Have I got to worry for my baby ball python?

Hello everybody,

after having owned a Ball Python as a pet for more than 25 years, last year he died and so I decided to buy my first couple and try to reproduce them.
Fortunately I succeded and I got 5 viable eggs. After 8 to 12 days from the first shed, still 3 out of 5 pythons have not yet started to eat.
In particular I'm worried for the smallest of the group that today is weighing only 26 grams. He shed on the 17th of September, but until now he refused to eat.
I've tried every 3 days with fuzzy mice, but he seems not interested. Therefore I would like to know your point of view because you are much more expert than me (as already said for me it's the first time). Should I already consider to assist feeding him or should I wait and try again to offer food?
Every suggestion is welcome!!:)

Are you trying to feed live or frozen thawed prey? Sometimes it takes a live prey item to get them jump started and eating.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I've always tried with live prey in particular I used fuzzy mice

Keep offering food, they should come around. If they don't after another week or two, you may have to assist feed to get them started. It usually doesn't come to that though.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Thanks a lot. Shall I keep on offering prey every 3-4 days?

Well, there is a specific tutorial that Deborah has put together here specifically about hatchling housing and care that you need to read through bc it's very helpful. It's a sticky and you can use the search bar to get to it. Is the 26 gram hatchling drinking water? Deborah's sticky is called " hatchling 101".

This- http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hatchling-101

Thanks a lot, I will immediately look at it.
As regards your question if he drinks water, to be honest I have to say that I'm not able to answer. In the future I will take care to observe the water consumption. Maybe is a stupid question, but why it's important to determine if he drinks water?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Franz71

Thanks a lot, I will immediately look at it.
As regards your question if he drinks water, to be honest I have to say that I'm not able to answer. In the future I will take care to observe the water consumption. Maybe is a stupid question, but why it's important to determine if he drinks water?

---

YW. Well if the animal is refusing meals, you have to triple check and make changes to your husbandry. Also, not feeding he should be made sure that he is taking in fluids. 26 grams is a critical lack of nutrition and hydration. Hydration should come before feeding at this point. You may want to just sit him in a small bowl with tepid water so he starts to absorb some fluids.

I'll do it for sure as soon as I get home from work.
Thanks again for your patient support

That thread wont open for me.

Also how does your little 26g hatchling look in regards to strength? When you pick him up does he move around at all or is he lethargic and weak feeling? If he feels more in the weak side it may be time to assist feed him before he gets too weak to even try to feed on his own. At such a small size a full belly may give him the push he needs to start feeding on his own if he's feeling weak


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are trying way too often which stresses the animal which lead to more refusal.

If you have it setup in a 6 quarts tub, with aspen and temps no higher than 86 give it at least 5 to 7 days before offering again, if it fai!s again you will need to assess whether assisting is the right move.

It only shed 10 days ago if it had been me I would have only offered once so far.

It can take a few weeks before an animal start eating the question is when is assisting adviseable and that depends on a few factors, like whether or not the animal absorb it's yolk, general body condition, etc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

You are trying way too often which stresses the animal which lead to more refusal.

If you have it setup in a 6 quarts tub, with aspen and temps no higher than 86 give it at least 5 to 7 days before offering again, if it fai!s again you will need to assess whether assisting is the right move.

It only shed 10 days ago if it had been me I would have only offered once so far.

It can take a few weeks before an animal start eating the question is when is assisting adviseable and that depends on a few factors, like whether or not the animal absorb it's yolk, general body condition, etc

---

Anyway, yesterday I placed him in a bowl of warm water and I noticed that he drank. At the moment he doesn't seems to me lethargic.
As regards your point Deborah, I've understood that trying too many times is stressful for the snake, but here in Italy a friend of mine advised me to try every 2 or 3 days.
Of course next time with more experience I'll not make the same mistake, but on the other hand I was worried because of the weight of this snake. The litter mates are 60 grams and more.
As regards the size of the terrarium, could anybody translate in metric? I don't understand what is 6 quarts tub... sorry.
Last but not least I wish to thank all of you guys because you are really helping me a lot.

6 quarts is a little less than 6 liters.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Franz71

Anyway, yesterday I placed him in a bowl of warm water and I noticed that he drank. At the moment he doesn't seems to me lethargic.
As regards your point Deborah, I've understood that trying too many times is stressful for the snake, but here in Italy a friend of mine advised me to try every 2 or 3 days.
Of course next time with more experience I'll not make the same mistake, but on the other hand I was worried because of the weight of this snake. The litter mates are 60 grams and more.
As regards the size of the terrarium, could anybody translate in metric? I don't understand what is 6 quarts tub... sorry.
Last but not least I wish to thank all of you guys because you are really helping me a lot.

---

Each animal should be house INDIVIDUALLY in something no bigger than this 34.6cm L x 21.0cm W x 12.4cm H

Again husbandry is very important, security is key for an hatchling to eat regarless of the size of the animal.

Again folow this to a T http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-hatchling-101 TODAY

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

Each animal should be house INDIVIDUALLY in something no bigger than this 34.6cm L x 21.0cm W x 12.4cm H

Again husbandry is very important, security is key for an hatchling to eat regarless of the size of the animal.

Again folow this to a T http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-hatchling-101 TODAY

---

Sorry Deborah, you may think I'm stupid, but I can't open the page you are indicating me. Is it a video? Is it possible that my computer is not able to read the file?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Franz71

Sorry Deborah, you may think I'm stupid, but I can't open the page you are indicating me. Is it a video? Is it possible that my computer is not able to read the file?

---

Not you us we have a glitch so because of the apostrophe in the title you could not open it, I changed the title, it should work now :gj:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-hatchling-101

:):) Now it works and I'll read it stright away. Thanks a lot