CORNFLAKE feed attempt update!!!

Today I attempted to feed cornflake, this very minute. I placed our live rats home inside cornflakes tank and he came right out and investigated, I warmed up a fuzzy mouse in the mean time and once thawed I offered it by dancing it a few inches from his face, he smelt of it and turns his head like it was nothing (also sented by rubbing inside rats home) I placed it in front of the entrance to his hide and will just leave it there over night to see how it plays out

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Keeping my fingers crossed for your little guy.

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Afterror I placed the scented frozen in front of the entrance to his home and stepped back he crawled over the mouse, into his home, stuck his head back out and laid it on top of his food for a minute then got him a drink of water, it's as if he dousnt even think of it as food. It was properly headed, it was scented by being rubbed inside a live mouses home (the same one he was so interested in when I attempted a live feeding last week but never struck) I danced it around like it was moving but after smelling the rat he goes strait for my tongs??? Like he knows I'm trying to fool him and he is pointing out the obvious.

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

Afterror I placed the scented frozen in front of the entrance to his home and stepped back he crawled over the mouse, into his home, stuck his head back out and laid it on top of his food for a minute then got him a drink of water, it's as if he dousnt even think of it as food. It was properly headed, it was scented by being rubbed inside a live mouses home (the same one he was so interested in when I attempted a live feeding last week but never struck) I danced it around like it was moving but after smelling the rat he goes strait for my tongs??? Like he knows I'm trying to fool him and he is pointing out the obvious.

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snek is smart, cannot be fooled by human tricks

(If you have a strong stomach, have you tried, err, opening the mouse? I heard some problem feeders will be attracted to the strong smell)

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Originally Posted by kriwu

snek is smart, cannot be fooled by human tricks

(If you have a strong stomach, have you tried, err, opening the mouse? I heard some problem feeders will be attracted to the strong smell)

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It's in my bedroom.... but I don't give a dam at this point just slice open the stomache? Or should I try brain first?

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

It's in my bedroom.... but I don't give a dam at this point just slice open the stomache? Or should I try brain first?

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What I've read, people usually try the brain (shudders). I will pray for you and for your snakes appetite. :disbelief

I have a blacklight on him at all times to help warm the tank for winter could that light be bothering her??? It's not bright at all I can barely see in her tank at night with it on and it's right across from our bed so I didn't think it would be enough to.affect her behaviour

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

I have a blacklight on him at all times to help warm the tank for winter could that light be bothering her??? It's not bright at all I can barely see in her tank at night with it on and it's right across from our bed so I didn't think it would be enough to.affect her behaviour

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You can certainly try turning it off for the night, as long as your ambient heat won't be effected. I know my Barry is very shy about eating and won't eat unless I turn all the lights off or cover his bin with a towel. It sounds like you're desperate enough to try anything so there's no harm in it (again as long as it doesn't dip your temps)

I will do anything, this is getting rediculous. I just opened the skull and all he did was turn from it and go on about his business exploring. He has started to develope lines going down his sides where he has lost weight. He will not eat with me for anything and it driving me past my last nerve. This is like if my own kid was trying to starve himself I'm stressed about it 24/7 everything I do leads to the same thing. Him not giving a crap about what's in his face. He has to be seriously hungry and his instincts won't even tell him to strike at me.

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

I will do anything, this is getting rediculous. I just opened the skull and all he did was turn from it and go on about his business exploring. He has started to develope lines going down his sides where he has lost weight. He will not eat with me for anything and it driving me past my last nerve. This is like if my own kid was trying to starve himself I'm stressed about it 24/7 everything I do leads to the same thing. Him not giving a crap about what's in his face. He has to be seriously hungry and his instincts won't even tell him to strike at me.

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I'm sorry to hear he's being so tough, that's always pretty stressful. :( Are you trying to switch him from live to f/t?

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Originally Posted by kriwu

I'm sorry to hear he's being so tough, that's always pretty stressful. :( Are you trying to switch him from live to f/t?

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No I actually have no idea what he ate before I got him from the breeder, stupid I know but we were all excited at the time and I drove miles and miles to get him all to get 3 hours on the way home and realize we didn't ask questions we needed to. The guy did say he never had feeding problems out of him or anything. Said he was one of the best balls he raised, never tried to strike at anyone, ate on schedule without problems. Now I can't get him to eat if he was starving to death.

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How long has he been refusing food? I'm assuming your husbandry is good? I feel like I've seen another of your threads around so sorry if I'm asking repeat questions.

Out of curiosity, do you have a way to weigh him? In grams, if possible. I'm wondering if you're offering something to big for him to eat? Also, it would be helpful to track his weight.

He has been refusing since I got him now almost a month ago. I do not have a scale yet. I've got everything in his tank refer to my last post. I have been offering fuzzies. He has no interest in anything!!! He won't pay attention to anything I offer him. He does not care. It don't mean crap to him that there is food around he is only interested in exploring. I woke up this morning to him trying to escape his tank with that brained fuzzy still sitting in front of his hide.

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Is it possible since my Temps are just a little low he is trying to fast since he thinks it's winter?? Or is he to young for that

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75 cool 80 warm 85 hot 90 basking spot. This is during the day.

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Still didn't eat :/. I really think you'd be better off trying live prey. I know you don't want a Cornbread number 2 lol, so I would go for a live rat pinky. Did you ever confirm whether he is in shed or not?

I had the same problem and I fixed it.
1.) Your new bp is just getting used to his hide and the first couple of feeding will be tough. But he will get better later on
2.) Have you tried a live baby rat (closed eyes) or a live fuzzy?
3.) Use a different container (like a rubbermaid or something) and cover up all 4 sides with black paper and put him in there with a live fuzzy or live baby rat and cover the top and leave the room.
He WILL eat, and if you havnt tried live try it, you cant just offer him f/t and get mad when he refuses because he probably didnt eat f/t before

I will go by the store after the baby doctor and see if they have a pinky or fuzzy live and try that method.

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It's in my bedroom.... but I don't give a dam at this point just slice open the stomache? Or should I try brain first?

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I know you are stressed and I don’t mean to poke fun but this ^ made me laugh (most of us have been to the point of frustration that your currently at). You have gotten some good feedback (no pun intended) so all I can’t do is add to what other have suggested. DEFFINETLY try to feed him live pray. If you find yourself choosing between two pinks go with the smaller one. turn off all the lights and leave the room after leaving the food with him. feed late at night and wait until the morning to check on him. Try not to stress too much, some balls take much longer than others to adjust to a new environment and a month of feed is not too bad. Keep managing your husbandry and find solace in know you are doing everything you can. I will also be praying for Cornflake's appetite and your stress levels.

I was fine with slowly just trying new things to get him to eat and next thing I know I see his skin begin to fold as if he is seriously loosing weight. With him being so young it scares me and when I get so sure something will work then he turns around and flips me off playing the music from sanandreas when it's offered I get sooooooo of frustrated.

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

I will go by the store after the baby doctor and see if they have a pinky or fuzzy live and try that method.

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Mice pinkies and fuzzies are really too small for any BP. Same with rat pinkies. A rat fuzzy is still on the small end even for hatchlings.

How much does your snake weigh?

You may have mentioned this already but have you tried live prey yet? I know that’s what you’re going to try next and if you have already tried and it did not work I can understand the stress but if you are about to attempt live for the first time there is still a good chance he will eat.

he is not behaving for you...

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then he turns around and flips me off playing the music from sanandreas when it's offered

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take his entertainment system away! maybe losing his music/game privileges will make him thing twice before leaving the dinner table before cleaning his plate.

I've already tried live once but it was a feeder rat. He was interested but never struck at him. Just followed him around

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If your husbandry is on par then a BP off feed for a month isn't a problem even though it is sometimes frustrating for us as keepers. A lot of snakes will go off feed around this time of year. Even my king snakes will take a few months off during breeding season and as the temps start to drop. A live feeder might kick start his appetite if you want to go that route. I usually don't go live until my snakes haven't eaten for 3 months. I'm not sure how old or large your guy is but if he's not losing significant weight just make sure he has fresh water and keep offering food every 10-14 days until he's back on track. I have yet to see a healthy snake starve itself to death. The hunger always wins :). Best wishes and I hope he eats for you soon.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

If your husbandry is on par then a BP off feed for a month isn't a problem even though it is sometimes frustrating for us as keepers. A lot of snakes will go off feed around this time of year. Even my king snakes will take a few months off during breeding season and as the temps start to drop. A live feeder might kick start his appetite if you want to go that route. I usually don't go live until my snakes haven't eaten for 3 months. I'm not sure how old or large your guy is but if he's not losing significant weight just make sure he has fresh water and keep offering food every 10-14 days until he's back on track. I have yet to see a healthy snake starve itself to death. The hunger always wins :). Best wishes and I hope he eats for you soon.

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He is only maybe 3 months old. He hasn't ate for a month and is developing skin that's folding on both of his sides. I don't have a scale to weigh yet

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

He is only maybe 3 months old. He hasn't ate for a month and is developing skin that's folding on both of his sides. I don't have a scale to weigh yet

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Try live. Try bigger than a rat pinkie.

At that age and general size range for that age, if it was me, I would go with either a mouse hopper or a small adult mouse. Unless he is undersized by a lot, he can handle either, and live mice almost always work with young BP's.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Try live. Try bigger than a rat pinkie.

At that age and general size range for that age, if it was me, I would go with either a mouse hopper or a small adult mouse. Unless he is undersized by a lot, he can handle either, and live mice almost always work with young BP's.

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I already tried live once and it failed

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

I already tried live once and it failed

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Try a mouse instead of a rat.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Try a mouse instead of a rat.

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Excuse me it was a mouse. I still getting used to distinguishing between a rat and mouse.

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I just bought a live feeder mouse, gonna attempt to feed in a blacked out separate container so maybe he will have to eat

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Have you tried scenting it with tuna water? I had some hognose snakes a few years ago that had the same problem. What I did, was go to the store, buy a can of tuna fish in water not in oil, come home drain the water into a ziplock bag. Then I took the bag and froze it. When it was time to feed, I would get the mouth a little bit warmer than usual and then rub its head on the block of tuna water ice. Those hognose snakes love them that way. I know what its like when they don't feed, it just creates an anxiety attack.

Did he eat?

Ok so I got a plastic tub that our live feeder rat used to live in and wiped out out. Placed cornflake inside with the feeder rat still inside the box covered it up and left it alone for 30 minutes came back to cornflakes trying to escape sitting on the top rim under the lid. I took tuna water and put it on top of the live feeders head and let him out and cornflakes gives no crops about him only about trying to escape the bin.

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In Africa ball pythons main meals are Gerbils. You should try and feed him one of those. Also if he keeps refusing you might have to try to force feed until he gains his strenght back then he should eat by himself after a couple of times

I wouldn't try too much with a separate been if it was me anyhow. Taking them from the house that they've gotten comfortable with and putting in something completely different before eating can be kind of traumatic for them.

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Originally Posted by MrGriffyn

In Africa ball pythons main meals are Gerbils. You should try and feed him one of those. Also if he keeps refusing you might have to try to force feed until he gains his strenght back then he should eat by himself after a couple of times

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At what point is force feeding going to be a necessity for me? I seen some normals at the pet store that were a little shorter than cornflake but they were much fatter!! The folding skin down his sides is what's making me worry the most. I know it's not dehydration since I see him drink water all the time. People keep saying he can last months which I know they can but him being so small compared to those at the store and the skin I feel he needs to eat a.s.a.p. and I know they go off food around this time of year but I read when they go off food they become very inactive to save energy but cornflake is active. He climbs all over his stuff and drinks his water. He seems to burn alot of calories as much climbing as he does.

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Have you tried contacting the breeder and asking him or her what she was eating? I think out of desperation people get too excited and start trying too many things at once and freaking out the snakes. If it was me, I would leave them alone in their cage for a week. Don't go in it for anything make sure she has water and fresh bedding and just leave it for a whole week. Then after a week take a pretty warm frozen thawed rat pup entangle it about 5 inches from the front of the snake about 2 inches up from the ground. They can lose a lot of weight before you really have to worry but it's hard to say how bad they are already without a picture.

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Originally Posted by Albinoballpython

Ok so I got a plastic tub that our live feeder rat used to live in and wiped out out. Placed cornflake inside with the feeder rat still inside the box covered it up and left it alone for 30 minutes came back to cornflakes trying to escape sitting on the top rim under the lid. I took tuna water and put it on top of the live feeders head and let him out and cornflakes gives no crops about him only about trying to escape the bin.

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I wouldn't move him. Keep it as simple as possible.

Last year I had a hatchling that would not eat. He hatched, and it was day 47 or 48 (almost 7 weeks) before he ate.

1. Leave the snake in his enclosure. Moving is stress, and you want as little stress as possible.
2. Put the mouse in the enclosure.
3. Close the enclosure. Make sure it is as closed in and dark and quiet as possible. If you have a rack system, this is easy. If you have a tank or open tub, cover three sides (or four if you want). If you can, do it at night when things are as quiet as possible. You want a nice, dark, quiet place for him.
4. Wait 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Open enclosure and check.
5a. If he ate, great. Close him up, leave him alone for a week, and do it again in 7 days. Again dark, quiet, secure as possible.
5b. If he didn't eat, that's okay. Close him up, leave him alone for a week, and do it again in 7 days. Dark, quiet, secure as possible.
5c. If he killed it but hasn't eat yet, close up, check again in the morning.

If you're really worried, post a pic of him so we can see. Obviously, I can't tell without a pic, but I would imagine your snake will be fine for at least a little while without food considering he has eaten at some point.

Simplicity, security, patience.

WE HAVE A CURL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I literally said screw it and was watching a video about force feeding while crouched down beside the tub him and the feeder are in and I head a loud walking sound and turned to see him curled on the mouse strangling him. Hopefully he eats him

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Awesome. Good Luck! :gj:

All the pain, the worry, the mental torture is over my friends. I do believe he wasn't interested in feeding but got extremely upset with the rat and annoyed so he struck and killed. I covered him up instantly (was scared of the flash on my camera upsetting him so I didn't take pics) after 15 minutes I looked back in to see a nice lump in his belly and I swear it was like all the worry lifted off my shoulders and I felt peace!!! I thank all of you who helped me along through this. Hopefully next week he will be a much more eager feeder. I'll take pics after his digestion period to show the difference in his appearance.

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:gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj: :gj:
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

done and done. Happy for you and Cornflake (great name btw)!!!!

I remember the feeling when my new baby ball finnaly ate after 3 weeks im happy that he ate

I got a BP about a year ago. My first one and she ate about once a month for the longest time... but the people I got her from had a nasty mite infection so we had to deal with that... but I understand the feeling when your snake finally eats. Congrats

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