Re: Did i do this right??????????
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MarkieJ
frenchy, first of all let me apologize for laughing at your setup, and floridayank22 is correct in that some people have made it work by raising bps in large enclosures. Afterall in the wild, they aren't confined to a little tiny area. It has eaten for you in this setup correct? Does it have several small, tight hides it can feel comfortable in? Have you tried prescenting the room with its prey prior to feeding? I bet if you keep the live mouse/rat in a small critter keeper inside the tank an hour before feeding, you'll have your ball peeking out of its hide ready to eat.
Well, actually they do. They live primarily in termite mounds and pre-dug burrows. So confinement is in their nature.
20 Gallon is still too big in my opinion. Yes, some bps will do fine in a large tank, but if it's a problem feeder then the first step is to get it into a small 10 or 15 gallon tank or a 15q tub.
Petstore employees tend to give very questionable information.
Re: Did i do this right??????????
Quote:
Originally Posted by
blackcrystal22
Well, actually they do. They live primarily in termite mounds and pre-dug burrows. So confinement is in their nature.
And that is why you provide hides for them. They are not confined to one mound/burrow their entire lives. How often do you see your bps roaming their tub? Mine roam a lot unless they've recently eaten. I don't think food, water, and a thermostatically controlled environment is delivered to them at their convenience in the wild. I raised my first ball for several years from hatchling to adult in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a multitude of students peering at it, holding it, and watching it feed in a separate cardboard box. These aren't the sensitive little creatures we all make them seem to be.
Congrats on your ball feeding frenchy. I didn't realize it already had some decent size to it. Your likely experiencing your first winter with a ball python where feeding can be sporadic, or not at all. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a breeding-sized female, if your little guy would put in some work. :gj:
Re: Did i do this right??????????
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MarkieJ
And that is why you provide hides for them. They are not confined to one mound/burrow their entire lives. How often do you see your bps roaming their tub? Mine roam a lot unless they've recently eaten. I don't think food, water, and a thermostatically controlled environment is delivered to them at their convenience in the wild. I raised my first ball for several years from hatchling to adult in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a multitude of students peering at it, holding it, and watching it feed in a separate cardboard box. These aren't the sensitive little creatures we all make them seem to be.
Congrats on your ball feeding frenchy. I didn't realize it already had some decent size to it. Your likely experiencing your first winter with a ball python where feeding can be sporadic, or not at all. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a breeding-sized female, if your little guy would put in some work. :gj:
I don't use hides in my racks unless it's a problem feeder. (I only have one bp that won't eat without a hide.) But my tubs are desirable size that doesn't stress them out. I rarely see mine roam, especially not during the day. Honestly, a roaming snake is a stressed bp, but a happy bp stays hidden most of it's life.
Some ball pythons can be more active, sure, but usually if a ball python is roaming it's due to stress and is trying to find a more secure place to hide.
Ball pythons are quite sensitive in captivity, though. Many other snakes seem to adapt easily in captivity. I've never had a problem feeding corn snake or king snake. I'm sure it definitely happens, but not as frequently as ball pythons go off feed.
Ball pythons spend weeks in their termite mounds. Rain water will gather in the termite mound depths so they don't have any reason to leave their mound. They also hunt from the safety of their mounds awaiting small rodents to pass by the entrance.
