Only had him a few weeks :-(

Hi guys.

So I bought a 3 year old python (male), this was about 3 weeks ago. And he has not eaten one rat since. I've offered him about 5 over the 3 week period tho. And last Friday he shed his skin, so I thought he might eat the next day. And still no joy..

Please can anyone help me out. I'm really worried about him, am I doing something wrong? I've tried wiggling the rat using tongs in front of him. And also left in his hide.. nothing seems to work..

Thanks guys, I hope your all having a good day

Have you been handling him a lot? It's possible that he could be stressed out. A live rodent might entice him to eat. Try not to worry too much yet since adult ball pythons can go a few months without eating. Also, it is common for them to go off feed during the winter.

Thanks for your reply.. yes Ive been handling him every 2-3 days so that he could get used to me.

Personally I think it would be best to try to not handle him until he has successfully eaten. You probably know this already but don't handle him for 48 hours after eating. He might be stressed due to all these new changes in his life. Don't handle him for a week and then try to offer him food again. I hope it works out and congrats on your new snake!

How much weight has he lost?
Leave him alone for a week or two and allow him to relax.

I don't think he has lost any weight. Also is it true that if I stop handling him he might not be used to me? And what else should I do? He has a hide on the heat mat side and cold side. Also water and a couple of fake greenery things.. should I fill his viv with more places to hide? I also thought I could put more aspen in. Maybe 3-5 inches, my thinking was that he could then play about and bury himself under the aspen..

Thank you all for this, to be honest I only got him because I was terrified of snakes.lol I'm not any more. Even when he is stressed he hasn't bit me or anything. I think they are amazing animals and so cute.lol

He will get used to you. Pit and I are just saying not to handle him for a week or two so he can adjust. After he settles in you can handle him a few times each week. Two hides are perfect! Most care sheets will say to have one hide on the cool side and one on the warm side- just like what you're doing! I think no more than 2" of aspen is plenty. It sounds like your snake has a wonderful personality! Ball pythons are typically very docile.

They don't get use to us, they tolerate us.
How are you regulating your heat mat?
What are your actual temperatures? Surface of the glass on the mat?

Just an update, I haven't bothered him since the last time I posted. And I tried to feed him last night. Still no joy :-/ skits been a month now without eating, I hope he will be okay

I've had my 4-5-month-old ball python for three weeks now. He finally ate during week two, and not from tongs or by hand. I had to leave the thawed fuzzy on the floor of the tank and turn of the lights so it was dark. When I came back five minutes later I found him starting to eat the fuzzy on his own. It was the first time I've seen a python eat so I thought it was pretty cool. Maybe give this a shot? Good luck!

I'm going through the exact same thing with my newest snake too George. I got her on a month ago and she hasn't taken a meal yet. It's frustrating but the hunger will win in the end :). The other members have given great advice. As hard as it is, don't handle or disturb him until he's eaten for you a couple of times. How are you thawing your rats? Are your prey items completely thawed and served warm? And finally what are your temps like and is your heat source controlled with a thermostat? Make sure your husbandry is dialed in and he'll eat eventually. If he's 3 years old he might just be looking for a girlfriend and not have an interest in food right now. And just to repeat what Kira said, some snakes will fast during the colder months. I've had snakes not eat from November-March and they were just fine. Keep offering him food every 7-10 days and he'll come around. Best wishes.

i have a new addition that hasn't eaten as well, though she finally showed interest last feeding but did not take. like another user mentioned: try leaving the prey item in the enclosure overnight, and maybe cover the enclosure with a blanket to give the snake some privacy and they might take it.
read through ziggy's post and make sure your prey item temps and husbandry is spot on. like he said: hunger will win in the end. ;)

O/P, it sounds to me as if you are trying to feed too frequently and are handling the snake too often.

If the age of the animal is 3 years old, there is NO issue with it refusing food for only a few weeks. Our royal has gone almost a full year with only one meal. There was little to no weight loss over that time period. Snakes are masters of efficiency when it comes to regulating their metabolisms and feeding. They are able to survive/thrive very long periods without eating.

At this point you need to let the snake settle. I didn't catch the species??

Sometimes it is a good idea to set the snake up in a similar fashion to how it was living prior to you taking it in. That all depends on the skill/knowledge of the previous owner.

As far as handling, the snake will tolerate you, but it has to become used to its new surroundings first. Otherwise your handling is just adding stress. 3 weeks in a snakes life is a blink of an eye to them. These are "long haul" animals and they need time and patience.

Just to put you at ease, my boa constrictor has not eaten since early November and will not eat until early April. He will be bigger and healthier come the warmer months guaranteed.

Wait and I'll bet the snake will eat eventually. Spring is coming and most of my snakes will become more active and naturally want more food.