new bp owner

hey guys my name is Lydia. I got two ball pythons two weeks ago. I owned a Burmese for 18 years so I'm not stupid when it comes to snakes just when it comes to ball pythons. I'm having feeding issues. Neither ate while at the store just at the previous vendor. And when i got them home neither would eat so the beginning of last week I tried to feed them and no luck with fuzzys so I tried pinkies well I got one to eat one pinkie (though she should be eating at least two in my opinion or atleast one fuzzy) but the other would not eat so i took it to a friend who breeds bps and she assist fed her because she has lost 5 grams and was very dehydrated because she was so stressed. It came feeding time again today for the one who did eat on her own and i tried another fuzzie and she wouldnt go near it so i'm not sure what to do since she has eaten just try the pinkies again i'm jsut afraid she wont gain weight and grow if she is only eating a pinkie once a week (though i'm trying more often) I'm just at a loss here. I can't assist feed myself because I am not confident that i can do it properly. and I don't want to keep bugging my friend, any tips tricks that might help. oh and the one who did eat is not dehydrated so thats a good sign i guess.

also if there are any other things that maybe important to know about ball pythons please let me know

Hi Lydia!

You're not coming across as stupid. You're coming across as someone who is used to burms. Ball pythons often aren't as ravenous as burms typically are. It takes them longer to settle into a new home. Ball pythons are also often prey imprinted. If you're offering them mice, try rats, and vice versa. Dehydration is something they will usually correct on their own if you give them a water bowl.

Some of them are very picky. I have one who thinks that f/t is of the devil and mice are nasty. The other two will eat anything in sight. Go figure....

yea i was told they are very picky like i said I think i'm going to try the f/t pinkies one the one who has eaten maybe i can get two this time! and as for the one who needed to be assisted today they said she might need that a couple times to get some size then she might eat. I was also suggested live but I'm not to sure about that plus trying to find live feeders around here is hard. They are both super social and sweet but just a pain to feed.

It's a pain in the butt to find live feeders here too, and I don't care to raise them because they stink.

So for the time being I have to drive a few miles once a week to get Miss Picky the two rat pups she demands.

How big are the pythons? Some of them will refuse if the prey is smaller than they are used to.

i'm not 100% sure but somewhere around 18 inches

They would probably take rat pups for you at that size. That is about the size my Lily is, and that is all she will eat.

Hello, and :welcome: to BP.net.

The first thing is to check for any husbandry issues.
-What type of enclosures are you using?
-What are the sizes and/or dimensions of the enclosures?
-Are you housing the snakes together in one enclosure?
-What are you using for heat sources?
-How are you controlling the heat sources?
-What are your warm and ambient temperatures?
-What is your humidity?
-What are you using to monitor the temps and humidity?
-What type of hides are you using, and how many?
-Are you feeding mice or rats, and are they live or frozen/thawed?

If you could post a photo, it would help, but is not necessary.

I will have to try that! Thanks a lot for the help! Seeing my new baby so dehydrated and small made me so sad I felt like i was doing something wrong because I never had a problem getting my burm to eat lol

okay let's see f i can answer all of these questions

-I am using a heat lamp its a blue bulb I can't remember the wattage
- the warm side is 88 right now and the ambient side is around 80
- Humidity is low around 30%
- I have a cheap thermostat and humidity gauge
- I have a log hide right now just one in each cage
- I'm using f/t mice

oh and its a 10 gallon enclosure with a metal top

Here's a video you might find useful--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8FrA1Gzlk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lydia Mayes

okay let's see f i can answer all of these questions

-I am using a heat lamp its a blue bulb I can't remember the wattage
- the warm side is 88 right now and the ambient side is around 80
- Humidity is low around 30%
- I have a cheap thermostat and humidity gauge
- I have a log hide right now just one in each cage
- I'm using f/t mice

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Ok, the first thing is to help the snakes feel more secure. You can start by covering the back and two ends of the tanks. You can use anything like cardboard, colored poster board, construction paper, contact paper, or some of that fancy aquarium scenery film sold at pet shops. Doing this will make the tanks seem smaller and not so open.
You should have two identical hides. One on each side. They should be snug fitting for the snake. Log hides are not ideal, but they can be made to work by putting extra substrate in them or some balled up paper to help fill up some of the space. Personally, I prefer plastic hides, because they are much easier to clean. If you decide to go with a different type of hide, there are many differnt styles available commercially or, you can make some out of cheap plastic bowls or flower pots. Here is a link to a thread that shows some of the homemade options:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...0-Hides-my-way

If you are using a screen top, then there are two things that are killing your humidity. One is the open top, and the other is the heat lamp. I would suggest an Under Tank Heater. This will provide a warm spot for the snake to lay on and won't suck out the humidity. Heat lamps are good for supplemental heating, especially if it is needed in the winter for cooler or drafty houses, but they do cause humidity problems. Since you are currently using the lamps, you should cover the screen with aluminum foil, except where the lamp sits, and use a little spray bottle to lighly mist the tanks once or twice a day.
When it comes to Under Tank Heaters, they need to be controlled. Despite what the packaging says, they can get hot enough to burn a snake and need to be controlled by, at a minimum, a lamp dimmer, which are available at Lowes or Home Depot for about $10-$12, or a thermostat, which you set the temperature you want and let the thermostat run the heater. There are several different brands and styles that range in price from $30-$300, depending on what type of features and extras you want.
For monitoring the temps and humidity, the little stick-on dial thermometers are notoriously inaccurate. They may work for a while, but the internal springs can quickly wear out. Digital thermometers and hygrometers will work better and longer. Also, when using an Under Tank Heater, a thermometer should have a probe that can be placed under the substrate. Another option is to get a temperature gun to measure the temps.
Here is a link to a thread on setting up a glass enclosure that may help:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-w-pics-*DUW*

If you have any questions about any of the items, or where to get them, just ask. One of the biggest reasons that a Ball Python won't eat is stress. And the biggest causes of stress are lack of security, improper temperatures, and over-handling. So the first thing is to get them feeling comfortable and secure in the enclosures, which alot of times, will fix the feeding issues.

Also, as was said above, alot of times snakes won't mess with prey that is too small. I would try at least hopper mice or large rat fuzzies. It also may help to heat the prey up after it has fully thawed. The easiest way to do this is to blast it with a blow dryer for about 20-30 seconds before offering it. Also, if they don't eat right away, you might try leaving the prey laying about 2-3 inches in front of their hide over night. Sometimes they will come out in the dark to eat...

Also, (didn't see anyone else mention this...) unless they're hatchlings (which it doesn't seem like they would be) feeding is not crucial this very minute.

BP's are soo sensitive to stress, and often won't eat for many different reasons. Many of them completely normal! (time of year, breeding season, doesn't feel like it..lol!) Since you just got these guys, I'm sure it's been very hard on them being brought into a very unfamiliar (and less than ideal) environment. Having your friend force feed them is only going to increase their stress levels, and make them much less likely to eat on their own. Force feeding is a last resort- We're talking, going on a year, tried everything in the book already, last resort. Unless they're very very young, 5 grams is nothing to worry about.

Also, you say you have 2, are they in the same 10 gallon enclosure?

thanks guys! they are in different enclosures and she is only 40 grams to begin with thats why we were so concerned with the losing 5 grams. I do have the under the tank heaters I was just really concerned with the heat being too much but thanks for all of the advice I'll go ahead and set up the UTH today! I have noticed the humidity goes up when the light is off.

Oh and it seems the one who has eaten wont eat if the prey is a fuzzy only a pinkie. I was told by someone else it might be she just isnt confident in herself yet.

So what I'm gathering from all of this is trying tweaking the cage so she is more comfortable then try feeding them again.?

Is there anyway I can get a lid/cover for the cage that isn't completely open?

Thanks again and any other info or sites you could link me to with as much info as possible would be great. My burm was so easy to care for compared to these guys lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lydia Mayes

Is there anyway I can get a lid/cover for the cage that isn't completely open?

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Some people use plexiglass. You can have it cut about 2 inches shorter than your screen lid so that when you lay it on the screen, there will be about a 1 inch open space on each end for air circulation, and some people just drill a few holes in it for ventilation.
Or, if you like little projects, here is the link to a thread on a DIY cover for the screen:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tment-Tutorial

Hope this helps.

THANKS AGAIN! I'll have to get started on all of this!!!