Baby Ball won't eat.

I know you heard of this before but I have a ball python approx 5 months old, he was eating froxen thaed but won't eat for me, how long should I wait before I try again. How long can a 5 month old go without eating before it becomes a problem?

The temp ans humidity is good., so I don't know what to do,

dip the rat in chicken broth my snakes didn't eat for 7 months and they got relay interested and ate after that. you could also try a gerbil or African sulfur.

What are his hot/cold/ambient temps?
What are you using to measure the temps?
What kind of enclosure is he in?
What are his heat sources?
What is his humidity?
What do you use to measure humidity?
How much does he weigh?
Have you tried feeding something different (ie, live, different size, etc)?
How many meals has he missed?

Lets start there and see what we can figure out :)

I read some snakes going a while without eating, how long can a 5 month old withhold without it harming him?

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zombie

What are his hot/cold/ambient temps?
What are you using to measure the temps?
What kind of enclosure is he in?
What are his heat sources?
What is his humidity?
What do you use to measure humidity?
How much does he weigh?
Have you tried feeding something different (ie, live, different size, etc)?
How many meals has he missed?

Lets start there and see what we can figure out :)

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Wow, I'll try lol, he's in a glass enclosure

I'm using a probe to measure temp and humidity, temp on the cool side is 80, 91 on the warm, humidity on one side is 45 and 30 on the other., I use a under heat mat and a night light to heat Not sure his weight, the person I bought him from fed frozen thawed mice, so I am using the same.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snoop22ca

I read some snakes going a while without eating, how long can a 5 month old withhold without it harming him?

Thanks

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A five month old bp is/should be growing rapidly, so fasting serves no purpose for them (unlike an adult entering the breeding season). Having said that and assuming good health, they can go without food for some time. Like Zombie, I suspect you've got a husbandry issue causing the snake not to eat. You didn't mention any hides in the enclosure...do you have any? How big? what else is in the enclosure and where is it? Maybe you could post a picture. Also, how often are you handling him? How often are you offering him food?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dav4

A five month old bp is/should be growing rapidly, so fasting serves no purpose for them (unlike an adult entering the breeding season). Having said that and assuming good health, they can go without food for some time. Like Zombie, I suspect you've got a husbandry issue causing the snake not to eat. You didn't mention any hides in the enclosure...do you have any? How big? what else is in the enclosure and where is it? Maybe you could post a picture.

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I have two hides, one on each side, he spends all of his time in the same hide, and I have a decent size water bowl in there as well.

When is the last time he shed or defecated, and how many weeks has he missed eating? He could simply be off due to going into shed or needing to poo if it's only been a couple of weeks.

I'm not sure, I only had him for around 2 weeks,

Ok, so he's in a new home, which can be stressful. How often are you offering him food? How are you warming the mice, and how are you offering them (hairdryer and tongs, room temp and leaving it outside the hide, etc.)?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snoop22ca

Wow, I'll try lol, he's in a glass enclosure

I'm using a probe to measure temp and humidity, temp on the cool side is 80, 91 on the warm, humidity on one side is 45 and 30 on the other., I use a under heat mat and a night light to heat Not sure his weight, the person I bought him from fed frozen thawed mice, so I am using the same.

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Humidity should definitely be 50-60% all the time and 70% during a shed... Maybe try raising the humidity a bit and then try feeding her. I have a 6 month and she hasn't missed a meal yet. Hope everything works out for ya! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Ok, so he's in a new home, which can be stressful. How often are you offering him food? How are you warming the mice, and how are you offering them (hairdryer and tongs, room temp and leaving it outside the hide, etc.)?

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I offered him a mouse then waited for 2 more days, I warm the mouse at room temp and then dipped him im warm water and dried him off before using tongs to dangle him, he seemed interested but wouldn't take it. Then the second time I tried he wasn't interested at all.

Thanks

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by bx718

Humidity should definitely be 50-60% all the time and 70% during a shed... Maybe try raising the humidity a bit and then try feeding her. I have a 6 month and she hasn't missed a meal yet. Hope everything works out for ya! :D

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How do you get your humidity to 60?

You can raise humidity by misting more frequently. It sounds like the mouse might not have been warm enough. Leave him completely alone for 5-7 days. Then, warm the mouse's head with a hair dryer (after thawing) for about 20-30 seconds. Offer with tongs, like you already were.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

You can raise humidity by misting more frequently. It sounds like the mouse might not have been warm enough. Leave him completely alone for 5-7 days. Then, warm the mouse's head with a hair dryer (after thawing) for about 20-30 seconds. Offer with tongs, like you already were.

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Okay thanks, I'm just mor worried where he is so young, I feel like he may starve lol

A few weeks won't hurt him. Just make sure you leave him alone to settle in, and get the prey warm enough for him to target. Good luck and keep us updated! :)

How long he can last depends on his health to start with. If he is nice and fat he will last longer.

As for getting him to eat, you need to make sure everything about his enclosure is good. As others have mentioned, temps, hides, etc. Once you have made sure all of that is good, you may need to switch to live until he starts eating again if he is on the thin side. Do you have pictures of him and his enclosure?

I'll try to take some pics tomorrow, he looks healthy, he stays in his hide constantly though

[QUOTE=snoop22ca;1988483]I'll try to take some pics tomorrow, he looks healthy, he stays in his hide constantly though[/QUOTE
...which is pretty normal for a ball python. My BPs spend greater then 90% of the time in their hides...no worries:).

I would assume the mouse wasn't hot enough. Like someone else said, thaw it, then use a blow dryer on its head for a good 30 seconds. Hopefully that will fix your issue.

As for humidity, I'm assuming its a tank with a screen lid? If so, cover 1/2-3/4 of the screen lid with aluminum foil or a towel. It will raise humidity up :)