time to go to the vets?

My leucistic 2014 girl hasn't ate since february! I haven't tried live with her, but I'm wondering is it time to go to the vet? She is slimmer than she should be...

If you haven't tried live, you probably haven't explored enough options to give up and head to the vet, which would only add to her stress and make her less likely to eat. :)

What methods have you tried?
What is her weight?
Did she take meals reliably before Feb?

If you haven't tried live, then there really is no reason yet to bring her to the vet. The vet will make you pay $100 for these simple words "try live".

I know live feeding is not something everyone wants to do, but sometimes it has to be done. I once sold a snake along time ago because I could not bring myself to do it. Now most of my snakes are fed live as I find it easier. But this is your choice. You can bring her to the vet if you feel the need to but I would try live first.

I would try live first.

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Originally Posted by KitaCat

If you haven't tried live, you probably haven't explored enough options to give up and head to the vet, which would only add to her stress and make her less likely to eat. :)

What methods have you tried?
What is her weight?
Did she take meals reliably before Feb?

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I got her in february, from a breeder, so I'm sure she did.
My scale's been broke for a few months, but I'm picking one up this weekend. I just see her spine a lot more than my other balls
The methods I've tried are braining so far. I was thinking of scenting with tuna juice, I hear that works.

And as for live, if she doesn't take it, should I wait and feed her first so another ball will take it down?

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Originally Posted by BCS

If you haven't tried live, then there really is no reason yet to bring her to the vet. The vet will make you pay $100 for these simple words "try live".

I know live feeding is not something everyone wants to do, but sometimes it has to be done. I once sold a snake along time ago because I could not bring myself to do it. Now most of my snakes are fed live as I find it easier. But this is your choice. You can bring her to the vet if you feel the need to but I would try live first.

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My vet does $40 exams, so it wouldn't be too bad, but I will try live first. Should I get something smaller than her normal prey size to get her adjusted?
And if I do live, will she be addicted to live and it be hard to switch back to f/t?

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Originally Posted by ispitroseas

I got her in february, from a breeder, so I'm sure she did.
My scale's been broke for a few months, but I'm picking one up this weekend. I just see her spine a lot more than my other balls
The methods I've tried are braining so far. I was thinking of scenting with tuna juice, I hear that works.

And as for live, if she doesn't take it, should I wait and feed her first so another ball will take it down?

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Ah okay, so she's never eaten in your care?
This may sound silly since you've tried braining already (which is way more drastic haha), but have you tried leaving the f/t rat overnight? I have a lot of snakes that will only eat that way.

Also, have you tried...
Offering a smaller prey size?
Offering a different colored rat?
Offering mice?

If you've crossed all that off the list, I'd try live. And yeah, I'd feed her first so you don't waste the rat if she doesn't go for it.

If not done already get a 12 quarts tub max, put 1 to 2 inches of aspen for substrate, use 2 small plastic bowls for hide or (2) 6 inched flower pot saucers (depends on the size of the animal).

Provide temps of 76/78 and 86/88.

Wait a week (NO HANDLING), offer a live mouse (size equal your BP's girth sise) in the BP's enclosure.

No handling before the animal eats 3 consecutive times.

Once the animal eats you can attempt to switch to F/T

Having your animal feed for you is your priority, F/T is not.

Going to a vet will accomplish nothing but be a waste of money if you have not try everything else first.

Like someone already said, some snakes will only eat when left alone with the prey overnight. Some respond better if you move the prey around to mimic a live rodent (I've noticed my colubrids are way more responsive to this than my BP, but it wouldn't hurt to try it). Also you can try blasting it with a hairdryer just before feeding.

I'd try live before going to the vet. If you've got other snakes, yes, offer it to her first. That way if she doesn't take it another will and you're not stuck with a pet rat.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Since you are a new owner and your new snake never ate for you my guess is that the issue is husbandry/stress related.

Get a 12 quarts tub, put 1 to 2 inches of aspen for substrate, use 2 small plastic bowls for hide or (2) 6 inched flower pot saucers (depends on the size of the animal).

Provide temps of 76/78 and 86/88.

Wait a week (NO HANDLING), offer a live mouse (size equal your BP's girth sise) in the BP's enclosure.

No handling before the animal eats 3 consecutive times.

Once the animal eats you can attempt to switch to F/T

Having your animal fed in for you is your priority not F/T.

Going to a vet will accomplish nothing but be a waste of money.

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I follow these rules except the going to live. The husbandry is that of the rest of my balls. They're on a rack and I make sure they are all good with their humdity and temps.

Than you need to feed live

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Originally Posted by KitaCat

Ah okay, so she's never eaten in your care?
This may sound silly since you've tried braining already (which is way more drastic haha), but have you tried leaving the f/t rat overnight? I have a lot of snakes that will only eat that way.

Also, have you tried...
Offering a smaller prey size?
Offering a different colored rat?
Offering mice?

If you've crossed all that off the list, I'd try live. And yeah, I'd feed her first so you don't waste the rat if she doesn't go for it.

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she ate for me once.
I tried offering smaller sized mice, but haven't tried rats yet. we've brained and bloodied the poor fellows, but she just has this attitude about food. I may have to try leaving it in over night on her next food day or try the hair dryer method.

The question here would be which prey to feed live. Mouse, rat, soft furred rat? I also haven't tried f/t rats with her yet. That might make all the difference.

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Originally Posted by ispitroseas

she ate for me once.
I tried offering smaller sized mice, but haven't tried rats yet. we've brained and bloodied the poor fellows, but she just has this attitude about food. I may have to try leaving it in over night on her next food day or try the hair dryer method.

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Mine ate f/t twice then decided to starve herself to the point of dropping weight and wouldn't take food again until I offered live.

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

Mine ate f/t twice then decided to starve herself to the point of dropping weight and wouldn't take food again until I offered live.

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How long did they stay on live?

This might work for you it has helped with picky eaters for me. I feed late at night and over scent room with rat bedding. I will use the blow dryer on low to blow scent into the tub threw vent holes. Then I a use blow dryer on thawed prey to give it a better heat signature. Once warm I will drop the prey in the bedding mixture use blow dryer on real quick pick up and shake off and try to feed. You can also just leave it on the hot spot i have one that prefers it this way drop it in and its gone after a while. I would try live before a vet.

I will warn you that over scenting the room is not the most pleasant thing but helps you could also use mouse bedding since some ball prefer mice. I tried rat first cause I didn't want to create a mouser but if needed I would have tried that too.

I have a hard time with conflicting care books, I had my Male Normal quit eating for 4 months zi made sure his weight was ok then One Feeding night he wanted to eat so he did and has been eating weekly ever since he was on Food Strike lol. Out of my six Python 2 of them are clowns as in funny will only eat live. I Will keep trying the F T but I will not let them starve

Sent from my SGH-T999

i used to have an issue with my ball taking rats...then i realized that she preferred the smell of mice so I began asking for rats with mouse bedding (live-feed of course) and she takes to it every time now. hope that helps a little?


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