When to try to feed again?

Hello,
it seems that I am someone who worries a lot but I want someone's opinion on this since I'm kind of freaking out. As I already posted once before I just have gotten my first ball python.
After his first week I tried to feed him and he did seem interested but didn't take it. I tried to feed him with an adult mouse (frozen) which is the perfect size for him. I know it could be that he is still stressed out and he is also used to eat living mice not dead ones but I am really worried since he is already 4,5 months old and just weighs 100g. He's about 13 inches long.
By the way the mouse smelled kind of bad and I think I let defrost for too long.
Now I think he's too stressed to eat today but I am really worried because he doesn't weigh enough for his age.
Do I really need to wait another week to try to feed him or what should I do?

Try healthy live mice

how did you thaw the mouse? was it warm enough? some snakes are picky, like they won't eat if it's not extremely warm or if it's wet. i would try to offer again in a week. he doesn't weigh much but it won't really make much difference in his weight. a lot of times it is a "waiting game". snakes won't starve themselves, it's just a matter of patience.

however if he still doesn't take it i would feed him prekilled or live for a while, just to get him up to a better weight. so that when you try frozen again he is at a decent weight and now you can really start playing "the waiting game"

He is probably a little too stressed for now. I would at least wait another 24 hours then try again. If he doesn't again wait a few days until he is more settled. As long as he isn't loosing weight or seems too skinny for his size I'm sure he's okay


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for my snake that's what i had to do. he wouldn't take prekilled or frozen, and he was very small, so i fed him live for a while. now he is taking prekilled and he will hopefully take frozen in the future. if your snake isn't eating and it's very small, it's best to give in now and try to switch later

(apologies if this is wrong)

I had a similar problem when I first brought my BP home. He wouldn't take the F/T mice directly from me. I eventually tried putting the mouse in his cage on a napkin and left him be for a bit. After about an hour I came back in the room and he was eating it. I think my baby is just shy about eating in front of me. I'm no expert, but you might give it a try, as it worked for me. Good luck and congrats on the new snake!

I would make sure it's really thawed out and nice and warm. I put mine in Ziploc baggies and put in the hottest water I can get out of the sink. Leave it in there until the water gets cold, or until the prey becomes a little squishy and the head doesn't feel cold/frozen. then get new hot water and do it again. Then replace the hot water once more. Then immediately take the bag out of the water, remove the prey and offer it. I use long tongs and will hold the rat/mouse by the skin on it's back and jiggle it around. I have had very good success with this method. Also, you can to wait and feed late at night when the room is darker. I don't have the experience as the others who have posted above, but personally I'd keep offering frozen/thawed and not go to live.

I feed at night. I take out to weigh, clean up her cage if needed and my son takes her while I put her ft rat pup in her cage. She then goes back in and tada there Is dinner. I have to feed her in her enclosure or she won't eat.

Ps...you all were right about feeding in her cage. I was wrong. Lol:)

Thanks to all of you for your help.
I tried to feed him with a frozen rodent again tonight at 2:00 am and this time he took it. He is swallowing it right now.
I heated the rodent up like suggested by LittleTreeGuy and tried to make sure it has the perfect temperature like suggested by paroxym and it worked :-)

Thank you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

I would make sure it's really thawed out and nice and warm. I put mine in Ziploc baggies and put in the hottest water I can get out of the sink. Leave it in there until the water gets cold, or until the prey becomes a little squishy and the head doesn't feel cold/frozen. then get new hot water and do it again. Then replace the hot water once more. Then immediately take the bag out of the water, remove the prey and offer it. I use long tongs and will hold the rat/mouse by the skin on it's back and jiggle it around. I have had very good success with this method. Also, you can to wait and feed late at night when the room is darker. I don't have the experience as the others who have posted above, but personally I'd keep offering frozen/thawed and not go to live.

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I use the exact same method, thou I go with rats. I'm going to start feeding my new guy ft. He took the weaned rat from the tongs while I had it caught by it's scruff.

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