grrr..

ok so i've posted before and still no luck with my brothers baby ball python, this snake is a pain and it's still not eating...

we tried frozen/thawed, live, pre killed, nothing works...

it still moves around the tank majority of the time, the temps and humidity are fine. i upgraded to digital stuff lol.

we only got this snake when it only ate once and i realized now that wasn't a good idea...

any suggestions?

Can you take a picture of your setup? Its probably a stress related issue. What are his hides like?

how long has it been since it has eaten? is it loosing weight? what size food item did you try, pinky, fuzzy, hopper?

i'll try to get a pic of it. its been about maybe around 3 weeks, supposedly it ate a hopper for it's first meal, we tried hopper and we tried fuzzies....nothing...

if its not loosing weight don't panic yet. try a rat pinky. put the snake and the rat pinky in a plastic shoe box, in its tank, somewhere in the mid temp range. turn off all lights and leave in the dark for a couple hours. if it eats great if not there are a couple of other tricks you can try. one is braining, cutting the skull of the food item open and revealing the brain, not fun, or assisted feeding, then force feeding as a last resort. for the last two i recomend getting help.

Most small BP's dont eat because they are either in too large of an enclosure or they are too cool. Sounds like you have a hatchling which I wouldn't put in anything larger than a 6 quart tub. Also if you room temps drop under 80 degrees that may cause them to not eat.

When I hatch a BP I dont sell or give it to anyone until it has had 4 consecutive meals so I know it is an established eater. Moving it around too much before it is an established feeder can cause some of the problems you are experiencing. If you have her in a glass tank she is probably way too nervous to eat. I would get a small 6 quart tub and put her in there with a tight hide and small water bowl and then in the tank if thats where your heating element is. Security is more important to BP's than eating. Also dont try to fed her day after day as it will just stress her out and dont handle her either. If she refuses than wait at least 4 days to try again. The snake must feel safe and secure before she will eat. Also try leaving a live mouse hopper with her in the total darkness. They are much more secure at night and dont disturb her. A mouse hopper can not do any harm to a snake so dont worry. I have left them over night with stubborn hatchlings and many times that does the trick.

we tried putting it in a shoe box size container and nothing, grrr.... btw here's 2 pics of it..

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...1263186987.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...1263186986.jpg

leave the snake alone for the next week. Then go to the pet store and ask for some gerbil poop. Its a weird question to ask but people have used this method with great success. Normally i would say try a baby gerbil but they are hard to come by. Rub the gerbil poop onto the hopper or what ever your trying to fed the snake and let it sit for a few hrs in with the snake in total darkness. This may do the trick. The snake is prob stressed or your temps arnt up to par.

time to see the vet!

well the temps are pretty much right, i mean it moves a little up and down but it's good....i never heard of the gerbil thing, i mean i can try it, i've tried so many things already, i just hope he's not like that forever...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by singingtothewheat

time to see the vet!

---

omg why would i need to see the vet? i've been told it might not eat cause it's winter too? i have another ball and she's mine, and she's doing erfectly mine and she's a baby too...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

leave the snake alone for the next week. Then go to the pet store and ask for some gerbil poop. Its a weird question to ask but people have used this method with great success. Normally i would say try a baby gerbil but they are hard to come by. Rub the gerbil poop onto the hopper or what ever your trying to fed the snake and let it sit for a few hrs in with the snake in total darkness. This may do the trick. The snake is prob stressed or your temps arnt up to par.

---

I have heard of rubbing ASF or gerbil bedding on a feeder but not POOP. that is just disgusting.

First of all, I would get the snake two identical tight fitting hides. Then I would make sure your temps are correct and your heat source is controlled.

Then, fill the enclosure with crumpled newspaper or computer paper. This will help give the snake more cover and hopefully feel safer. In one week, offer the snake a live hopper mouse if you can.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

I have heard of rubbing ASF or gerbil bedding on a feeder but not POOP. that is just disgusting.

First of all, I would get the snake two identical tight fitting hides. Then I would make sure your temps are correct and your heat source is controlled.

Then, fill the enclosure with crumpled newspaper or computer paper. This will help give the snake more cover and hopefully feel safer. In one week, offer the snake a live hopper mouse if you can.

---

disgusting yes. but it has worked in the past. And im not saying cover the rodent in it either. Just a small swipe so it picks up the sent. I can totally see someone taking it the wrong way and covering the rodent in the poop lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

leave the snake alone for the next week. Then go to the pet store and ask for some gerbil poop. Its a weird question to ask but people have used this method with great success. Normally i would say try a baby gerbil but they are hard to come by. Rub the gerbil poop onto the hopper or what ever your trying to fed the snake and let it sit for a few hrs in with the snake in total darkness. This may do the trick. The snake is prob stressed or your temps arnt up to par.

---

i agree unless you are in california. i have also heard hamsters but never tried.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

I have heard of rubbing ASF or gerbil bedding on a feeder but not POOP. that is just disgusting.

First of all, I would get the snake two identical tight fitting hides. Then I would make sure your temps are correct and your heat source is controlled.

Then, fill the enclosure with crumpled newspaper or computer paper. This will help give the snake more cover and hopefully feel safer. In one week, offer the snake a live hopper mouse if you can.

---

so many different things i can try, you think this would really help?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by krazypunk1018

so many different things i can try, you think this would really help?

---

you will have to first make sure your temps are good. If your temps arnt up to par that could be one of the many reasons. Do what ever you have to do to make sure it feels safe and dont try and feed it every day. The poop rub has worked wonders on a few of my picky eaters. You may have to try 4 or 5 different things to see what works but that just comes with this hobby.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by krazypunk1018

so many different things i can try, you think this would really help?

---

many users on this site have used crumpled up newspaper to get a snake back on feed due to stress issues.

Your snake looks stressed in that picture. It would definitely be worth a shot to crumple up some paper and trow it in for a week rather then buying a bunch of different rodents.

I would certainly try the newspaper thing. It's cheap and clean and easy to do.

Give the snake several days and then try a live pinky rat if you can.

I also had a very stubborn baby who would not eat. She went for over a month and was loosing a lot of weight for something so tiny. I tried f/t, live fuzzy mice, live hoppers, nothing would get her to eat. I finally gave her a new hide, made from an upside down dark blue plastic cereal bowl with a little door cut in it. The next feeding day she took one live hopper, but no more.

I kept struggling with her, she would only take one prey and only a very small one for her size. That worked four times, then she stopped eating again. I was about to tear my hair out in fustration with her. Then, I finally managed to find a live fuzzy rat. At first she ignored it, just like the mice. Then, just when I had given up and was going to remove it, she hit it. She must have held that rat in coil for 25 minutes before she ate it, but she did eat. So there is something to be said for trying a rat instead of a mouse.

I have two extremely shy snakes right now, and if I'm not super careful with them, they go off feed. Another thing I found that can help is to mostly cover the cage when offering food. It's the same principal as turning out the lights, and it has worked for me several times.

Gale

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by angllady2

I would certainly try the newspaper thing. It's cheap and clean and easy to do.

Give the snake several days and then try a live pinky rat if you can.

I also had a very stubborn baby who would not eat. She went for over a month and was loosing a lot of weight for something so tiny. I tried f/t, live fuzzy mice, live hoppers, nothing would get her to eat. I finally gave her a new hide, made from an upside down dark blue plastic cereal bowl with a little door cut in it. The next feeding day she took one live hopper, but no more.

I kept struggling with her, she would only take one prey and only a very small one for her size. That worked four times, then she stopped eating again. I was about to tear my hair out in fustration with her. Then, I finally managed to find a live fuzzy rat. At first she ignored it, just like the mice. Then, just when I had given up and was going to remove it, she hit it. She must have held that rat in coil for 25 minutes before she ate it, but she did eat. So there is something to be said for trying a rat instead of a mouse.

I have two extremely shy snakes right now, and if I'm not super careful with them, they go off feed. Another thing I found that can help is to mostly cover the cage when offering food. It's the same principal as turning out the lights, and it has worked for me several times.

Gale

---

yea i'll try the newspaper thing and maybe a different hide or two, i mean he doesn't look he's losing weight but again i see him all the time and it's hard to notice small changes when you constantly look at something, after the newspaper thing i think you mention give it about a week and i'll try a fuzzy rat, i'm just worried, i mean it's my brothers snake but he's only 9 so i'm taking care of it which i don't mind

While I agree with everyone...the fact that he is a hatchling and has only eaten once and nothing in 3 weeks scares me a bit. They can loose weight so quickly as babies. Try this stuff and if it doesn't work I might call the breeder and ask for some assistance. He may need assist feed

The main reason that snake is not eating is stress. He is in a huge enclosure. Think cramped and warm!

Never leave a live feeder with a snake for several hours. If the snake doesn't eat in 10 mins, it's not going to eat. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Did you try pre killing and leaving it in there for a night?

In my opinion the tank is the right size, you just need to get some fake plants (Or newspaper) in there for added security.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

Never leave a live feeder with a snake for several hours. If the snake doesn't eat in 10 mins, it's not going to eat. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Did you try pre killing and leaving it in there for a night?

In my opinion the tank is the right size, you just need to get some fake plants (Or newspaper) in there for added security.

---

we never left it alone with live prey, but we tried pre killed prey and it didn't work, it seems like the newspaper thing is the best bet right now

I remember a post not too long ago that had some good info on encouraging a hatchling to eat...I can't remember the poster's name, but I think it was Big Gunns who suggested putting the hatchling on aspen bedding and lo' and behold, the snake ate shortly after the switch to aspen! You may want to go one step further and get a small sterlite container and aspen bedding. Put the little guy in there with just his hide and a water bowl in a low traffic area and see if that doesn't reduce his stress a little...or at least until he becomes a more established eater!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoBoilers

I remember a post not too long ago that had some good info on encouraging a hatchling to eat...I can't remember the poster's name, but I think it was Big Gunns who suggested putting the hatchling on aspen bedding and lo' and behold, the snake ate shortly after the switch to aspen! You may want to go one step further and get a small sterlite container and aspen bedding. Put the little guy in there with just his hide and a water bowl in a low traffic area and see if that doesn't reduce his stress a little...or at least until he becomes a more established eater!

---

hmmm interesting, well little by little i'm going to try different methods, if the newspaper thing dont work then i'm going to try the aspen thing you mentioned

ok here's another pic which i noticed my snake warrior has been doing

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...63440357-1.jpg

he does this maybe once ever day or other day, and he runs up along the corner of the tank going all the way up to the screen and then falls right on it's back...he does that once or twice a day

If he's falling off that thing, I'd take it out. If he's just being silly and not knowing how gravity works, then I'd say that's fine. Though, if he's falling down like that every couple of days, he might be a little stressed about it.

Just a thought, it might be totally irrelevant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

If he's falling off that thing, I'd take it out. If he's just being silly and not knowing how gravity works, then I'd say that's fine. Though, if he's falling down like that every couple of days, he might be a little stressed about it.

Just a thought, it might be totally irrelevant.

---

well he doesn't fall of that thing actually btw that little needle thermometer you see there that he's wrapped around i don't use anymore i upgraded to all digital, well here's another picture of what i was trying to explain earlier about going up the corner, and after he does he just falls over, again this happens once or twice a day, i thought it was weird...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...1263442195.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...1263442195.jpg

That's pretty normal if they're stressed. My pastel used to do that, but doesn't anymore. Or if she does, I'm asleep so I don't see it. Maybe someone else can say if theirs still does it after settling into the tank.

I'd stick with trying to get two identical hides, and more foliage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

That's pretty normal if they're stressed. My pastel used to do that, but doesn't anymore. Or if she does, I'm asleep so I don't see it. Maybe someone else can say if theirs still does it after settling into the tank.

I'd stick with trying to get two identical hides, and more foliage.

---

ok ill try that, but yea we've had him for 3 week a little more i think and he's still doing that

I really don't have much to add. Most of what everyone else has suggested has been good and solid information, so I would just like to summarize - give my two cents.

-The "leaving live prey with the snake for ANY length of time" is a definite no-no, yes.
-Yes, think cramped, squishy, snug, any way you want to put it. Just stuff that enclosure and maybe pick up another coconut hide to match the other one. Newspaper, more fake foliage, a sterile log or two - all are good ideas.
-I've noticed that my own young one tends to crawl up the corners sometimes, but only when I've noticed that it's become too warm, and she's trying to escape the heat (which is occurring more and more often since the cold snap ended up here), but if your temperatures are correct, that only leaves stress due to other reasons. Maybe double-check for hot spots? BPs love to hide, and the hanging behavior seems to indicate too much heat. That's purely my opinion, however.

All-in-all, a stressed BP won't eat. So good luck, and I hope all the information we have given you will help. Cruise the whole site; you never know what helpful little tidbit you might find. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

Never leave a live feeder with a snake for several hours. If the snake doesn't eat in 10 mins, it's not going to eat. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Did you try pre killing and leaving it in there for a night?

In my opinion the tank is the right size, you just need to get some fake plants (Or newspaper) in there for added security.

---

What? No really, what? i think we were all talking about pinkies fuzzies and hoppers none of which are real vicious, and i think most would agree there is no danger in leaving a small non biting rodent with a snake for a few hours, or even over night! i would venture to say it is not uncommon to leave adult feeders with snakes for a couple of hours or even longer. i myself have balls that only eat in the middle of the night, and won't take pk or ft rodents so i leave live feeders in over night, although i don't recomend it.

Some of the most common reasons for them to climb like that are;

A) A new arrival testing the limits of its enclosure,
B) A hungry snake hunting for food,
C) A stressed snake trying to find a more protected spot.

Since yours isn't eating, it's probably C. I agree with the people who suggested crumpled newspaper, it works like a charm.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BabysMomma

Some of the most common reasons for them to climb like that are;

A) A new arrival testing the limits of its enclosure,
B) A hungry snake hunting for food,
C) A stressed snake trying to find a more protected spot.

Since yours isn't eating, it's probably C. I agree with the people who suggested crumpled newspaper, it works like a charm.

---

ok about the crumbled newspaper, is it just like everyone is talking about how you just get some and put it at random places in the tank? does it matter where you put it? sorry with all the questions just want to make sure i do this right

Those coconut hides look too tall. They like being able to touch the sides and top of the hide with their bodies. Try a hide that's lower to the ground.

so any special way i should rumble the newspapers?

No special way. Just crumple up a few sheets of newspaper and throw it in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gwood267

What? No really, what? i think we were all talking about pinkies fuzzies and hoppers none of which are real vicious, and i think most would agree there is no danger in leaving a small non biting rodent with a snake for a few hours, or even over night! i would venture to say it is not uncommon to leave adult feeders with snakes for a couple of hours or even longer. i myself have balls that only eat in the middle of the night, and won't take pk or ft rodents so i leave live feeders in over night, although i don't recomend it.

---

It's generally not a good idea for any new keeper to leave a feeder in a tank with a snake overnight. If you're more experienced, then that's something that you can call on your own. But for someone who has had a snake for 3 weeks and it hasn't eaten, is clearly stressed, leaving a feeder in there will only stress him more.

As for crumpling the newspaper, don't make it into tight balls, just loosely crumble it.

What works best for me was to PRESCENT, then toss in a hopper and shut off the lights (do this late at night) and leave the room for a few hours. He needs to feel secure, warm, and alone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

It's generally not a good idea for any new keeper to leave a feeder in a tank with a snake overnight. If you're more experienced, then that's something that you can call on your own. But for someone who has had a snake for 3 weeks and it hasn't eaten, is clearly stressed, leaving a feeder in there will only stress him more.

As for crumpling the newspaper, don't make it into tight balls, just loosely crumble it.

---

ok i'll try it right now actually

ok i took a pic of it

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...1263497876.jpg

Looks perfect to me!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elise.m

Looks perfect to me!

---

ok lol good, i hope this works, he's actually crawling all over it lol

If the news paper buisiness works, what would you recommend to replace it ?

:taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by machedy

If the news paper buisiness works, what would you recommend to replace it ?

:taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz::taz:

---

good question, what can i replace it with? or do i take them out little by little once he starts eating?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by krazypunk1018

good question, what can i replace it with? or do i take them out little by little once he starts eating?

---

The idea is to slowly remove the crumpled paper until it is completely gone and the snake is eating :)

ok so it's been like 2 days and yea i noticed him coming out less, i mean he still comes out a few times a day but a lot less than usual ^_^

OMG!!!! guess what? we fed him yesterday and he ATE IT!!!!

we're so happy, thank you everyone so much