Feeding help and what I have tried so far???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

have you corrected the husbandry issues we went over earlier in this thread?

cruising could also be a sign of stress; it's not always an indicator of hunger.

---

Yes been almost 2 days. He hasn't eaten in 5 weeks now

Sent from my N9560 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Yes been almost 2 days. He hasn't eaten in 5 weeks now

Sent from my N9560 using Tapatalk

---

give him a few more days to adjust to the changes. he's a healthy boy, 5 weeks is nothing i promise. [emoji4]

my 900g male hasn't eaten in almost 4 months, so i know the feel. [emoji6]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I noticed today Neo was cruising around the enclosure. Does that mean it might be time to try to feed him

Sent from my N9560 using Tapatalk

---

No. Cruising during the day especially for a snake that hasn't been settling or eating means he is most likely stressed. 5 weeks off food is nothing. All the info we gave you a few days ago is dead on. If his enclosure isn't allowing him to settle down you need to look into it. Ball Pythons are Not hunters 99% of the time. Go back and read all the info we gave you. My male goes off feed for 10 weeks during winter...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

No. Cruising during the day especially for a snake that hasn't been settling or eating means he is most likely stressed. 5 weeks off food is nothing. All the info we gave you a few days ago is dead on. If his enclosure isn't allowing him to settle down you need to look into it. Ball Pythons are Not hunters 99% of the time. Go back and read all the info we gave you. My male goes off feed for 10 weeks during winter...

---

I don't think I missed anything. Temp and humidity is spot on and regulated thanks to a new temp and humidity regulator I purchased and put in place Thursday last week. He is in a room that is dark except when his heat lamp comes on to heat him up. Neo is very active around 5 PM every day it seams. I cleaned his tank out Saturday. He had pooped twice in it and was time. I have noticed him looking out his hide more after he warmed up instead of staying balled up hiding his head. I think he has a proper environment now. Both his hides are identical and snug now. He goes between them from time to time. I have not offered him food for 4 days now. Have I missed anything?

When he is roaming around he is looking up at the lid trying to figure a way out of his tank. I do have a locking lid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I don't think I missed anything. Temp and humidity is spot on and regulated thanks to a new temp and humidity regulator I purchased and put in place Thursday last week. He is in a room that is dark except when his heat lamp comes on to heat him up. Neo is very active around 5 PM every day it seams. I cleaned his tank out Saturday. He had pooped twice in it and was time. I have noticed him looking out his hide more after he warmed up instead of staying balled up hiding his head. I think he has a proper environment now. Both his hides are identical and snug now. He goes between them from time to time. I have not offered him food for 4 days now. Have I missed anything?

When he is roaming around he is looking up at the lid trying to figure a way out of his tank. I do have a locking lid.

---

They do like to come out and look for ways to escape.. Mine come out every night between 7pm and 10pm and stay out until 2am-5am. During this time they climb, lay out and bask and also push sometimes at the sliding doors (trying to get out i suppose).
The reason I said yours might be signs of stress is because it was during the day.. However if its a dark room he might not know what time it is. There have been times when i covered my enclosures for days for one reason or another (kids sleep overs ect) and ive found them out and about mid Noon because I think they didn't know what time it was. It could be possible your snake is starting to settle and was just exploring like mine do 5 days a week. Mine sleep for 2 days after feeding. Its good you haven't offered food in four days if I were you I'd stick to a full 7 before trying. It can up your chances of success instead of having a repeated problem of refusal. Good job getting things dialed in [emoji1360]. Any Pics?

i agree with CALM. you can try to offer on day 7 now, but be sure to scent the room for 15-30min, heat up the feeder nice and warm with a hair dryer and offer IMMEDIATELY after warming it up.

good luck, and i agree i wana see pics of your setup! [emoji3]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

They do like to come out and look for ways to escape.. Mine come out every night between 7pm and 10pm and stay out until 2am-5am. During this time they climb, lay out and bask and also push sometimes at the sliding doors (trying to get out i suppose).
The reason I said yours might be signs of stress is because it was during the day.. However if its a dark room he might not know what time it is. There have been times when i covered my enclosures for days for one reason or another (kids sleep overs ect) and ive found them out and about mid Noon because I think they didn't know what time it was. It could be possible your snake is starting to settle and was just exploring like mine do 5 days a week. Mine sleep for 2 days after feeding. Its good you haven't offered food in four days if I were you I'd stick to a full 7 before trying. It can up your chances of success instead of having a repeated problem of refusal. Good job getting things dialed in [emoji1360]. Any Pics?

---

I don't want to handle him just yet. Next time he is out I will grab a quick pic and not use the flash. Shiva has already eaten and settled in her new home quickly. Hope Neo does the same soon. I will offer food again Wednesday. The question is, what to offer now. Normal white rat? ASF? Mouse? He was eating live according to the per store I purchased him at and was eating white rats.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i agree with CALM. you can try to offer on day 7 now, but be sure to scent the room for 15-30min, heat up the feeder nice and warm with a hair dryer and offer IMMEDIATELY after warming it up.

good luck, and i agree i wana see pics of your setup! [emoji3]

---

I will post pictures of the setup tonight when I get home.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I don't want to handle him just yet. Next time he is out I will grab a quick pic and not use the flash. Shiva has already eaten and settled in her new home quickly. Hope Neo does the same soon. I will offer food again Wednesday. The question is, what to offer now. Normal white rat? ASF? Mouse? He was eating live according to the per store I purchased him at and was eating white rats.

---

offer exactly what he was eating before.

just for some peace of mind: older snakes take longer to adjust to a new setting; your other snake is younger and youngin's can adjust very quickly. your situation is 100% normal and almost expected.

you're doing fine. patience. [emoji3]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

offer exactly what he was eating before.

just for some peace of mind: older snakes take longer to adjust to a new setting; your other snake is younger and youngin's can adjust very quickly. your situation is 100% normal and almost expected.

you're doing fine. patience. [emoji3]

---

He has pooped twice in the 5 weeks I have had him and still looks healthy. 585g when I weighed him last week. I live in south Texas and things have warmed up outside a lot going from 20 something to 70 something this weekend. Hope it is just a seasonal thing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I don't want to handle him just yet. Next time he is out I will grab a quick pic and not use the flash. Shiva has already eaten and settled in her new home quickly. Hope Neo does the same soon. I will offer food again Wednesday. The question is, what to offer now. Normal white rat? ASF? Mouse? He was eating live according to the per store I purchased him at and was eating white rats.

---

Yeah good don't handle him yet, good idea. This pet store snake just might end up being a PITB to feed. I had that problem from a Mom & Pop Shop and never bought another snake like that again. I've had Great eaters and temperaments from real breeders and I always here the same stories about pet stores and its 99% bad.
I cant remember his size. Im sure it was in this post somewhere. Id go with a proper size mouse to try and get him feeding but if they say he ate rats then you can stick with that. Maybe grab one of each to try.. If he was on Rats make sure not to get one that is to big.. Balls shy away easy if prey is running around spastic or aggressive in any way. Its easy to come home and realize a young rat is still much bigger than you expected after you put it in the enclosure. Cant go wrong with mice as far as size for a Ball Python..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by calm pythons

yeah good don't handle him yet, good idea. This pet store snake just might end up being a pitb to feed. I had that problem from a mom & pop shop and never bought another snake like that again. I've had great eaters and temperaments from real breeders and i always here the same stories about pet stores and its 99% bad.
I cant remember his size. Im sure it was in this post somewhere. Id go with a proper size mouse to try and get him feeding but if they say he ate rats then you can stick with that. Maybe grab one of each to try.. If he was on rats make sure not to get one that is to big.. Balls shy away easy if prey is running around spastic or aggressive in any way. Its easy to come home and realize a young rat is still much bigger than you expected after you put it in the enclosure. Cant go wrong with mice as far as size for a ball python..

---

pitb?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

pitb?

---

pain in the butt [emoji14]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

pitb?

---

The clean version - Pain in the behind. We cant use abbreviations on this family forum that swear ect.. Its for all ages. You get written up [emoji23]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

pain in the butt [emoji14]

---

With him being 9 months oldish, he will adjust eventually right? Shiva doesn't mind being handled at all and she is 3 months old. I want Neo to eventually be ok with the handling process but don't want to rush it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

With him being 9 months oldish, he will adjust eventually right? Shiva doesn't mind being handled at all and she is 3 months old. I want Neo to eventually be ok with the handling process but don't want to rush it.

---

yes, he will. you guys have the next 20+ years to get comfortable with one another; no need to rush. [emoji4]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

yes, he will. you guys have the next 20+ years to get comfortable with one another; no need to rush. [emoji4]

---

Just to give you a good laugh at my expense. I had purchased 2 mice to feed Shiva. The first one I was getting ready to feed to her and it bit me and out of reaction I flopped it hard on the floor killing it. She refused to eat that one because it was dead already. Then offered her the live one and she gobbled it down. I will be using gloves or tongs from now on. LMAO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Just to give you a good laugh at my expense. I had purchased 2 mice to feed Shiva. The first one I was getting ready to feed to her and it bit me and out of reaction I flopped it hard on the floor killing it. She refused to eat that one because it was dead already. Then offered her the live one and she gobbled it down. I will be using gloves or tongs from now on. LMAO.

---

oh jeeze i'm so sorry you got bit, and by the feeder no less! that's worse than any ball python bite for sure. it might be better the feeder got you first tho; i wouldn't want to give my snake an obviously aggressive live feeder. very interesting feeding tho, hahaha. at least she ate!

that's good to hear Shiva is adjusting well! my new addition just ate for the first time last wednesday. [emoji3]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Just to give you a good laugh at my expense. I had purchased 2 mice to feed Shiva. The first one I was getting ready to feed to her and it bit me and out of reaction I flopped it hard on the floor killing it. She refused to eat that one because it was dead already. Then offered her the live one and she gobbled it down. I will be using gloves or tongs from now on. LMAO.

---

Strange mice dont bite normally. My Asf's would take a chunk out of me if i tried to handle them though.. I move them bu their tail. Nasty things. Fyi the way I trained my snakes to eat fresh kill was by feeding a smaller live followed by a smaller fresh kill.
(The reason i choose smaller for that is so they are still hungry)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

With him being 9 months oldish, he will adjust eventually right? Shiva doesn't mind being handled at all and she is 3 months old. I want Neo to eventually be ok with the handling process but don't want to rush it.

---

Hopefully he will. But thats why i mentioned Pet Store reptiles not being so good. I know people that have this problem for years. So much so I see people get rid of them because its no longer enjoyable to play these games every month with a PITB snake (myself included) . Some snakes i think aren't bred from good genetics & just never become as domesticated (if you can even use that term with snakes) as breeders that only breed their best. To this day i cant believe the amount of nasty Ball Pythons and Burms now days. 20 years ago there wasnt a nasty Ball or Burm that i ever met.. Now they are striking out of the eggs. The funniest is the Retics. 20 years ago they couldn't be handled like a Burm could and today they are starting to be as docile as a puppy. (Mainland I'm talking about not these Dwarfs hybrids).

Be patient, these animals can be frustratingly finicky. But, they are awesome pets for those who are willing to be patient and work with them.
I've had my new Borneo for over 3 weeks now and he's showed no interest in eating. Each time I adjust my technique a bit and hope for the best. Once he eats, I'll just keep doing whatever I did to achieve success and stick to it.
Unfortunately, sometimes we just have to wait them out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

Hopefully he will. But thats why i mentioned Pet Store reptiles not being so good. I know people that have this problem for years. So much so I see people get rid of them because its no longer enjoyable to play these games every month with a PITB snake (myself included) . Some snakes i think aren't bred from good genetics & just never become as domesticated (if you can even use that term with snakes) as breeders that only breed their best. To this day i cant believe the amount of nasty Ball Pythons and Burms now days. 20 years ago there wasnt a nasty Ball or Burm that i ever met.. Now they are striking out of the eggs. The funniest is the Retics. 20 years ago they couldn't be handled like a Burm could and today they are starting to be as docile as a puppy. (Mainland I'm talking about not these Dwarfs hybrids).

---

I have often wondered if inbreeding was an issue at times? I am interested in breeding in the future and have a lot of reading to do and have my eye on a rack system but that is months away or even years. What are some good practices when choosing pairings for breeding? I know female's can also reject being breed. I have read several articles. Just want opinions on the practices that work and others that are bad to avoid them from people who have actual experience doing so. Should this be a separate thread?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Be patient, these animals can be frustratingly finicky. But, they are awesome pets for those who are willing to be patient and work with them.
I've had my new Borneo for over 3 weeks now and he's showed no interest in eating. Each time I adjust my technique a bit and hope for the best. Once he eats, I'll just keep doing whatever I did to achieve success and stick to it.
Unfortunately, sometimes we just have to wait them out.

---

Now that I have resolved the general care issues I was having, I am sure he will eventually eat. I have hope still.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Now that I have resolved the general care issues I was having, I am sure he will eventually eat. I have hope still.

---

You're on the right track. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I have often wondered if inbreeding was an issue at times? I am interested in breeding in the future and have a lot of reading to do and have my eye on a rack system but that is months away or even years. What are some good practices when choosing pairings for breeding? I know female's can also reject being breed. I have read several articles. Just want opinions on the practices that work and others that are bad to avoid them from people who have actual experience doing so. Should this be a separate thread?

---

I know nothing about breeding. No need to start a thread though.. There is more threads and info on that already in that sub forum than you could read in a year hahahha.

So for about 2 hours last night Neo was traveling around his cage again and trying to find a way out of the lid. I checked his temps and humidity and they were all great. I opened the lid and he crawled right out on my arm and when I sat down he crawled around a few minuets more before settling down in my armpit. I double checked my temps with another thermometer and there were spot on. I put him back in the cage after 15 to 20 minuets and he settled in his hide on the cool side and was looking out. I offered him a ASF and he chomped on it right away. Up until now handling him the few times I had done so in the past was greeted with mild aggression showing fear more than comfort. Last night it seamed we bonded and he began to relax enough to eat. Is this strange or just incidental or he was just needing to get out of his cage and stretch his legs so to speak?

Congrats on your bonding experience as well as a successful feeding. That approach is certainly unconventional, but apparently it worked in that situation.

If it were my snake, I would hold off on handling completely and offer food again in 5 days. But, there are many ways to move forward and you may be beat to find what works best for you and your snake.

Good luck, keep us posted!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Congrats on your bonding experience as well as a successful feeding. That approach is certainly unconventional, but apparently it worked in that situation.

If it were my snake, I would hold off on handling completely and offer food again in 5 days. But, there are many ways to move forward and you may be beat to find what works best for you and your snake.

Good luck, keep us posted!

---

Sure will. If he feeds again in 7 days I will breathe some what easier then. I also have my eye on a rack system that I think would be great. Shiva doesn't mind handling at all and she has adjusted well to her new home right away. She is younger by almost 5 months so her adjusting easier might be contributed to that. Happy Neo has eaten. Phu. Will take any advice anyone has to offer and want to learn as much as I can.

About three weeks ago, I purchased a 4 month old banana ball python. He was raised on live mice up in until that point. I felt it would be easier to feed him frozen mice. So I skipped feeding him for a week and then attempted to feed him the thawed mouse. I used a heat lamp to warm it up before trying to feed him. He didn't take it. Two days ago I tried to feed him again, did the same process but I dipped it in chicken broth and tried to feed it to him, he still didn't take it. I'm getting a little worried, how long can they go without feeding. How do you suggest I feed him?

You should try giving it live, it was raised on live up until you got it you should give it eating live before trying to switch it. How much does it weigh? What size are your feeders?

Can't hurt to post pictures and tell us about your setup, it's usually husbandry related.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tom Riddle

About three weeks ago, I purchased a 4 month old banana ball python. He was raised on live mice up in until that point. I felt it would be easier to feed him frozen mice. So I skipped feeding him for a week and then attempted to feed him the thawed mouse. I used a heat lamp to warm it up before trying to feed him. He didn't take it. Two days ago I tried to feed him again, did the same process but I dipped it in chicken broth and tried to feed it to him, he still didn't take it. I'm getting a little worried, how long can they go without feeding. How do you suggest I feed him?

---

You should start your own thread so your question doesn't get buried in an existing thread.
Tell us about your enclosure, heating equipment, setup, etc... as well as info on the snake and prey offered.
The more you tell us, the more we can help you.