Anything you can do about picky eaters?

I recently acquired a male ball python that is a year old and only 275 grams. The previous owner said they'd offer to feed him every week but he wouldn't eat that often. It's been four weeks since I've had him and he hasn't eaten live or f/t mice or rats. I have him in a 28qt tub with aspen substrate, three hides, a water dish, and a towel covering the front at all times. Hot spot is at 89, cold side 82, humidity 55%. I've left him overnight with mice that aren't weaned but he wont go for anything. He strikes defensively at me and f/t and spends all of his time in his most secure hide. I've never had an adult snake be this picky and freaked out before. Anything you can do for a BP that seems to be finicky its whole life?

Downsize the tub to the smallest one possible it will in most cases do the trick, I only move male in a 32 quarts tubs when they are 650+ grams, this ensure that they are eating especially during their first breeding season or the winter months.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Downsize the tub to the smallest one possible it will in most cases do the trick, I only move male in a 32 quarts tubs when they are 650+ grams, this ensure that they are eating especially during their first breeding season or the winter months.

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Agreed, snakes that small can get overwhelmed.

I originally put him in a 6qt hatching tub with a hide for a week, but he was always tightly balled up and out of his hide whenever I saw him in there and I thought he looked like he felt vulnerable? Anyway, went out and bought this tub tonight. It has a low roof which is nice and gives him more room than a 6qt. He slithered right into his hide and is peeking out.


Does this look like a good sized tub for him?

http://i.imgur.com/N2dLncd.jpg

Yeah, that looks better. I think you'll have success now. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by Bigfish1975

Yeah, that looks better. I think you'll have success now. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Thanks! I'm feeling confident with this tub and I'm thinking it'll do the trick. (: In a week I'll give him a rat crawler over night and see if he takes it.

Just a heads-up - cardboard is prime bacteria breeding grounds. It might work short term (like for the night), but I don't recommend it. The second it gets wet it's pretty much dunzo.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Just a heads-up - cardboard is prime bacteria breeding grounds. It might work short term (like for the night), but I don't recommend it. The second it gets wet it's pretty much dunzo.

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I swap them out weekly or as whenever they get wet, do you think that's fine?

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Originally Posted by Galaxygirl

I swap them out weekly or as whenever they get wet, do you think that's fine?

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I wouldn't leave in a cardboard over hide over night or any time at all 1 because bacteria like said In the previous reply and two because when it gets wet the ink from the cardboard can come out and get onto the snake and it's a pain to come off

It's been 10 days since I originally posted. Gave him a live rat weanling that he won't eat. He's sitting at 275g for the last couple weeks. Weighed about 280 when I got him.