A recommendation for feeding a non-feeding ball python - Should I do it?

An update.....

I tried the paper trick and it didn't work. She still refuses to eat. Because she is in the same rack as breeding females I can't lower the temperatures to 86 and back up again. All of my other snakes are eating once a week, never fail. Its just her and I really don't understand why.

Hi,

Have you tried offering her a chick?


dr del

would it be okay to put a 1,500 gram female into a 15qt tub with just a water bowl in an attempt to get her to eat?? Or is this too small.

Thanks

I have not. Ball pythons eat chicks? :P I'm not sure where I could get one as its not really the time yet for chicks locally (at least I don't think so. I don't know, I don't breed chickens) and they are only offered in bulk online.

Hi,

That's why I rarely suggest them - I would have to buy a bag of 50 and have oinly ever used them as occasional meals so the amount of freezer space they would take up puts me off.

They are however cheap as chips so buying a bag of 50, taking 10 out, and throwing 40 away won't be too heartbreaking even for a tightfisted jock like me. :P

But at least 2 of my BP's go cookoo for coco puffs over the things so, as a last resort to tempt a non feeder, it is probably worth a go.


dr del

Try the male it has worked for me several times.

I put a male in with her that wasn't in the mood to breed anyway (I've been putting him in with another female with no success so far). I left them like that overnight and removed him the next morning. Then I left her alone. Today I went and got a live rat pup and within one minute of it being in with her, I heard the squeak! I left the room and when I came back 15 minutes later, the pup was gone. :D

Yay! Her first meal in quite a while! Thanks for all the advice! Now if only she'll continue eating!