Sons new ball ate this morning!

My six year old brought home a 450-500 gram ghost ball on Wednesday. It's is our first reptile in the house. I have a another thread going on it so I won't repeat it all here. Anyway dropped a live mouse in the tank this morning around 7:30 turned all lights off left him alone for a half hour. Went back in expecting to remove mouse but Mario got him! He is back in his hide with a little lump. We will leave him alone until tomorrow at which point ill let me son handle him for a few minutes.
After reading so many feeding horror stories with feeding I was very excited to see Mario eat.
thanks for the help on here

Being a new snake, I would wait 48 hours to handle him. I always give my snakes 2 days after eating to digest their food. wouldn't want to risk a regurge.

Always a great feeling when they eat their first meal with you. It isn't recommended to walk away when feeding live. Most keepers supervise to ensure the live prey doesn't go looking for a meal itself.

Yeah I hangout and watch to make sure the prey is no longer able to injure my snakes......

I seen a picture online where a handler left their ball with a live rat alone.. Poor thing had most of its scales chewed off head to tail and had to be euthanized.. I still can't get that image out of my head.

If you fed him at 7:30 in the morning, I would say by later tomorrow afternoon you are okay to handle him. That being said, as always, it depends on the snake. ;)

Thanks for all the tips everyone. It was recommended to me to leave the room and make it dark. Obviously with a larger rat I would be more careful. It is a great feeling. I think I'll let my son handle him tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again for the advice.

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Originally Posted by CushtaMinge89

I seen a picture online where a handler left their ball with a live rat alone.. Poor thing had most of its scales chewed off head to tail and had to be euthanized.. I still can't get that image out of my head.

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That only happens when you leave a hungry rat in with a snake for longer than an hour. I leave my feeders in with my snakes for 10-15 minutes before I check on them to make sure they ate. There is no way a rat is going to do that kind of damage in a matter of minutes. Especially a well fed rat.

You don't need to sit there and watch them eat.

OP, congrats on the new snake eating for you!

Oh definitely! I think who ever was the owner was very careless.. Either that or highly un-intelegent ha.

Yeah I agree, being a new snake I don't think he is too excited to have an audience while feeding. I would love to switch over to ft eventually and avoid any issues. Once I noticed the mouse was gone I did lift the snakes hide to make sure we want being attacked. Then settled it back down and will leave the snake alone until tomorrow afternoon. I feel confident he will be fine. My son handled him a bunch at the breeder and when we got him home to put him in his tank. That was Wednesday night he hasn't been handled since.

If you can't find large enough mice can you feed two at a time? Live?

A small mouse can do the same damage as a rat. You shod try per killed or frozen/thawed. Using tongs or hemostats to make movement. If they are not interested leave it in front of the hide box turn the lights out. A mouse can take an eye out quickly.

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Originally Posted by BPro927

A small mouse can do the same damage as a rat. You shod try per killed or frozen/thawed. Using tongs or hemostats to make movement. If they are not interested leave it in front of the hide box turn the lights out. A mouse can take an eye out quickly.

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I assume you have had an experience with a small mouse attacking your snakes eyes?

Because I have not.. and I know there are many people on this forum who do 100+ live feedings a week with no injuries...

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I assume you have had an experience with a small mouse attacking your snakes eyes?

Because I have not.. and I know there are many people on this forum who do 100+ live feedings a week with no injuries...

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Didn't want to start anything. It was recommended to leave it alone with the mouse in a private dark room. Did that and snake ate. No problem. Everyone is welcome to do what they please. There are obviously many different styles of feeding do what works for you.

kaorte- didn't mean this to come off like i was coming at you or anyone. Just don't want to start a debate here!

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Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

Didn't want to start anything. It was recommended to leave it alone with the mouse in a private dark room. Did that and snake ate. No problem. Everyone is welcome to do what they please. There are obviously many different styles of feeding do what works for you.

kaorte- didn't mean this to come off like i was coming at you or anyone. Just don't want to start a debate here!

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I know you didn't mean to start anything. I believe what you did was perfectly fine.

What I don't like is that a bunch of people coming in here and telling you that what you did was wrong. Because clearly it is not.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I know you didn't mean to start anything. I believe what you did was perfectly fine.

What I don't like is that a bunch of people coming in here and telling you that what you did was wrong. Because clearly it is not.

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Lol, I hear ya, I've learned in a quick time everyone has an opinion on how everyone else should do something. I've been lucky to get some great advice from people I know and trust and they are right on pace with what you have stated. Thank you
sean

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Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

Lol, I hear ya, I've learned in a quick time everyone has an opinion on how everyone else should do something. I've been lucky to get some great advice from people I know and trust and they are right on pace with what you have stated. Thank you
sean

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That's good. :) Keep doin what you are doin!

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Originally Posted by Kensa

Always a great feeling when they eat their first meal with you. It isn't recommended to walk away when feeding live. Most keepers supervise to ensure the live prey doesn't go looking for a meal itself.

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Guess I need to clarify. I wasn't scolding the OP for leaving the room, nor did I suggest he change his practice for feeding. I congratulated him, then said it isn't RECOMMENDED to leave live prey alone with your snake. It was a statement made because in my opinion most keepers want to make sure the health of the snake is never compromised. I don't know how many posts I have read stating that the owner will standby with something to stick in the prey's mouth in case they are looking for something to bite after the snake strikes.

I choose to feed F/T, personal preference. The OP can choose to feed how he feels most comfortable.

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Originally Posted by Kensa

Guess I need to clarify. I wasn't scolding the OP for leaving the room, nor did I suggest he change his practice for feeding. I congratulated him, then said it isn't RECOMMENDED to leave live prey alone with your snake. It was a statement made because in my opinion most keepers want to make sure the health of the snake is never compromised. I don't know how many posts I have read stating that the owner will standby with something to stick in the prey's mouth in case they are looking for something to bite after the snake strikes.

I choose to feed F/T, personal preference. The OP can choose to feed how he feels most comfortable.

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No worries kensa, I know were trying to be helpful. I think the problem on forums is when people give advice based on what they have read elsewhere. I plan to switch to frozen thawed eventually. However I received advice from someone I know with a vast amount of knowledge who suggested I try this. And it worked so obviously they know what they are talking about. I do appreciate your help and insight as I'm not a snake person, yet!

Some BP's just never decide to switch to F/T, so they are obviously going to be fed live for life...I do understand what you mean about sticking something in the mouth of the prey after a coil so it doesn't bite though. Luckily my girl strikes immediately and always secures the head ;)

I too plan to eventually switch to F/T but the first month or so I plan to keep her on live because that is what the breeder fed. After she is very well adjusted, then I will try the switch :)

It's fine Seanjackmc. I just didn't want it thought that I was trying to tell you how to feed your animal. Everyone has their own opinions on feeding/husbandry/breeding/incubation, which they are entitled to.

Advice should be given when asked for, or when the health of the animal is in jeopardy in my opinion.

Enjoy your new pet!

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Originally Posted by Kensa

It's fine Seanjackmc. I just didn't want it thought that I was trying to tell you how to feed your animal. Everyone has their own opinions on feeding/husbandry/breeding/incubation, which they are entitled to.

Advice should be given when asked for, or when the health of the animal is in jeopardy in my opinion.

Enjoy your new pet!

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Thanks again, i will always take advice! It's my six year olds snake but being he is six I'm forced to do much of the homework and care, which I don't mind. He has a passion for snakes and balls in particular which he came up with on his own. I just want to support him and make sure his snake is healthy.

is a mouse too small for a snake that size? do you have other options for food? glad he ate for you with no issues :)

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Originally Posted by ewaldrep

is a mouse too small for a snake that size? do you have other options for food? glad he ate for you with no issues :)

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I was wondering the same thing. I think those mouse was too small myself but at least he ate. By the way I grew up in chagrin falls.

Prey items that are about the same thickness of the thickest part of your snake are usually what's on the menu. If you can not see a visible lump when fed, maybe step up the prey size a little. Another method used is the weight method, which requires a scale. Prey items about 10-15% of the snake's weight are usually offered. Hope this helps ;)