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new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Hello Everyone,
I would like to ask for some advice with my very first ball python! I have her for 2 month, she is probably 8 month old, or at least told to be. She is around 270 grams. About my husbandary: I keep her in a terrarium with UTH and infrared light both on thermostats 7/24. The warm side is 31-33 C and cool side is 25-29 C. She always use only her hide on the warm side, never goes to hides on the cool side. The humidity is varying 40-70 %, last week she shed perfectly one piece. I handle her only very few occasions, when I need to check or when she is wondering around and wants to come out on her own.
I started to feed her 2 weeks after I got her, and I was happy that she accepted fresh killed mouse, as the breeder kept her on live. I feed her 4 times, 3 hoppers and a big adult. Then I decided to switch her to rats to create me problems... :weirdfaceI offerd her dead rats the size as an adult mouse and she refused it 4 times allready for a month now. ( ok, one time she started to go to shed the next day, the other time defecated) I always tried to smell the rat with mouse and heat up, and wiggle it in front of her. She is a bit interested, but don't stike. When she refused the rat, than I offered the mouse, too that I used for smelling, but also not eating. Now, I start to worry, that I made it wrong and she will not even eat mouse! I haven't seen a lot pythons, but I'm afraid she is skinny, what you think?
What would you do in my place, try to insist on rats or try to offer her mice again? Or try to buy asf rat?
Thank you for any opinion or advice!
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Try giving her a live one. It will suck to have to "restart" in a sense of getting her to f/t but as soon as she starts eating rats you can continue to pre-kill then move on to f/t.
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I'm not sure if this is a thing or not that others may have experienced but my guy likes females. I tried feeding him male mice/rats and he went on strike until I offered a female. Also maybe consider the time of day that you're feeding her? Try later in the evening or in different lighting.
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Thank you so much for the recommendations!
I gave her a live female rat yesterday.First She was very upset When the rat touched her huffing and puffing. Then She slowly turned back and neared the rat with S neck. I was praying to strike She really seemed todoing that. Then chaged her mind and fleeing all over the cage seemed to try to escape. So it was a month without eating and She is tiny. Maybe I try a live mouse Next week. She might be afraid of rats. Or maybe She doesnt like somethingin the husbandary - Im not experienced, I can not tell. Any further comments are very much appreciated!
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
My bp was afraid of mice that had their eyes open. Get a live rat pup (eyes closed) and just put it in the tub with your bp. I guarentee if your bp's hungry it will eat it within the hour
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Thank you for the advice! I have noticed, that the rat bit her, not only touched her, I have seen little pink spots. Luckily its not bad, but can be seen in a white skin. I will try to get a closed eyed rat, it won't be easy, the shops sell here only weaned rats.
She is very active nowdays, I think because of hungry. Do you think that something can be off with the husbandary? She is in her hide on the warm spot during the day, and out 17-22 h and wandering on the cooler side. She seems to searching for a way out, as she spends alot of time vertically on the glass. I tried to put several hides on the cool side, but she never once went inside. Please look at the terrarium in my gallery and tell me what you think.
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Looks fine to me, humidity might be off becuase it's such a big terrarium. Just try to find the fuzzy rat. Look for reptile expos etc near you. If you are really worried about your terrarium, switch Temporaraly to a tub. Tubs are really cheap at Walmart.
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Hello,
I would like to update: I left 2 closed eyed rat in the terrarium last night, (scented with an ASF rat) and I found them live in the morning. The snake was too busy with trying to get out of the enclosure. She more and more behaves like a maniac, climbing glass and thermostat probe since she is not eating. What do you think to give up turning her to rats? She is not eating for 1,5 moths and seems to me slightly thinner. What should I do? It is better to eat mouse then nothing isn't it? By me she ate dead mice before. I'm thinking on giving her a live mouse tomorrow just to be sure to go back to eating mode. I also have a live ASF and several in the fridge. and lots of frozen rats, too.
I will also try to put her in a smaller tub, but it takes for me some weeks to get the ordered heat mat and things.
Thanks for any input!
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Helló
Lássuk, tudok segíteni. Az én magyar nem olyan jó, szólj, ha megérted.
Két hónap nem hosszú ideig nem eszik. Próbálok több, mint hetente stresszt okozhat. Ha a kígyó nem eszik, tedd el, és várjon legalább hét napig. Kígyók gyors hónapokig, nem probléma. Freeze a baba patkányok, akkor lehet újra, ha még friss, ha fagyott.
Megváltoztatása a környezet is okozhat stresszt. Ami miatt nem eszik. Akkor lett volna, hogy a két hónap, igen? Várjon egy-két hétig, és nem kezelési egyáltalán. Ezután próbálja meg újra baba patkány. Kölyökkutya? Nem, nem egészen szó.
Próbáld ki, hogy a beteg, tudom, hogy nehéz.
remélem ez segít
oh!- Mivel az aktív is lehet a jele, a stressz. Ő egy új otthon, úgyhogy neki megnyugodni. Túl ideges enni.
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Re: new ball python didn't switch to rats but stopped eating
Try putting you bp in a plastic tub (a flatter one with not a lot of height) with just paper towel in it and then the live rats (eyes closed so it can't hurt ur bp) then cover the container with a towel. Maker sure to put holes in the tub.
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