New BP, eating problems, starting to panic... help appreciated!

Heres my story:

I got my new baby BP on October 8th (my first BP). He was pretty small in size (not sure exact weight at time of purchase) but he was really friendly in nature and I really enjoy his personality despite the small size... I moved him into a 16qt tub with complete heating/accurate temps and humid as well as "hot spot". The staff at the breeding facility told me he was eating, every five days or so. She told me he was eating hopper mice. For the first two weeks, my BP, Loki, readily took frozen/thawed hopper mice. However, on week three of owning him, despite attempts every 5 days or so, he had no interest in the frozen/thawed hopper mice and acted defensive, going back in his hide. I noticed he seemed stressed inside his enclosure more so than out, as he loves to explore anytime I hold him (which isn't often either). I weighed Loki at approx. 50grams last Thursday, so I figured trying live feeders would be better. A live hopper mouse scared Loki. He showed little to no interest in the rat pups and got frightened and retracted defensively anytime one moved near him.
I decided to move him into a smaller 6qt tub, which is about the size he was house in at the breeders. Tonight is his first night in the new tub enclosure. I am not too comfortable with housing snakes in fish tanks so I really want to avoid this... I read that 6qt is a good size for small babies who aren't eating, correct?

Anyways, does anybody have any advice to give me on feeding my precious bay Loki?!! I worry so much now about his weight I really want to breed him eventually let alone house more snakes and I want to do it right. I plan on building rack systems in the future but for now just his tub is all I have. The temps and humidity are all perfect. He probably will need a night or so in the new enclosure to feel comfortable again. But I do continue to wonder if I should attempt assist-feeding or not. I was not told the age of him when purchased but if I had to guess I'd say within the past month or so, because he was tiny at the time of purchase.

Hope I included enough info. Any help is so appreciated. I can't upload pictures of him right now but can tomorrow...

Thank you so much,

Linz

Is he going into shed?

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Originally Posted by sho220

Is he going into shed?

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Yeah... totally looks like it to me!

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Originally Posted by linzard

Yeah... totally looks like it to me!

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That would be why he wouldn't eat. Some will eat during shed cycles and some won't...nothing to worry about...

Since you moved him to a smaller tub, give him some time to settle in. That means no handling, or kept to a minimum. Give him a few days to a week to settle in his new enclosure, just make sure you husbandry is correct during that time. Please keep us posted and be patient.

I think you're worrying a bit prematurely... You said he fed fine for the first 3 weeks, so he hasn't eaten in a week, correct? Leave him to settle into his new set up, no handling, only mess with him when checking water/temps and cleaning.
What does his set up look like? What are the exact temps and humidity? I'd do another f/t hopper mouse on the next feeding, if that's what he's accustomed to. After he's eating consistently, you can try to switch him to rats if that's what you'd prefer.

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Originally Posted by EAC Reptiles

Since you moved him to a smaller tub, give him some time to settle in. That means no handling, or kept to a minimum. Give him a few days to a week to settle in his new enclosure, just make sure you husbandry is correct during that time. Please keep us posted and be patient.

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I have the utmost patience. I will leave him alone until Saturday or so until trying again... I know he was fed frozen/thawed at the breeders, perhaps he will take those again after settling in?

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

I think you're worrying a bit prematurely... You said he fed fine for the first 3 weeks, so he hasn't eaten in a week, correct? Leave him to settle into his new set up, no handling, only mess with him when checking water/temps and cleaning.
What does his set up look like? What are the exact temps and humidity? I'd do another f/t hopper mouse on the next feeding, if that's what he's accustomed to. After he's eating consistently, you can try to switch him to rats if that's what you'd prefer.

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Oh no he hasn't eaten in about two and a half-three weeks, sorry if the way I wrote it all out made it confusing. The time span makes me a bit more worrisome.
The ambient temp is 81 degrees, hot spot is 90 degrees. Humidity is 60%.

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Originally Posted by linzard

Oh no he hasn't eaten in about two and a half-three weeks, sorry if the way I wrote it all out made it confusing. The time span makes me a bit more worrisome.
The ambient temp is 81 degrees, hot spot is 90 degrees. Humidity is 60%.

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Ok gotcha lol. Yeah your temps and humidity look pretty good, I keep mine a tad higher but I'm sure that's fine. If not 10/8, when did you actually get him?

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Ok gotcha lol. Yeah your temps and humidity look pretty good, I keep mine a tad higher but I'm sure that's fine. If not 10/8, when did you actually get him?

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Found the receipt. I got him on the 11th actually. I feel like a complete idiot now, Ive been working overtime all month and my sense of time is completely messed up... you know, its probably only been no longer than two weeks since he's last eaten. He so readily took two hoppers when I first got him, but then I think he started going into shed. I still think housing him in a smaller tub is more secure for him, plus its what he's used to... he's just so tiny.

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Originally Posted by linzard

Found the receipt. I got him on the 11th actually. I feel like a complete idiot now, Ive been working overtime all month and my sense of time is completely messed up... you know, its probably only been no longer than two weeks since he's last eaten. He so readily took two hoppers when I first got him, but then I think he started going into shed. I still think housing him in a smaller tub is more secure for him, plus its what he's used to... he's just so tiny.

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Haha it's okay, it happens :) I'd give him a few more tries before assist feeding. Have you tried cluttering up his tub with crumpled paper and adding an excess of hides? Over 2-3 weeks indicates (to me, at least) that it's more than just a shed. Mine only refuse when they're deep in shed, if even then.

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Haha it's okay, it happens :) I'd give him a few more tries before assist feeding. Have you tried cluttering up his tub with crumpled paper and adding an excess of hides? Over 2-3 weeks indicates (to me, at least) that it's more than just a shed. Mine only refuse when they're deep in shed, if even then.

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I haven't but thats a really good idea! Plus it might add some nice texture for him to move around on... :) I can definitely see signs of he'd but its not that obvious unless you're inspecting him like me lol.

For sure if the little guy is only 50 grams. A 6 quart is all he needs. I keep mine in a 6 quart until they hit 300 grams. He needs that security. He can easily go 5 or 6 weeks without eating with no ill effects. So don't panic.

Hoppers are a bit small for a baby ball, but if that's what you have it will work for a while.

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

For sure if the little guy is only 50 grams. A 6 quart is all he needs. I keep mine in a 6 quart until they hit 300 grams. He needs that security. He can easily go 5 or 6 weeks without eating with no ill effects. So don't panic.

Hoppers are a bit small for a baby ball, but if that's what you have it will work for a while.

Gale

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Hoppers are perfect for my baby spider. It leaves a tiny lump and he's about 75g right now

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

My advice? Calm down and welcome to the frustrating world of ball python keeping. If he's eaten fine for you before, just keep offering, and eventually he'll take it. Really, a 15qt tub should be fine for a juvenile especially if he has a hide, but honestly, don't worry. If he doesn't appear to be ill, just wait him out. I have a 600 gram male lesser who maintains his weight I think on purpose. He hasn't eaten in almost six months now. Just keep a good eye on his weight and don't handle him for a while. If he starts rapidly dropping weight then start to re-evaluate. Put him in an area of the room without much foot traffic, maybe on a shelf or somewhere darker, so he feels more comfy.

Good luck and deep breaths.:)

My baby ball is 65 grams and hoppers leave a bulge in his belly. Pinkies and fuzzies are too small.