Need Help! Worried about my baby ball python

Don't worry too much yet. I have a few 3 week olds that are still 65 grams since they are being stubborn about eating.

Try a mouse hopper. Bigger than a fuzzy but smaller than a just weaned mouse. As long as it is no bigger than barely wider than your snake is wide. Or a bit smaller.

I'd try this every couple nights until he decides to take it. Only start getting worried if he goes another 2 weeks without eating. Then you'll need to consider starting him by assist feeding him a thawed or pre killed fuzzy mouse.


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Snakes, Jeeps, Dragons, Nature, & Knives.. Makes my world go-round!

Many breeders, even ones who sell baby ball pythons as F/T eaters, have to start them out on live. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Chained

no, but it would be impractical right now. i live about an hour an a half from the closest pet store, and i have no place to store extra mice/rats. i'll do it if i have to, to get him eating, but i would prefer f/t just for the accessibility, and the safety of it. (dead mice cant bite)

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Ok, I missed this..

Most hatchlings are started on live because they respond to the movement and it triggers their feeding response..

To get him to start on FT and not have to switch him, you might have to assist feed him a couple times.

Sometimes the bag trick too. Put the proper sized FT rodent in a small paper bag, put the snake in with it, clip the end shut and lay it in the tank overnight.


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Snakes, Jeeps, Dragons, Nature, & Knives.. Makes my world go-round!

so, since it WAS getting rather close to 3 weeks, and i was getting frustrated, i did a semi-assist feed after watching several videos on it. i call it semi assist, because rather than me putting it down his throat, i really only had to open his mouth and get the mouse near it, once the mouse got close to his mouth, he clamped shut on it right away, and even started swallowing while i was still holding him. i immediately placed him back in his cage, closed everything up, and put a towel over the front. heres hoping he keeps it down :D

Some of mine like it nice and dark when I go in to feed. As it is hard to see in the dark i keep my chameleons light and only feed mine in the evening. This might help next time you feed. Dont freak out my cinnie came to me on its one month old day and didnt feed for me for the first 3 weeks. Went live and she took it inside of 30 seconds. She is also one that wont feed unless its pretty dark but she went F/T the very next feeding. Be sure to only offer food on a schedule typically about once a week and your little guy should come around soon.

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Originally Posted by Chained

so, since it WAS getting rather close to 3 weeks, and i was getting frustrated, i did a semi-assist feed after watching several videos on it. i call it semi assist, because rather than me putting it down his throat, i really only had to open his mouth and get the mouse near it, once the mouse got close to his mouth, he clamped shut on it right away, and even started swallowing while i was still holding him. i immediately placed him back in his cage, closed everything up, and put a towel over the front. heres hoping he keeps it down :D

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That's basically it. You don't even need to open the snakes mouth to assist feed. You just press the head of the rodent against the front of the snakes mouth and the lower lip a bit. Where the snake sticks it's tongue out. It should just open up. Then you put the head in. You really shouldn't have to stuff it down the throat. That's stressful. Then quickly put the snake down and it should swallow.

Those are the instructions I usually give so it sounds like you have taught yourself pretty well.

Now just wait about 4 days, and offer it a meal. It's more likely to take it on its own since you've gotten it's digestive system going. It should be hungry.

Good luck with the little guy and keep us posted!


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Thanks for all of the help everyone, as always this forum has helped me tremendously. Sam (the baby) is acting much more like a normal BP as of last night. staying in his hides more, came out once to drink some water, then went right back in. i'm gonna give him a few days to digest and then it's back to babying him :)

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Originally Posted by Chained

Thanks for all of the help everyone, as always this forum has helped me tremendously. Sam (the baby) is acting much more like a normal BP as of last night. staying in his hides more, came out once to drink some water, then went right back in. i'm gonna give him a few days to digest and then it's back to babying him :)

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Since he hasn't truly eaten on his own yet, I would not handle him again until he has at least two or three times. You don't want to stress/distract him until he's established, and one semi-assist doesn't count as an established feeder.