Feeding problems

Hey so recently I have been feeding my ball and she has been all finicky. Like she wouldn't eat for two weeks I fed her and she was eating and then left it. And I fed her and she left it for a weekend etc. ugh. So finally she eats and ate perfectly I might add. Now tonight I feed her and I don't know how but she managed to pop the guts or something brown out and that stuck to a lot of shavings. I know they can injest a few but it was a big blob of shavings stuck to what I will call the guts. I tried to pull some off but couldn't get many. Then she had a difficult time swallowing and I'm kinda freaking out. Her face smells to by the way. I also wanted to ask when feeding my ball seem to bite at the side of the rat and then she takes forever to find the head so she can eat. Is that normal? Am I doing something wrong? So I just wanted to ask and get some opinions on the matter as well what u guys think. Thanks so much

Sorry the other concern I have that I forgot to mention was that do u think the shavings could have scratched up her throat or got stuck. I don't know and so it scared me. She was moving find after but still. And this may be a dumb question but do u think the guts/poo would infect her per say. I mean cause its suppose to stay on the inside of the rat ugh. I know I sound crazy but I'm all scared for my little girl :(

The way she eats is normal. The rat either popped open from the freezing weakening the skin or from overheating it. The guts get digested anyway so this doesn't hurt them. I wouldn't worry about the shavings. They will probably just pass through her. You could avoid the shavings by feeding on a paper towel. If you temps are good and she has places to hide, she's OK skipping a meal or two now and then. A lot of BPs do that.

I've got a question unrelated. My BP always feeds backwards. I offer him the head and he takes it, but he always readjusts so he eats from the tail end first. I never really thought much of it until recently I've seen a few people express concern about their snakes doing it once or twice. Why is that? Does it matter that my baby does it all the time?

No, doesn't matter which end they take first. Some snakes are just weird! I had a Puff Adder that tried to eat it's rodents sideways before finally giving up and taking one end or the other. Did it his whole life!

What kind of shavings are you using?

Everything else sounds normal. F/t will often pop, especially if it's the second time you have thawed them out. If it takes her a while or she doesn't eat it after she coils it you should leave her alone as soon as you see her constrict the prey. Some BPs are very shy and don't like an audience or commotion in the same room while they eat.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

What kind of shavings are you using?

Everything else sounds normal. F/t will often pop, especially if it's the second time you have thawed them out. If it takes her a while or she doesn't eat it after she coils it you should leave her alone as soon as you see her constrict the prey. Some BPs are very shy and don't like an audience or commotion in the same room while they eat.

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I use aspen shavings I recently changed from my cypress mulch cause I saw spinetails (well the little white tiny bugs)

Another rat popped open again. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong this has never happened before except the one last time. I'm not dethawing and refreezing or anything I freezer them take them out to dethaw and heat up in warm water. Is there any way I can stop these from popping cause she keeps getting guys on her and its just gross. This didn't use to happen

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Originally Posted by Megz

Another rat popped open again. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong this has never happened before except the one last time. I'm not dethawing and refreezing or anything I freezer them take them out to dethaw and heat up in warm water. Is there any way I can stop these from popping cause she keeps getting guys on her and its just gross. This didn't use to happen

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How long have the rats been in the freezer? I read that if they get freezer burned they're more likely to pop as that can weaken the skin. Also, how hot is your hot water? My hot water heater is set to 110*F and I've never had a snake pop a feeder, but I figure it's just a matter of time with 25 snakes in the house.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

How long have the rats been in the freezer? I read that if they get freezer burned they're more likely to pop as that can weaken the skin. Also, how hot is your hot water? My hot water heater is set to 110*F and I've never had a snake pop a feeder, but I figure it's just a matter of time with 25 snakes in the house.

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Oh snap maybe my water is too hot cause I put the rat in a baggy so it stays dry but I put 195* F in cause I find it warms it up well and faster. U think that could be the problem. Ill definitely try with 110*

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Originally Posted by Megz

Oh snap maybe my water is too hot cause I put the rat in a baggy so it stays dry but I put 195* F in cause I find it warms it up well and faster. U think that could be the problem. Ill definitely try with 110*

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Whoa, those are some well done rats! You don't need to cook them, just thaw them and feed at body temperature. I wouldn't eat something that was that hot either!

I have always let mine thaw in the window at home for a couple hours. Usually when I buy the frozen I have to run other errands to so it sits in the car thawing until I get home, then if it's still cold I set it on the porch to warm up. Then at bout 8pm I feed the thawed rat to Toke. Haven't had a problem except the first time when it wasn't thawed well and she spit it out and didn't touch it. Not sure if this is "safe" but I figure snakes on the wild eat all kinds a things so it shouldn't hurt. No worse than letting meat thaw in the sink at home I guess. in also only feeding her rat pups. Just stepped her up yo two tonight but she refused so either they weren't warm enough or she's in shed mode. I think her eyes are getting bluish. Hard to tell with the way she's hiding 24\7.....

So my BP is being stubborn I just don't get it. The thing is I thaw it but I read that your suppose to heat it up so they can recognize it persay. So in the past i've heated it up no problems etc. recently she hasn't been eating. I have done the same methods etc and she hasn't eaten for almost 2weeks. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. She smells it and turns her head along side it and looks like she with strike but doesn't and if it touches her she gets scared. It can be in front of her face and she doesn't eat it. I dethaw them for a long time and I know they are completly thawed but I don't know maybe I need to heat them a different way. Any suggestions? She has refused 2 times now. Both times the rat was dethawrd and warmed up and smelled like rat .. Trust me. Don't know what to do. Maybe she doesn't like rats anymore although she has never refused before. I know they are picky eaters but still. Suggestions on methods of feeding or feeding in general?

Have you tried leaving it on the floor of her enclosure overnight? She might need some privacy as well. What's her setup like?

I did actually one time I left it and went to work and it was gone. However, another time I left it when I went to my cottage and I came back to a dead rat that stink up the house. Not a good experience lol. She is in a tub but a big one persay hard to explain. It had a hot (84) and cool side (78) and a water dish and a branch she likes to lie on. She's on aspen shavings. So a good set up I would say. She use to eat so well I would lower the rat she would strike and boom dinner is served. And yet now she just looks and smells the rat. Almost like she just doesn't like it anymore. I'm pretty sure she's hungry but I don't get why she won't eat her rat.

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Originally Posted by Megz

Hey so recently I have been feeding my ball and she has been all finicky. Like she wouldn't eat for two weeks I fed her and she was eating and then left it. And I fed her and she left it for a weekend etc. ugh. So finally she eats and ate perfectly I might add. Now tonight I feed her and I don't know how but she managed to pop the guts or something brown out and that stuck to a lot of shavings. I know they can injest a few but it was a big blob of shavings stuck to what I will call the guts. I tried to pull some off but couldn't get many. Then she had a difficult time swallowing and I'm kinda freaking out. Her face smells to by the way. I also wanted to ask when feeding my ball seem to bite at the side of the rat and then she takes forever to find the head so she can eat. Is that normal? Am I doing something wrong? So I just wanted to ask and get some opinions on the matter as well what u guys think. Thanks so much

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Did anyone notice this?

Haha no. That may be why the one rat stunk so bad?

Also, it doesn't sound like she has any hides. Is the tub blacked out?

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Originally Posted by SnowShredder

Did anyone notice this?

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Lol u know what I mean. I put the rat in as I did the time before but this time she didnt eat it and I was gone that weekend so yes it stunk up. But yes she has a cold and hot side hide. Her living set up hadn't changed. She was eating perfectly for a long time in that set up and now she just doesn't want it. She gets close and smells it and looks like she will strike but never does. I don't know. Maybe cause she's older. I know they are picky eaters but it just seems weird

Can you post a pic of her setup? I still think she might just need some more privacy. I'd try throwing a towel over her tub next time you feed and leave the room for a few hours. And don't forget to take the rat out if she doesn't eat lol. I've never had any issues when leaving a rat overnight. The only time something bad happened was when a pink got stuck to the bottom of a tub. THAT was nasty haha.

Lol sounds nasty. Yah well that's the thing her set up has been the same and now she's just not hungry. I don't know. Ill try the towel and leaving it overnight. I did it the one time and she ate it and then the next time not so much. But ill try again. Thanks for the suggestions :)

Ok I need some help. I tried the towel and overnight suggestions and they didnt work. I dethaw and warm the rat and it smells like rat. I put it in and she comes out of her rock and smells it and goes right up to it but then turns away. I don't get it. She use to eat the rats without hesitant before. The feeding and preparation method hasn't changed so its not that. She is just not eating. I worry cause its been two weeks and she won't eat. I intend to buy a live rat but will she eat these frozen ones anymore like I don't know what to do. She has eaten frozen since she was born. Any thoughts?

Okay so I bought her a live gerbil just so that she would eat. I would still like any thoughts and suggestions relating to my problem before. But I would like to add to that "problem," my concern about feeding her the gerbil is that maybe she will only want gerbils and/or love prey. So yah any thoughts on how you guys think I can keep her eating the frozen rats she has always eaten except of course for the last two times. Thanks :D

I personally would have waited her out rather than getting a live gerbil. It's only been two weeks, right? They can safely go for months without feeding, depending on weight/ body condition. It would be helpful if you could toss up some pics of her and the setup. Just keep offering a frozen appropriately sized rat every week, or every second week if it appears she's in it for the long haul.

So just continue trying with the frozen and if she doesn't eat then she doesn't eat sorta thing? It's just weird to me that she stopped eating. Ill try to get some pictures soon my comp is being finicky.

She'll be fine missing just a few weeks. When it gets up toward 2 or 3 months, or she starts actively losing weight, then you can be worried. But normally, waiting her out will do the trick.

Also, thawing note: I put my rats in the fridge the night before feeding day, it lets them thaw out slowly over the course of the night (the same way you would a frozen piece of chicken if you were cooking it the next day). Then all I have to do is pop it in 110* water for 20-30 mins and it's ready to go.

Her hot-side temps are too low. Raise it about 5 degrees (88-90deg). BPs won't eat if they are too cool. Make sure the prey is fully thawed and warm, also. Oh, and what size rats are you feeding, and how big is she?

I would not recommend feeding a live gerbil. Gerbils WILL fight back, given the opportunity. I kept and bred gerbils as pets as a kid, and had a dog who was always really interested in the gerbils. One day I heard a crash, followed by the dog howling like someone was killing him. Ran into the room to find the gerbil cage knocked over, and the gerbil latched on to the dog's nose by his teeth.

Ill definitely raise the temperatures I didn't realize it was too low that's good to know thanks :) with the gerbil I made absolutely sure not to let it attack her so she's okay. I got worried but I guess jumped the gun. She is 3ft 9in and 954g the rats I feed her are small adult mice only as big as her width. Today I dethawrd it and let it sit out at room temperature then put it in her tank so hopefully that works

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Originally Posted by Megz

Ill definitely raise the temperatures I didn't realize it was too low that's good to know thanks :) with the gerbil I made absolutely sure not to let it attack her so she's okay. I got worried but I guess jumped the gun. She is 3ft 9in and 954g the rats I feed her are small adult mice only as big as her width. Today I dethawrd it and let it sit out at room temperature then put it in her tank so hopefully that works

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Maybe she's not eating because she wants a bigger meal? Adult mice are pretty small, I feed my 500g girl small rats. My pin is almost exactly the weight of yours, he gets medium rats or a few ASF, depending on what I have in the freezer.

i was reading on here somewhere that one's bp went for almost 9 months without eating then just began eating again...so it would seem two weeks aint much to a bp...my bp goes tow-three weeks sometimes...i just toss the rat outside and go get a new one after two weeks, trying again... i was also told when it first started happening to not try to feed her everyday...causes undue stress.. (see i do listen ppl :D) so i just waited till the next feeding day (which was in the middle of her shed, so i waited another= two weeks). toke was definitely fine...you sound like me when my human child stopped eating a nd became very very picky...the human doc told me to chill out, that he was an active 5 year old and i fed him healthy fod- not junk food and he was just staying fuller and not needing to keep stuffing his face...sorry im rambling...., anyway.... promise...shes fine :D

Ideally I wanna use up the small adult ones cause I do have medium ones the thing is they are bigger then her width and I was told when u feed it can't be any bigger then the widest part of the snake. She's not eating these ones so I feel she would eat the bigger ones then to. I see her at night always roaming like she always does when she's hungry. In the past she never missed a meal but for some reason she is now. I'm worried that maybe ever since that rat was left in the cage and it stink maybe she is traumatized or something. When I feed her these rats she just seems afraid of them now and/or has a complete lack of interet in them

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Originally Posted by crystlew123

i was reading on here somewhere that one's bp went for almost 9 months without eating then just began eating again...so it would seem two weeks aint much to a bp...my bp goes tow-three weeks sometimes...i just toss the rat outside and go get a new one after two weeks, trying again... i was also told when it first started happening to not try to feed her everyday...causes undue stress.. (see i do listen ppl :D) so i just waited till the next feeding day (which was in the middle of her shed, so i waited another= two weeks). toke was definitely fine...you sound like me when my human child stopped eating a nd became very very picky...the human doc told me to chill out, that he was an active 5 year old and i fed him healthy fod- not junk food and he was just staying fuller and not needing to keep stuffing his face...sorry im rambling...., anyway.... promise...shes fine :D

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Yah that does make sence. I use to feed her once a week but then it just stopped so I guess now she needs more time although she does seem hungry. Like ill put the rat in and she comes out to smell it and looks like she will strike but doesn't. I don't know what it is. Ill try waiting longer for her I just don't want her to lose weight drastically or anything. When peeping the frozen good I dethaw over night but them just need to heat it up. What do u think is the best way? Usually I put the rat in a zip lock and put that in hot water but that way the rat stays dry. Do u think that's the best way? The water I use is 175* so I don't leave it in too long. What do u think I should aim for when heating it up cause maybe that's the reason I don't know. Otherwise ill just wait as u said cause that shouldn't fail.

The water method works fine. Some balls even like their meals sopping wet. Which is good, because water always manages to get into my ziplock bags lol. Just make sure the rat is warm and soft, and you can't feel any coolness when you press on the chest. Keep in mind there's a fine line between warming your rat and cooking it :)

Can you post pics of her and the enclosure?

Oh that makes sense she use to eat the sopping ones okay ill definitely try that. Yah the fine line is a tough one cause I never know if I'm cooking it or not. As for pics ill do that tonight I can post one of her now

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1X1wyXX.png[/IMG]

http://i.imgur.com/o0ZOBi4.png

http://i.imgur.com/S77kWOt.png

Her enclosure with a UTH on the hot side (88 degrees F) and a 79degree cold side (76 at night) she has a constant day and night cycle. And aspen shavings.

http://i.imgur.com/6Qy81VM.png

Dimensions are (28"L x 17"W x 13"H)

Yet again two weeks without eating. I offered the mouse and did everything suggested and she is so not interested she starts going around not caring going right by and if anything gets scared of it. I feel as though maybe she is traumatized. I have alot of frozen rats (well not really but still) and if she doesn't want any what can I do. I'm going away to Scandinavia so that's another 10 days it will have been a month then without eating. Is that okay? I know you all say to wait it out I'm just worried.

She did eat a gerbil 10 days ago, right? I wouldn't be too concerned. She might just be holding out for something tasty lol. The last time you offered,was it a live mouse or f/t?

My theory is she is traumatized. She use to eat seamlessly and after the incident with the rat left in her enclosure and it stunk I think she's turned off. I don't know what to do. The last one was the gerbil cause I was worried since she wasnt eating. That was 10 days ago and now I'm going away and that's another 10days. I don't know what to do?! Should I leave her with no food or buy her a live one. She is roaming alot which she usually does when she is hungry. That's why I think she is traumatized. What do I do?

I think waiting is best here. If she takes what you offer, you'll wanna be around for a few days to make sure there are no regurge problems, which if she's stressed about eating, is always better to be safe than sorry. She'll be fine while you're away, if she just ate 10 days ago. She may be more convinced to take the offered mouse on an empty stomach, too.

Sent from my warm hide

She seems very hungry though and she goes to it but then she sniffs it and has no interest. I really think the smell traumatized her. Do u think its possible? If you think she will be okay ill wade her out I'm just worried about her it's going to be about a month without eating

I would just leave her alone for 2 weeks. They don't have to eat every week to survive. You have NOTHING to worry about. My albino stopped eating for 2 months when she was 7 months old. Now she's eating more consistently. It's really not a big deal if they don't eat.

She lost 40g that's not to bad is it?

How much did she weigh before the weight loss?

Sent from my warm hide

She lost 40g in 5 days!? Are you sure her entire body was on the scale?

It was after 8days, she was 954g and then I weighed her before I left and she was 914g. Now I'm all worried. She's not gonna be dead when I get back will she :( I didn't think it was a problem cause barbie. Dragon said she left her for 2months and one of my friends balls went 7montgs. She is 1year my ball so I didn't think it was bad :( I'm so worried and I'm out of the country :(

She's got a good healthy weight to her already. Did she poo between weighs? Sometimes that can look startling on a scale but the weight of the stool can be deceiving.

Sent from my warm hide

I would not worry about that amount of weight loss. I suspect it is either because she pooped or passed urates, or just the margin of error of the scale.

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