Axel Feeding Day!!

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Should I try to feed Axel now or later, he is out of his hide right now. Probably tonight, right?

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I agree with the advise you were already given (re-quoted below), wait until next week for the normal feeding day

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

I'd wait and try again next Tuesday instead. As mentioned earlier, offering food again too soon/frequently after a food refusal could lead to more refusals.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Like the others have said, keep offering food every 7-10 days until he catches on. Snakes can go long periods without food but he will eat eventually.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I agree with the advise you were already given (re-quoted below), wait until next week for the normal feeding day

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His normal feeding day was Thursday at Petsmart, so I am thinking he is use to Thursdays.

Right but then you went and fed him Tuesday anyways, so stick to your Tuesday feedings. I get you are super excited about your new pet but please understand the advice you are being given - offering food too often can also be stressful and lead to refusals. Just be patient.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Right but then you went and fed him Tuesday anyways, so stick to your Tuesday feedings. I get you are super excited about your new pet but please understand the advice you are being given - offering food too often can also be stressful and lead to refusals. Just be patient.

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DON'T get snappy with me, he was on pinkys so I feed him because he was hungry, i could see it, YOU don't have to worry about it, I didn't feed him today anyways...

I wasn't being snappy... :(

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Originally Posted by Axel28

DON'T get snappy with me, he was on pinkys so I feed him because he was hungry, i could see it, YOU don't have to worry about it, I didn't feed him today anyways...

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hey now, she was absolutely not being snappy! we only want what's best for your beep, and if AbsoluteApril is anything like me, we DO worry about other's animals.

remember: we're here for you. :)

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Originally Posted by Axel28

DON'T get snappy with me, he was on pinkys so I feed him because he was hungry, i could see it, YOU don't have to worry about it, I didn't feed him today anyways...

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I'm sorry but I don't see where they were snappy at all? You were asking for feedback and everyone is taking the time to try and help you. I can assure you everyone's and AbsoluteApril's intentions are sincere.

We just want to help look out for you and what is best for Axel.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I wasn't being snappy... :(

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I am sorry. >.< Kinda stressed.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

hey now, she was absolutely not being snappy! we only want what's best for your beep, and if AbsoluteApril is anything like me, we DO worry about other's animals.

remember: we're here for you. :)

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Trust me everything is stressing me out.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

I'm sorry but I don't see where they were snappy at all? You were asking for feedback and everyone is taking the time to try and help you. I can assure you everyone's and absoluteapril's intentions are sincere.

We just want to help look out for you and what is best for Axel.

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No I am sorry. >.<

I shouldn't have said that and I am really sorry, I appreciate the help and maybe I SHOULD STOP BEING snarky

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Trust me everything is stressing me out.

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it's okay; it happens. i think we all know what a worry-wart you are by now. ;) that was nice of you to apologize to AbsoluteApril; it takes a big person to admit they were wrong.

take a deeeeep breath. you are doing a great job with Axel, and we are going to help you every step of the way.

Take a deep breath. Things will work out :)

We all understand having a new beep can be both exciting and very stressful, and sometimes overwhelming! Especially when working through some bumps on the road. We will all do our best to help in what way we can to get you through your troubles.

edit: tttaylorr be typing faster than the speed of light and beating me to it lol

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

it's okay; it happens. i think we all know what a worry-wart you are by now. ;) that was nice of you to apologize to AbsoluteApril; it takes a big person to admit they were wrong.

take a deeeeep breath. you are doing a great job with Axel, and we are going to help you every step of the way.

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Thanks, I really should stop stressing I mean Axel just pooped out the Medium Mouse and I should've know just to wait but I am just anxious.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Take a deep breath. Things will work out :)

We all understand having a new beep can be both exciting and very stressful, and sometimes overwhelming! Especially when working through some bumps on the road. We will all do our best to help in what way we can to get you through your troubles.

edit: tttaylorr be typing faster than the speed of light and beating me to it lol

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I really appreciate the help from everyone. I just need to relax, like I said to tttaylorr, Axel just pooped, so, maybe Tuesday he'll eat. :)

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Thanks, I really should stop stressing I mean Axel just pooped out the Medium Mouse and I should've know just to wait but I am just anxious.

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anxiety and stress don't always have to be bad things; learning to understand and channel those emotions positively can make you productive and more attentive!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

anxiety and stress don't always have to be bad things; learning to understand and channel those emotions positively can make you productive and more attentive!

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I sent AbsoluteApril a pm saying I am sorry..

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...66a1a31474.jpg

I brighten this picture so y’all can see. What is axel doing up there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Axel28

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...66a1a31474.jpg

I brighten this picture so y’all can see. What is axel doing up there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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there's a million possibilities. he could be trying to get warmer; i see the dome right above him.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

there's a million possibilities. he could be trying to get warmer; i see the dome right above him.

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His ambient temperatures are 83F, but I don't know if his belly heat is good enough, I am trying to get a Temperature gun to actually know, it is suppose to be here tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Axel28

His ambient temperatures are 83F, but I don't know if his belly heat is good enough, I am trying to get a Temperature gun to actually know, it is suppose to be here tomorrow.

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that's plenty warm, so i'm not sure it's that. hm...

unrelated, but i noticed you don't have the sides of the glass covered with dark paper or fabric. covering all sides except the front will help him feel less exposed.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

that's plenty warm, so i'm not sure it's that. hm...

unrelated, but i noticed you don't have the sides of the glass covered with dark paper or fabric. covering all sides except the front will help him feel less exposed.

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Yeah, I do have paper up but they are not long enough, white paper is alright, right? I know I should probably put more paper up or something, i'll get onto that.

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Yeah, I do have paper up but they are not long enough, white paper is alright, right? I know I should probably put more paper up or something, i'll get onto that.

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that should be fine. :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

that should be fine. :)

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Alright, that's good, thank you. :)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2575357d64.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c19497df35.jpg

Is this better?


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Originally Posted by Axel28

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...2575357d64.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...c19497df35.jpg

Is this better?

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i'd say so! you also might want to try and get some fake leaf vines to clutter up the floor of the enclosure. this will also help with security so he can move about all sneaky-like. :)

I'd definitely also say more clutter, thats really open. Probably feeling a little insecure in there.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i'd say so! you also might want to try and get some fake leaf vines to clutter up the floor of the enclosure. this will also help with security so he can move about all sneaky-like. :)

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Yup, getting driftwood and temp. gun tomorrow and vines on oct. 16th

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Yup, getting driftwood and temp. gun tomorrow and vines on oct. 16th

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awesome!!! Axel will be living in luxury. :cool:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

awesome!!! Axel will be living in luxury. :cool:

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I hope he'll feel alot better when I get this stuff. :) I will get him fake plants and all when I actually get the money, I am also trying to save up money for a bigger tank. lol I am selling my Xbox One and also (trying) to get a job.

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Originally Posted by Axel28

I hope he'll feel alot better when I get this stuff. :) I will get him fake plants and all when I actually get the money, I am also trying to save up money for a bigger tank. lol I am selling my Xbox One and also (trying) to get a job.

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I wouldn't rush on a bigger tank, from the looks of it, that one is plenty big.

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Originally Posted by oodaT

I wouldn't rush on a bigger tank, from the looks of it, that one is plenty big.

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Okay, Thank you.

If you have any spare paper towel or toilet paper rolls handy, I still recommend adding those in. Helps with some temporary clutter and "safe tunnel" travel and ball pythons seem to love it! My boy loves going through them all the time. Just make sure you toss them if they get wet or peed on.

I want to know a few things first because I am not sure if I have my information correct:

You just picked up this ball less than 2 weeks ago and have fed him twice and I take it from pictures you have been handling him during this time? Am I correct in these assumptions?

I take it you have not let him settle in completely undisturbed outside of water changes and waste removal?

The reasons I am asking this as it looks like you have him in a wide open space with open hides and might not have left him alone enough to feel secure. I ball that feels unsafe will rarely eat properly. I always recommend not doing a thing for 2 weeks before even offering food for the first time and never touching until you can be sure it is settled in. That can take up to a month with a skittish ball or one that was in non optimal conditions to start with.

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Originally Posted by SDA

I want to know a few things first because I am not sure if I have my information correct:

You just picked up this ball less than 2 weeks ago and have fed him twice and I take it from pictures you have been handling him during this time? Am I correct in these assumptions?

I take it you have not let him settle in completely undisturbed outside of water changes and waste removal?

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Yeah and? He has been fine and I will leave him alone BUT he only ate once and I TRIED to feed him again and yes I have been removing his waste and also water changes(daily water changes.)
I know that I need to let him settle in but if people said it was alright if I did it then I'll do it. AND NO i have held him once but I held him for like a min. probably less then a min.

I hope you can open up and accept critiques and advice form people who have gone through this before. It is important to understand the nature of this species and learn to read tell tale signs of stress which I am trying to gather through questions. There are well established methods to getting a problematic ball to not be problematic and I'll just say if you want some advice, just ask. I will step back and just wish you all the best in raising you little one.

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Originally Posted by SDA

I hope you can open up and accept critiques and advice form people who have gone through this before. It is important to understand the nature of this species and learn to read tell tale signs of stress which I am trying to gather through questions. There are well established methods to getting at problematic ball to not be problematic and I'll just say if you want some advice, just ask. I will step back and just wish you all the best in raising you little one.

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Look I love help, but you seem like you were being an smart butt... But I do need to stop being "Over protective" or whatever I am doing. So, sorry please continue.

Your ball is stressed. You fed it once, great but you are not addressing the underlying symptoms of stress which is most likely due to a lack of allowing acclimation.

My advice is leave him alone. Don't do anything outside of water changes and waste removal for 2 weeks. Limit adding or moving anything. Some clutter is fine but don't move a hide he is in or disturb him and get in and out quickly. Reduce additional foot traffic around his enclosure (what you normally do now is just fine). Let your snake settle in.

Try and take a breath before responding to people too. We are all helping so there is no reason to have a guard up when someone asks a direct question or makes a direct statement. That is the nature of this hobby and is not coming from anything but love.

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Originally Posted by SDA

Your ball is stressed. You fed it once, great but you are not addressing the underlying symptoms of stress which is most likely due to a lack of allowing acclimation.

My advice is leave him alone. Don't do anything outside of water changes and waste removal for 2 weeks. Limit adding or moving anything. Some clutter is fine but don't move a hide he is in or disturb him and get in and out quickly. Reduce additional foot traffic around his enclosure (what you normally do now is just fine). Let your snake settle in.

Try and take a breath before responding to people too. We are all helping so there is no reason to have a guard up when someone asks a direct question or makes a direct statement. That is the nature of this hobby and is not coming from anything but love.

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I will do whatever you say that'll make my BP happy and I appreciate you coming back and helping.
I am sorry with what I am doing, just I am sick for one and I do have a lot of guard up.

Like I said thank you for coming back and helping!!

What about feeding him BTW?

When my ball python was a baby, his absolute favorite hides were ritz crackerful boxes that just had the bottom torn off. I offered him other ones too, but he absolutely loved his cracker boxes and would use them to the exclusion of all others. The little tab made a nice entrance so the flap could be left intact. Try going through whatever cardboard boxes you have hanging out and see if you can find some nicely sized ones to add to his tank. It'll give a more secure hide than the half logs and it's free.

Edit: also, as far as feeding, chill out and wait a week. Ball pythons have very slow metabolisms and he's already eaten once for you. He's not going to be hurt by a week without food. It will be ok

First make sure his temps and humidity are correct. If they are try to feed in a week in his enclosure. What size did you try to feed? What size did he take from you last time he actually ate?

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

First make sure his temps and humidity are correct. If they are try to feed in a week in his enclosure. What size did you try to feed? What size did he take from you last time he actually ate?

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This time I tried a small mouse but last time he ate a medium mouse but everyone was suggesting I go down to a small, so, I did.

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Originally Posted by Axel28

What about feeding him BTW?

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I thought it was addressed multiple times for you to wait on feeding him again. You want to wait 5-7 days before offering food again. Offering food too frequently after a refusal could lead to MORE food refusals.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

I thought it was addressed multiple times for you to wait on feeding him. You want to wait 5-7 days before offering food again. Offering food too frequently after a refusal could lead to MORE food refusals.

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I know, just one of my friends said give it a try so I did. Sorry. >.<

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Originally Posted by Axel28

I know, just one of my friends said give it a try so I did. Sorry. >.<

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Fix your husbandry, then wait a week without offering or handling, then offer and he won't refuse.

Don't apologize to people on the forum, it's Axel taking the butt of your issue with listening to educated snake keepers. People here only comment trying to help your snake survive.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Fix your husbandry, then wait a week without offering or handling, then offer and he won't refuse.

Don't apologize to people on the forum, it's Axel taking the butt of your issue with listening to educated snake keepers. People here only comment trying to help your snake survive.

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Well, the person that I listened to HAS a Ball Python, multiple at that.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Fix your husbandry, then wait a week without offering or handling, then offer and he won't refuse.

Don't apologize to people on the forum, it's Axel taking the butt of your issue with listening to educated snake keepers. People here only comment trying to help your snake survive.

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Sorry that last one was my fault, I believe I was the friend lol. I hadn’t read through this post and seen all of the advice and info already given


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Originally Posted by Axel28

Well, the person that I listened to HAS a Ball Python, multiple at that.

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Cool beans, so you don't think your husbandry is incorrect? You think everything is perfect and he's not eating for no reason? Why do you think he's not eating? Let us know the reason.

Because once you've fixed the reasons, I guarantee he will start eating. If you don't, he may never eat, or if he does out of starvation, he will live an unhealthy life.

This thread has been going round in circles with you not listening to any of the advice. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by BluuWolf

Sorry that last one was my fault, I believe I was the friend lol. I hadn’t read through this post and seen all of the advice and info already given


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Lol

It doesn't make them experts. Multiple people here are. They have been with snakes for decades. Multiple overrides one. I'm not being snarky. Maybe you can educate your friend as well or refer them here.

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Originally Posted by Axel28

Well, the person that I listened to HAS a Ball Python, multiple at that.

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Here's the thing. You already know your husbandry is off. You were given advise on several occasions how to fix it even before Axel arrived. You are at a rough enough start that I still strongly advise taking the safer route and holding off on offering food again. Offering this soon may work out, but it may NOT work out and could set you even further back than where you are now.

Better safe than sorry right?

Some info for you in case it will help you out with the anxiety over the feeding - Baby garter snakes can weigh less than 3g and have a much faster metabolism than ball pythons - it still takes 14 days for them to starve. Your snake on the other hand is much bigger, is a species with a slower metabolism, and has recently eaten a meal. A young ball python not eating is a concern, but unless it is already very severely underweight (very triangular in shape ), it is not an emergency. The poor little guy on this thread was very urgently underweight and shows a hollow-looking underbelly (*spoilers* he gets healthy!) https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ny-ball-python - this is emergency-level skinny. Yours on the other hand should be in no immediate danger by not eating, so just make sure all husbandry is on-point, and then let him work on his own time. It's not the same as mammals'.

Edit: just to make sure I'm clear though, it does not mean to ignore not eating. The biggest concern about not eating is that it is a symptom of other issues that will harm faster than not eating itself. Thus making sure all husbandry is right. Once everything else is right, the not eating symptom should resolve itself given some time. People just get worked up and don't work on the snake's time scale.