Supposed Fussy Eater

I got an 8 month old OG and the shop says he's a fussy eater. I have almost a whole week t figure this out, so tell me if you guys think these are good ideas, and if not, I'm all ears :)

1. They have him on frozen hoppers, so I'm going to try a heavily monitored live feed, hoping its just that simple
2. If it gets ridiculous, I've heard Guinea Pigs will work, as that's what they eat in Africa, but that sounds kind of unethical lol only because they're pets, almost like feeding it a dog. I know they're rodents but still, it sounded weird to me, any thoughts on this would be appreciated
3. I'm hoping the way I'm storing him might just make a difference. He was in a tank that seemed a little too small, with crickets all inside his tank from the other tanks around him at the store. He's acclimating to his new home seemingly well as expected, more room, clean, proper conditions with temp and humidity etc, and enough hides on its hot and cool sides.

I think a combo of 1 and 3 is a realistic game plan, and could be a solution to this "picky eater". What do you guys think?

1) It could be just that simple. Also, you'll want to make sure he has appropriate sized meals.
2) Guinea pigs are just a crazy idea that you should forget you may have heard. a) They're from South America - BPs are from Africa - the two never meet naturally; b) They're way too big for a BP; c) There are much more economical food sources (rats).
3) Sounds good to me.

Lots of pet stores think they've got picky eaters on their hands. In reality, they have a snake that's a little too stressed out in its temporary sales floor environment to eat. Once they get home and secure, many of them turn into eating machines. I'm sure you'll have good luck with him.

I would try using an appropriate sized f/t rat or mouse first, then if he doesn't eat that, try live. I could be as simple as the stress he had from poor living conditions at the store. Good luck feeding him though!:gj:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

1) It could be just that simple. Also, you'll want to make sure he has appropriate sized meals.
2) Guinea pigs are just a crazy idea that you should forget you may have heard. a) They're from South America - BPs are from Africa - the two never meet naturally; b) They're way too big for a BP; c) There are much more economical food sources (rats).
3) Sounds good to me.

Lots of pet stores think they've got picky eaters on their hands. In reality, they have a snake that's a little too stressed out in its temporary sales floor environment to eat. Once they get home and secure, many of them turn into eating machines. I'm sure you'll have good luck with him.

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Hahaha yeah I thought that guinea pig stuff was a bunch of nonsense when I heard it lol
As far as the stressful sales floor thing, that was my logic too, I think it's just stressed. Thank you for your feedback :)

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Originally Posted by Kamerick

I would try using an appropriate sized f/t rat or mouse first, then if he doesn't eat that, try live. I could be as simple as the stress he had from poor living conditions at the store. Good luck feeding him though!:gj:

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That's pretty much where I'm at with it too, thank you :)

Guinea pigs and ball pythons! That was a good laugh! I would forget everything that person told you.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Guinea pigs and ball pythons! That was a good laugh! I would forget everything that person told you.

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Haha I know right? I thought it sounded wrong on a few levels lol I had to ask though

In Africa they eat African Soft Furred rats, or ASF.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Guinea pigs and ball pythons! That was a good laugh! I would forget everything that person told you.

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Actually balls go nuts for guinea pigs. Feed one to a ball one time and they usually wont eat anything else. So while the reasoning may have been nonsense their is a precedented history of BPs going crazy for guinea pigs

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Originally Posted by CryHavoc17

Actually balls go nuts for guinea pigs. Feed one to a ball one time and they usually wont eat anything else. So while the reasoning may have been nonsense their is a precedented history of BPs going crazy for guinea pigs

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Ok, now I'm just confused lol ok, I just googled ball pythons and guinea pigs, and without getting to into it, I could see there seems to be some merit to this. People are claiming to have done this. So at this point, I gotta ask, is it ethical to feed one to your snake? I suppose if you did, you wouldn't buy an expensive one at a conglomerate store, but maybe someone who breeds them. And obviously it would have to be fed to a full grown ball python, that's how I would see it going down. So do people breed these as food or what?