How long to wait before force feeding?

We just got baby ball python and the store we got it from gave us his feeding chart. The store had him 2 weeks and noted he didn't eat any of the times he was offered a pinkie. I got some pinkies and have tried to feed him twice and both times he has not eaten. I've read some forums on here where force feeding was recommended, but I'm not sure at what point that is recommended. My first thought is to switch him from the 55 gallon tank we got him to a smaller tank as I've read larger tanks can stress out baby BP's. Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

How long have you had him? First stop offering food and let him settle in. At least a week with no handling, no feeding. Then try offering food but only once a week. Balls, even babies can go a LONG time with out eating. He needs to settle first. Continually offering food is stressful. A smaller tank could help or you could try making the 55 very cluttered.

Whats his weight.... and a 55galon is defiantly too big(if he isnt eating), try buying a 6qt lidded tub and use that till he gets bigger. Do not force feed especially being your first snake this causes more harm then benefits when it isnt needed to be done.

Pinkies are too small!

A 55 gallon is too big. Move him down to a 10 gallon with hide. Whenever receiving a new snake it is wise to leave it alone for 1-2 weeks before feeding. That means no handeling also. Assist feed should always be done before force. All depends on his overall look. If he is healthy looking and doesnt look skinny then could probably wait a little while before offering food. I would go a week inbetween feeding also. A lot of ball pythons are more enticed to take a live rodent over a dead one so i suggest finding a live rat and offering that first. If he still aint eating and looks skinny and unhealthy then assist feed him. Take a F/T pinky rat and rub the nose of it on the snakes mouth to open it. Take a pair of tongs and grab the rat by the head and slowly and carefully move the rat into the snakes throat. Then place snake back into enclosure. The trick here is that the rat gets stuck down in his throat to a point the ball python finally realizes he cant spit it up then starts taking it down on his own. Good luck!

If you have an hatchling on your hands then you need to provide proper husbandry.

Force feeding is not something recommended lightly and should only be done when all other options have been exhausted.

Assuming you have an hatchling you need to do the following.

Get a 6 quarts plastic tub (15 quarts at the very most)

Use aspen as bedding

Provide 1 or two PLASTIC flower pot saucer

Provide a hot side of 88 degrees.

Leave your BP alone for a week, NO HANDLING

Offer a live appropriately sized mouse (equal you BP's girth size)

55 gallons will not work with an hatchling even if cluttered a smaller tank will likely not be a better option either.

While adults can go off feed for a long time an hatchling should be VORACIOUS and should be eating.

Also pinkies if pinkie mice are also not appropriated for a BP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HVani

How long have you had him? First stop offering food and let him settle in. At least a week with no handling, no feeding. Then try offering food but only once a week. Balls, even babies can go a LONG time with out eating. He needs to settle first. Continually offering food is stressful. A smaller tank could help or you could try making the 55 very cluttered.

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I got him last Thursday...it's now Monday. So no handling for 1 week then offer food again?

Not sure of his weight, but he's approximately 14" long. He doesn't look skinny, but this is my first BP and I'm not 100% sure if he should be thicker or not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

If you have an hatchling on your hands then you need to provide proper husbandry.

Force feeding is not something recommended lightly and should only be done when all other options have been exhausted.

Assuming you have an hatchling you need to do the following.

Get a 6 quarts plastic tub (15 quarts at the very most)

Use aspen as bedding

Provide 1 or two PLASTIC flower pot saucer

Provide a hot side of 88 degrees.

Leave your BP alone for a week, NO HANDLING

Offer a live appropriately sized mouse (equal you BP's girth size)

55 gallons will not work with an hatchling even if cluttered a smaller tank will likely not be a better option either.

While adults can go off feed for a long time an hatchling should be VORACIOUS and should be eating.

Also pinkies if pinkie mice are also not appropriated for a BP.

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What are the PLASTIC flower pot saucers for?

Confused by your statement: 55 gallons will not work with an hatchling even if cluttered a smaller tank will likely not be a better option either. 55 gallon will not work but a smaller on is not a better option???

If pinkies are not appropriate, what would you suggest? I've read a few articles that suggest crickets. He's about 14" long and thinner than a garden hose.

the pots would be used as hides. I'm assuming