuets. (Probably not the best idea)

This is my first snake!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fognar

He was hatched 2nd last year.

I got him 3/8/14.

230g

I offered him food on:
All food offerings were thawed out
3/10/14 Frozen mouse
3/12/14 Frozen mouse
3/14/14 Fuzzy (frozen)
3/16/14 Fuzzy (frozen)

10 gallon

shredded aspen. 1/4 to 1/2 in deep

large heat pad and lamp (day bulb)

hydro-farm thermostat regulator

70 on cool side. 80 on warm

60%

1 large half log (hides there in the day)

A large water dish is in the cage to keep humidity up that is always full

I was excited the first two days i got him. I handled him for about 5 minuets the first 2 days. and about 2 days after that another 15 minuets. (Probably not the best idea)

This is my first snake!

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I highlighted a few issues

Your temps are way off you want 76/78 on the cool side and 86/88 on the warn side, you want to have a tight hide to make you BP feel secure (preferably two since it is a glass enclosure).

You want to feed an appropriate size prey, your BP can take an adult mouse or a rat put, fuzzies are way too small not even appropriated for an hatchling out of the egg.

At this point you want to offer live until he eats for you and on a regular basis then after that you can switch, you also want to offer food once a week and not every two days (offering too soon after a refusal only stresses the animal leading to more refusal)

And until he eats with consistency, no handling.

Couple things I notice immediately...Your warm spot might be too cool. 90 degrees is optimal for the warm spot. He may not be eating because he doesn't have enough heat to digest properly.

Also, you might want to try using a hide on both ends of the tank. Don't make him choose between the right temp, and security. I would ditch the half log hide. The only people who think those are worth anything are the guys at PETCO who sell them. Use something that will completely conceal your snake when it is inside.

There is also a chance that your snake will only eat live, but if you got this snake from one of the big box pet stores, chances are it's eaten F/T at least a couple of times.

Work on your temps and your hides. I bet he'll come around.

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Deb, you beat me this time LOL

Haha told u to feed live haha ps it's ray. And I told u to ditch the log