How to feed your ball python?

I got a bp last month and it's being a stubborn feeder, so I want to make sure I'm doing everything right. The crazy old lady at the pet store told me that 86 was perfect for the hot side. Yeah right -_-. Then when I told her I was having feeding troubles, she told me to put the snake in a paper bag with the prey and leave it over night. That didn't work go figure. So tonight is my snakes scheduled feeding so here's what I plan on doing (please give me any tips and correct me if I'm wrong).

1. thaw and warm up frozen hopper.

2. shake hopper infront of snake with tongs [chopsticks]

Every time I do this the snake seems scared and curles up into a ball, but in other feeding videos people touch the mouse to the snakes face and it strikes.

I really need to know if I'm doing something wrong. The temps and everything else are fine. Thanks.... :snake:

How are you warming up your hoppers?

Sometimes it just takes them a while to start eating. It took me 3 weeks to get my PYB to eat and shortly after she went off food for 2 months. >_<

The way I prepare my f/t is I let them sit out until they are completely thawed and starting to reach room temp. Then I fill a bowl with hot water and let them sit for a few minutes. After this I replace the water and take the bowl over to my rack. I shake them off and then feed. It's worked pretty well for me so far.

My PYB was just like yours for 2 months and would shy away from food. You can try leaving it in over night, that works with some of my BPs, but you might have to just wait him/her out for a few weeks.

Edit: If you have been handling your BP I would stop until it starts eating for you. Some get really really stressed from being handled. I'm also assuming you have your husbandry correct.

So I take the f/t out of the freezer at 5am before work and put it in the fridge. Then at 5pm when I get home I take it out of the fridge open the top of the ziplock and let the rat get to rom temperature next to the BP enclosure. At 830pm I take the now room temp f/t and heat it up with a hardryer on low for about 1-3 minutes concentrating on the head. Then I remove the hids and water bowl, grab the rat at the scruff of the neck and do the zombie dance and 6 seconds later it's wrapped up.

You might try a different f/t. The BP may want rats if your offering mice or vice versa; it may want mice if your offering rats. Oh yea and don't handle him on feeding day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7OuTWUBwZs

What I find works very well for me with any snake is to completely thaw the feeder, leave it out in a bowl right near the cage for a couple hours, then right before I feed, I blast the face of the rodent with a hair dryer, aiming the warm rodent scented air at the cage. Then, when the face is nice and warm, I dangle the feeder from the base of the tail in the enclosure. This usually makes them go for it really well.

If I were you, I might refrain from making the feeder move because it does freak out some snakes. Or, if you want to make it move, what I find gets them interested is dangle it near them, then make it "walk" away, snuffle around a bit, then go back towards them.

If all else fails, you could pre-scent like I described in the first paragraph and if it doesn't go for the rodent right away, leave it near the door of it's hide/wherever it was overnight. They might take it when it's dark and quiet in your house.

EDIT daaang, you guys type fast :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kinra

How are you warming up your hoppers?

Sometimes it just takes them a while to start eating. It took me 3 weeks to get my PYB to eat and shortly after she went off food for 2 months. >_<

The way I prepare my f/t is I let them sit out until they are completely thawed and starting to reach room temp. Then I fill a bowl with hot water and let them sit for a few minutes. After this I replace the water and take the bowl over to my rack. I shake them off and then feed. It's worked pretty well for me so far.

My PYB was just like yours for 2 months and would shy away from food. You can try leaving it in over night, that works with some of my BPs, but you might have to just wait him/her out for a few weeks.

Edit: If you have been handling your BP I would stop until it starts eating for you. Some get really really stressed from being handled. I'm also assuming you have your husbandry correct.

---

Thanks! To thaw I usually just put them in a plastic bag then put them in hot water. I already tried the over night thing it didn't work...and I don't handle it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RetiredJedi

So I take the f/t out of the freezer at 5am before work and put it in the fridge. Then at 5pm when I get home I take it out of the fridge open the top of the ziplock and let the rat get to rom temperature next to the BP enclosure. At 830pm I take the now room temp f/t and heat it up with a hardryer on low for about 1-3 minutes concentrating on the head. Then I remove the hids and water bowl, grab the rat at the scruff of the neck and do the zombie dance and 6 seconds later it's wrapped up.

You might try a different f/t. The BP may want rats if your offering mice or vice versa; it may want mice if your offering rats. Oh yea and don't handle him on feeding day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7OuTWUBwZs

---

Thanks! I actually already saw this video lol

Some really don't like the feeder being shoved in their faces as well. Like the above poster said try to make the mouse look more natural and I would keep it about 4-6 inches away from his face. Or you could try live.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

Some things that I have learned work

-don't let the snake see you make him think it is real
(you do not have to see the mouse for the snake to take it only he has to see it)
-make the mouse look real buy walking it around the enclosure not just right in front of the snake, start far away and let the snake come to the mouse (he will smell it)
-try waiting until he is in his hide then wiggle outside the hide opening
-try a few live hoppers first then slip a F/T one in to him once he is more confident
-don't thaw rodents in fridge with things like onions or garlic (the smell seeps into the rodent and may detract the snake
-try a dark colored rodent instead of a white one
-don't expect him to eat in shed
-try leaving the dead rodent in the enclosure over night (one of my snakes will not strike a F/T but will eat it fine if I just throw it in there with him)
-keep the room quiet and the traffic down (they can "see" more than we think)
-make sure the ambient is warm enough

did I miss anything guys?

I am curious as this animal eaten a meal for you since you have had him?

If so was it live or F/T?

How big is your BP and what size enclosure do you have him in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

I am curious as this animal eaten a meal for you since you have had him?

If so was it live or F/T?

How big is your BP and what size enclosure do you have him in?

---

No, she hasn't eaten. She ate once (f/t) at the pet store. I haven't got a measurement on her because I don't want to handle her. She's in a 10 gallon tank, until I build a rack system (within a few weeks) she'll be in the appropriate sized tub.

You have been given good advise so far. Just make sure she has a good enclosure temp, a nice tight hide, and refrain from moving the prey too much.

Some will try your patience more than others do. One of mine will happily dislocate my shoulder flying out of the tub if I'm too slow with the rat. Another won't eat at all if I don't remove his hide and water, cover half the tub with a dark towel and wait at least 20 minutes until he's darn good and ready before offering him his mouse. If I make one tiny deviation from his routine, he will not eat that week, no matter what I do.

Gale

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gold217

No, she hasn't eaten. She ate once (f/t) at the pet store. I haven't got a measurement on her because I don't want to handle her. She's in a 10 gallon tank, until I build a rack system (within a few weeks) she'll be in the appropriate sized tub.

---

I would put her in a 6 quarts tub NOW and offer a live hopper mouse.

The priority is to get this animal to eat converting to F/T is secondary and should be done when the animal is already a well established feeder.

I agree with Deb completely. Getting her or him to eat is first priority. Go with live and when it's on a steady schedule then switch to ft. You can avoid having to set up another setup by putting the 6qt in The tank half on the hotside.

Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com