two won't eat and one missing

Hi all, I've been a lurker for some time here. I have 3 BPs...well, right now, I know where two of them are. My year old bp escaped on Sunday and I have yet to find him. :( I've got a rat in a tank, and a heat mat set out, but no luck so far.
The other two I've had since Mother's Day. I've tried offering food weekly since I got them (I know it's only been a couple weeks) but they have yet to eat. They are around 2 months old, and I've been offering live fuzzies. My first has been a great eater from the time I got him, so this is new to me. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do to try to encourage them to eat? Thanks in advance for any advice!

If you can, cover the floor in flour and watch for tracks. Tear apart every warm place in the house. Good luck.

For food, I'd maybe find something they will eat, then try to flavor the rats with it. Rub it in some mouse bedding or something. I hear they like tuna scent for some reason.

Also check dark places, shoe boxes, piles of clothes, if small enough shoes themselves, furniture, dressers etc. The smaller they are the more they can get into.

And never think to yourself "he/she could never fit in there" because they love feeling secure and squeeze into tiny places to feel surrounded. Best of luck!

Mine loves to go under the dresser

My first ball was a super escape artist and no matter what I did to his cage managed to get out! I usually found him in my sock drawer and on a couple occasions, he made his way into my bed!! (well my mattress' were on the floor so not much of a climb)

You saying he got out of cage clips?

:welcome: to BP.net...

For the 2 that aren't eating:

1) Are you offering mice or rat fuzzies?
2) Are you feeding Live or Frozen/Thawed?
3) Do you feed in the enclosure or a separate container?
4) What type of set-up do you have, as far as, enclosure size, heating, thermostat, thermometers, hides, etc... (a pic would help, if you have one)
5) Are your snakes sharing the same enclosure or do they have individual enclosures?

That information will help in finding out why your little guys aren't eating and finding a solution. Good luck on finding the escapee...

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

:welcome: to BP.net...

For the 2 that aren't eating:

1) Are you offering mice or rat fuzzies? mice-the place where I get my feeders will rarely sell the rats before they reach large mouse size
2) Are you feeding Live or Frozen/Thawed? live
3) Do you feed in the enclosure or a separate container? I've tried both
4) What type of set-up do you have, as far as, enclosure size, heating, thermostat, thermometers, hides, etc... (a pic would help, if you have one) 18x18x18 exo terra tanks, under tank heaters on thermostat, one hide in each tank
5) Are your snakes sharing the same enclosure or do they have individual enclosures? they were together when I got them, but have since been separated

That information will help in finding out why your little guys aren't eating and finding a solution. Good luck on finding the escapee...

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I would try giving them a smaller enclosure. 18x18x18 is pretty big for a hatchling. I keep my babies in 6qt or 12qt tubs with two hides (if I can squeeze them in).

If you aren't willing to move them out of the tanks, I would for sure get a second identical hide for each of them.

I would say set them up in tubs and save the tanks for later. You could even try just putting the tub set-up inside the empty tanks. Just set them over the UTH so it would heat one end of the tub. It may not be aesthectically nice to look at but the goal is to get your babies eating again. Hope this helps...

I just noticed that I misread the dimensions on your tanks. I would try 2 snug hides and maybe some fake vines or something to fill in some of the vertical space. And if you haven't done it, try covering three sides of the tank with something like construction paper, poster board, aquarium scenery, or something like that so the tank doesn't appear so open and spacious...

Any luck on finding the escape artist? Also, are you waiting 5-7 days before feeding attempts?

I will try to fill in some of the extra space and add extra hides for them as well-thank you to everyone who has chimed in!

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Originally Posted by cboocks

Any luck on finding the escape artist? Also, are you waiting 5-7 days before feeding attempts?

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No luck on finding him yet :( I'm scared he got into one of the storage rooms...they are packed pretty full of stuff and not easily searched.

I have been waiting a week before attempting to feed-usually on Saturdays.

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Originally Posted by venessa214

I will try to fill in some of the extra space and add extra hides for them as well-thank you to everyone who has chimed in!

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I have also seen threads where members have put a bunch of balled up newspaper in the enclosure to help them feel secure and feed, but I don't recall if they ever said exactly how much newspaper they balled up in the enclosure or how full they made it, but it might be something to think about. Maybe one of those who had success with this technique will see this thread and post...

One other question-should I try to feed the little guys in their enclosure, or in a separate one? I've always fed Joker (the one who is missing) in his tank, and have never had a problem with aggression or anything. I just don't know if maybe there is too much space for them to be interested in food in the size tanks they are in?

Feeding in the home enclosure is fine. Ball pythons don't have any cage aggression problems.

If anything putting them in a separate enclosure will make them less likely to eat. They don't like being open and exposed during feeding.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I would try giving them a smaller enclosure. 18x18x18 is pretty big for a hatchling. I keep my babies in 6qt or 12qt tubs with two hides (if I can squeeze them in).

If you aren't willing to move them out of the tanks, I would for sure get a second identical hide for each of them.

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I agree.:salute:

Would it hurt the snake if it was caught in a glue trap from Lowe's? I saw a website were a guy was selling "snake traps" and all they were was a glue trap with a box over it. He said just pour olive oil or vegetable oil on the snake to get it off.

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Originally Posted by trikesorz

Would it hurt the snake if it was caught in a glue trap from Lowe's? I saw a website were a guy was selling "snake traps" and all they were was a glue trap with a box over it. He said just pour olive oil or vegetable oil on the snake to get it off.

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...yes it would hurt the snake.

Those traps aren't meant to keep the trapped animal alive.

Still no luck on finding the escapee or getting the two little ones to eat.
I am really beginning to wonder if he 'walked' out of the house...I have a less than trustworthy cousin who was visiting, and wonder if maybe he decided to borrow Joker without asking. There has been absolutely no sign of him-I would think the dogs would focus on a certain area if they heard or saw him moving around anywhere.
I am still trying to offer food once a week, and they show no interest at all. They will investigate when I put fuzzies in with them, but that's it. I've added extra hides, and tried to fill up some of the empty space in the tanks-they seem to be more active since I've done that, exploring around and soaking in the water bowl.

Sorry you haven't found the escapee yet... but don't give up hope, as they can be gone a LONG time & still be found. :gj:

As for the problem feeders, are they big enough for a hopper mouse? If so you should try one, since most snakes are really attracted to their movements - they literally hop around the tank! Aside from that it's hard to say, since BPs are notoriously picky eaters... I have one who hasn't eaten since last October, and there is no logical reason why. Maybe try moving them into small (15qt) tubs for a while?

Heres an idea:

For the 2 not eating

Go to a place, library ect that has coloured printing. or do it at home if you have the ink

GO to google find pictures of pretty green leaves (preferably some rainforest type, just because they look cool), print this picture off a few times and tape the pages to 3 sides of the tank (obviously leaving the front open for veiwing ofcourse)

this will make them feel super secure and it will look even better if you start filling the tank with plastic leaves/vines

Another idea, is to do that above^ AND buy extra plastic leaves. Take your BPs hide and completely hide every bit of it besides the entrance. It will look very natural to them and probably make them feel better about security

Just some ideas!

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Sorry you haven't found the escapee yet... but don't give up hope, as they can be gone a LONG time & still be found. :gj:

As for the problem feeders, are they big enough for a hopper mouse? If so you should try one, since most snakes are really attracted to their movements - they literally hop around the tank! Aside from that it's hard to say, since BPs are notoriously picky eaters... I have one who hasn't eaten since last October, and there is no logical reason why. Maybe try moving them into small (15qt) tubs for a while?

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They aren't big enough for hoppers yet, large fuzzy/small crawler size right now.

I will try adding some vines/leaves, and covering the outside of the tanks-makes sense that it might seem insecure to them being as small as they are.

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Originally Posted by venessa214

They aren't big enough for hoppers yet, large fuzzy/small crawler size right now.

I will try adding some vines/leaves, and covering the outside of the tanks-makes sense that it might seem insecure to them being as small as they are.

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Ball pythons right out of the egg are started on hoppers and after about 3-4 meals of hoppers they move to small adult mice. I would try offering something a little larger next time. If it is too small sometimes they won't recognize it as food.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Ball pythons right out of the egg are started on hoppers and after about 3-4 meals of hoppers they move to small adult mice. I would try offering something a little larger next time. If it is too small sometimes they won't recognize it as food.

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I will try hoppers this time around, but they looked huge when I asked to see them last week. I am trying to judge by the fattest part of the snakes, which really isn't that fat. Hopefully they will eat soon!

Joker (the one who went missing) surfaced today. I was getting ready to leave for work this morning, went to walk out of the room and thought "where did that stick come from?" till the 'stick' moved. I picked him up and he kind of struck at me, but stopped before he bit. I had to get his tank back out, and when I went to put him down, he latched on to my wrist. It's my first ever bite, and I wouldn't have been more excited, lol. Unless he manage to find something to eat, it had been three months since he had eaten. I don't think he found anything, because he was a little thin, and definitely lost a bit of weight. I got him a medium rat this afternoon when I got off work, and he quickly devoured it. I'm so happy he's back!!! I had pretty much given up that I would see him again.

On the other hand, the two babies still haven't eaten...I've tried hoppers, I've tried waiting longer before feeding attempts. They both look skinny...I don't know what else to do! Would there be any increased interest in F/T, or should I stick with trying for live? How long can these little guys go without eating?

Have they eaten with you before? And was it live? Did the breeder say they were on live mice? They might've had f/t so don't know what to do with live mice. Try offering f/t and wiggle it a little. Also, how much do you handle them? Our ball pythons will refuse food if we handle them too much the day before we try to feed.

Happy to hear you found the escape artist!

I didn't notice if anyone mentioned this or not -- but do not handle the snakes until they start eating! I'm not saying you are, but if you are, then you should probably stop. As you probably know, stressed snakes usually don't eat.

Also, you asked how long they could go without eating. It really depends how big they were to begin with -- ie. a 1500g female could go much longer without eating than an 80g baby. As long as they aren't losing a lot of weight, are drinking, and still look healthy they should be okay for a while...

A digital scale comes in handy when the snakes aren't eating -- I just had my male come off a 3 month hunger strike but monitored his weight the entire time and he hardly lost any weight...

Good luck!!

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Originally Posted by maverickgtr

Have they eaten with you before? And was it live? Did the breeder say they were on live mice? They might've had f/t so don't know what to do with live mice. Try offering f/t and wiggle it a little. Also, how much do you handle them? Our ball pythons will refuse food if we handle them too much the day before we try to feed.

Happy to hear you found the escape artist!

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They have not eaten for me at all, and I've had them about two months. They feed live, but I have wondered if I should try f/t. We do handle them occasionally, but we'll stop and see if that will help.

As far as size, they are about 15 inches long I'd guess. I have seen them drinking, but they have lost weight since we got them. If needed, I can post weights, I have a small digital scale for my geckos.