Just got a baby BP who wont eat, I think its normal, but need conformation

just read this whole thread, and i think this sums it up very well...

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Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons

:eek: All I can come up with right now is :disbelief :tricho: http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...icons/Wall.gif.

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Originally Posted by whyteboi

Look, the guy on 8 ball doesnt even change his strategy until week 2 or 3 AFTER the shed. He doesnt force feed until week 7. Im pretty sure he knows what hes doing, seeing as he goes through more babies a year then most BP owners will go through in their life.

I always see snakes going off feed for 5 months, and people saying "your more stressed then the snake"

The snake deficated, meaning theres some nutrition inside of him, so theres really no reason for me to be worried. Every site I have read says not to be worried until after 2 or so months. I realize I have a baby, BUT I HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THIS.

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well, for starters, your snake is a newborn, it doesn't have enough weight on it to last 2 months. 2nd, Adam, the "guy" at 8ball, also has snakes in the proper "tubs" when they are hatched.

Point blank: the snake needs to acclimate fully to its cage before being offered food, handled, or otherwise interacted with. A tub would do you well, because it is opaque (most are, anyway) and the snake will feel more secure.. two identical, cozy hide spots.. belly heat on a good thermostat (rheostat dimmers can definately be used; i actually use them with success.) Water dish smack dab in the middle, a secure clamped lid.. simple, free newspaper substrate.. it is not hard. Once everything is set and the snake is acclimated, just ignore it for a week or so and let the poor guy settle in! I only change water and clean if the cage is soiled during this period, and if it is badly emssy with poo, I add a few mors days to the acclimation.
It is not hard.. personally, I have never dealt with any hatchling that had never eaten.. seems like a gamble.

Look, its honestly no use talking to some of you, saying I would fix this problem this friday. Half of you are suggesting the same thing, that I said I would get 5 posts earlier. I guess its an unheard of thing to have a payday, or something called "a busy week", or a "empty gas tank". I dont have money laying around ATM. Im fixing this, the damn snake is fine, i havent been starving it for 6 months as 1/2 of you make it out to be.

Again, the problem is being fixed, Ill prolly have questions that I actualy want to be answered as friday approaches, but Ill make a new thread for obvious reasons.

Thanks to freakie_frog for being understanding and dr. del, and Ginevive and other people I cant remember atm for being nice about it though.

I definately never attacked you or put ya down.. I only offered true advice. I understand fully about the payday thing, and what's done is done.. I only wish you luck in what will probably be a trying time..

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I definately never attacked you or put ya down.. I only offered true advice. I understand fully about the payday thing, and what's done is done.. I only wish you luck in what will probably be a trying time..

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yup one of a few

thanks though for being understanding

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Originally Posted by whyteboi

Look, the guy on 8 ball doesnt even change his strategy until week 2 or 3 AFTER the shed. He doesnt force feed until week 7. Im pretty sure he knows what hes doing, seeing as he goes through more babies a year then most BP owners will go through in their life.

I always see snakes going off feed for 5 months, and people saying "your more stressed then the snake"

The snake deficated, meaning theres some nutrition inside of him, so theres really no reason for me to be worried. Every site I have read says not to be worried until after 2 or so months. I realize I have a baby, BUT I HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THIS.

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Hi whyteboi,

You are correct in that Adam does indeed see more snakes in a week than most of us ever will - but that also makes him an expert judge of a snakes condition and when to vary from the script.

If it was white then the snake didn't defecate it urinated (possibly - nothing is for certain).

You are also perfectly correct in pointing to the threads in which we tell people not to worry - but that is nearly always a larger snake with sufficient body mass to be able to fast with little trouble, something hatchlings cannot do anywhere nearly as easily.

What might help get this into a more productive track would be a picture of your lil guy showing his general build and size?

While I am here I would like to share my experiences of starting (Captive Born and Bred) ball python hatchlings on f/t.

It took me 5 months to get the last one to eat happily and consistently on its own. Without intervention by people who knew what they were doing it would never have survived that long without eating - this is why people seem to be ganging up on you slightly.

They can be extremely difficult to start on occassion and its is no easy task to judge their bodily condition to decide when they are becoming so weak that they literaly might die.

Without a garaunteed true hatch date (the only gauranteed meal your snake has had is the yolk - sorry to say shops lie about this kind of thing) and no recognisable poop as opposed to possibly just urates there is no gaurantee your snake has ever eaten anything voluntarily at all.

And for hatchlings it's all about condition - Adam knows the health of every snake he owns and , since you can see it, you might too.

We haven't seen it so don't know if it's a skinny hatchling that's sat there for months or a nice fat hatchling a week out the egg. Thus we err on the side of caution.

If you can post a pic we will be able to judge for ourselves if it's time to panic or if it's ok to be more relaxed about it.

I hope this comes across as helpful - that is certainly the way I intend it to.


dr del

I honestly due understand being tight on money, i do. but i still make sure i have the means to take care of the pets i have. And as others here do I too wish you and your damn(your word not mine) snake the best of luck..

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Originally Posted by whyteboi

I dont have money laying around ATM. Im fixing this, the damn snake is fine,

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Yea I will try to get pics by tomorrow, ill have to borrow my sisters camera.

More to add to why i think there should be an age limit on hopeful animal parents.



Just my two cents.