Snake won't eat

Hey guys, just got a banana ball python two weeks ago, well tomorrow(Friday) will be two weeks. Breeder has a very good reputation and my friend has two snakes by the breeder and they both eat fine and are healthy. He's 505gs but won't eat. I'm trying to feed him outside of his cage in a separate tub for a couple of reasons. I've heard stories of the rat going after the snake and taking a good chunk out of some. My friend also feeds outside of his cage and both of his eat perfectly fine. I put Loki in the box and he immediately goes up the side and out the box. Today I tried again and same thing. He was out of the box before I even got the rat in there. And last week the rat ran up to him and he struck the right and wanted out of the box right away. He didn't strike to eat more of letting the rat know get away from me. Any suggestions? Thanks again! Looking forward to posting photos soon!

Try feeding in tank, and try frozen thawed. He may be afraid of live! Moving the snake to a different feeding area just stresses them out. Just try in the tank once, worst case, he won't eat, best case, he eats. If he doesn't eat live in his tank remove the rat. DO NOT LEAVE THE RAT AND SNAKE ALONE TOGETHER.

If you are going to feed out of his cage. You should have a separate enclosure/ tank that is not open (a lid/top something that will keep them in there).

All he's been fed his whole life is live rats. How long should I leave the rat in the tank? I would just like to avoid feeding in his tank. Could I get a separate tank to feed him in? I know the guys gotta be hungry, he's on the prowl day and night lately. Also if I do have to feed in his tank (which is last case scenario for me) what do I do if the rat goes after him?

Does the separate tank and enclosure need to have bedding and decor and a hide? Can it just be a tank? I can pick one up today. If he is in a 20L should it be a 10gallon or something different? Sorry for all the questions I just feel stupid and this is my third try tonight will be my fourth.

You don't need a seperate enclosure to feed him in. Feed him in his regular enclosure. There's no need for a seperate feeding tank.

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Originally Posted by Champagn3

All he's been fed his whole life is live rats. How long should I leave the rat in the tank? I would just like to avoid feeding in his tank. Could I get a separate tank to feed him in? I know the guys gotta be hungry, he's on the prowl day and night lately. Also if I do have to feed in his tank (which is last case scenario for me) what do I do if the rat goes after him?

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Snakes have their own personalities and just because feeding in a separate enclosure works for your friend doesn't mean its going to work for you, me or anyone else. IMO, I would wait another week and feed very late at night in his enclosure. Make sure its very quiet and try not to even let the bp know you are opening the enclosure. I also wouldn't handle him for the next week. Then drop the prey item into the enclosure and see if that works. Peace:gj:

I'd like to make this my last option if possible. Wait another week would making it 3 weeks with no food for the guy :( that doesn't seem like fun for anyone especially since he is on the prowl day and night for food

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Originally Posted by Champagn3

I'd like to make this my last option if possible. Wait another week would making it 3 weeks with no food for the guy :( that doesn't seem like fun for anyone especially since he is on the prowl day and night for food

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The more he is on the prowl the more secure and familiar he will become with the enclosure! He is not a hatchling, at 505 gms he has some reserves. Remember he is a snake, they are known to go long periods without food. 1 more week is not too long.:gj:

Would not waiting another week hurt any?

Well my 2 cents is feed in the cage. Feeding outside the cage was an old myth that was used more for very large constrictors because thought they would become imprinted with cage door opening meant food. It has long been proven that's not true and it is more stressful for the snake and more dangerous for the owner to do this. Im going to ask first is your husbandry right(temps, right size hides)? That is a big issue for why a lot wont eat. Assuming that's all right, how was the breeder feeding the snake before you got it? Live? F/T? Zombie dancing it? Leaving the F/T in the cage overnight? If you are doing live and not pre killing, then never leave the rat unattended in the cage. ALWAYS keep an eye on it. Sit there and watch for probably 10 mins or so, you will know if the snake is interested or not. If it isn't interested, take it out and pet your new pet for about a week. Then try again. You can also try something like a little live hopper mouse. Seems snakes love those little bouncy furballs. If you are feeding F/T, then just put it in there at night and leave it in there overnight and see if he eats it. If not, throw it out. But like I said, triple check your temps and hides to make sure the snake is comfortable. My little pied girl didn't eat for the pet shop I got her from for 3 weeks but when I got her home, she ate in 2 days and hasn't stopped since. She went 102g in November to now at last weigh in last night, 1028g. If the husbandry is right, generally a baby will be more than happy to eat and eat and eat.

Husbandry is aspen bedding, two hides, temps are 80-83 at night and 85-88 during the day. He seems very at home and comfortable in the cage. The breeder fed live and in the cage. Since I tried earlier at 11 would I be able to try again tonight at night? If this myth is debunked I have no problem feeding in the cage. Just worried from the stories I've heard about the rat going after the snake and taking a chunk out of him. Hes now two weeks without eating and I just want the guy to eat.

Two weeks is nothing for a 500 gram ball python. You want this snake to settle in and get comfortable. Moving him to a feeding container and trying to feed him four times in two weeks is stressing him. Let him settle in and try him after a week or so.

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Originally Posted by Champagn3

Husbandry is aspen bedding, two hides, temps are 80-83 at night and 85-88 during the day. He seems very at home and comfortable in the cage. The breeder fed live and in the cage. Since I tried earlier at 11 would I be able to try again tonight at night? If this myth is debunked I have no problem feeding in the cage. Just worried from the stories I've heard about the rat going after the snake and taking a chunk out of him. Hes now two weeks without eating and I just want the guy to eat.

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Feed F/T if that is your worry.

Couldn't even imagine him taking it since all he's eaten is live. I don't even think he'd be interested in f/t

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Originally Posted by Champagn3

Couldn't even imagine him taking it since all he's eaten is live. I don't even think he'd be interested in f/t

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You haven't tried it... Can't just make them assumtions, if you are worried about the snakes health then feed F/T. Tons of people have given you good advice and you say you wanna do things a certain way. Try what people with experience are saying to do, you might get your BP feeding again, and if not, what has changed haha!

Also, this amount of time not eating is nothing. Mine went 5 months with no food when I first got him.

That's why with live you got to watch them 24/7. A rat or mouse isn't going to chew on your snake in 10 mins but left overnight, I would bet it would be chewed on a lot. Regardless though, that is why when you feed live you watch the whole deal like a hawk and if anything starts to happen you grab the rodent. Also its a good idea to have a piece of dowel or pencil or something you can let the rat bite on if for some reason your snakes grabs it by the butt or something goes wrong and the rat has a chance to chew on the snake. Like I said, I just pre kill all my rodents by cervical dislocation and then just dangle them in front of the snakes and they slam em. I say just try again in a week. You don't want to try too often as it could cause the snake stress and make it scared of the food.