New BP not eating? Need ideas!

Hi guys!! I haven't posted in a while but in the mean time I bought a new BP! A pastel that has BRIGHT yellow (will post pics later). Anyways, I've had him for almost a month now (bought him 1/31). He was born 12/6/16. The guy who bred the snake said he had eaten a week before he gave him to me. I've tried everything! I thawed some frozen mice (tried frozen 2 times a week), and he didn't even strike, just curled up into a ball. Okay so I bought him a live mouse, still nothing. He tried to escape the feeding tank whether the mouse was alive or thawed. I asked the breeder and he said "Idk try feeding him in his living container like I did" sure, I give that a shot. What does the snake do? Curls into a ball again lol. I can tell he's hungry but no matter what I do he curls into a ball or tries to escape! He just won't strike unless it's at my boyfriend :D any tips to feed this stubborn little snake so he can finally eat?! Thank you!!:(

I had the same issue. You might want to change to rats (i had to change to mice, my bp doesnt take rats) and i would say leave the snake in his cage and dangle the live rat, it worked for me

Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk

The only problem is he's so tiny! He's not thicker than a man's thumb. Also nowhere in my area sells hopper mice or pinkies or any of that :(

Well, in that case I would say wait until late at night when he goes out, make sure whatever you are feeding is small enough, and make sure its nice and warm for him.

Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using Tapatalk

If that don't work:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try leaving F/T in over night, I've got a snake that will only feed over night


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd read all the existing threads on the subject in this very forum .

I bet we have this kind of issue crop up on a daily basis


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Daily, twice a day, maybe 3 lol I had the problem the week I got my male I think? It's been to long (a month is a long time haha) looked back at previous threads and just followed everybody's advice! Worked wonders and he's eaten every 5 days since no problem


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just got my BP as well and at first he also wouldn't eat. I heated up a f/t mouse, then ran it under hot water and dangled it in front of my BPs nose. It took him nearly a week to finally come around. (Don't put the mouse too close to the snake, you may be scaring him/her). You can also put the snake into a dark bag with the prey, usually they will take it quickly. Good luck and don't worry too much, it will probably eat when it's hungry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

I just got my BP as well and at first he also wouldn't eat. I heated up a f/t mouse, then ran it under hot water and dangled it in front of my BPs nose. It took him nearly a week to finally come around. (Don't put the mouse too close to the snake, you may be scaring him/her). You can also put the snake into a dark bag with the prey, usually they will take it quickly. Good luck and don't worry too much, it will probably eat when it's hungry.

---

This method WORKS if done properly ...

A couple of mine will only strike feed from within their hides so I do as suggested in the above post and dangle the rodent in front of the hide's entrance - usually works but if it fails simply reheat the rodent with a hairdryer and immediately offer again whilst it's still warm , continue until it's grabbed ...
I always wait until evenings to feed as they're nocturnal of course .

Incidentally , if it shows no interest at all not even a tongue flicker maybe it's best to leave for a week .

Another problem I have with him is when I do go in to feed him, he immediately curls into a ball. I let him relax and uncoil and go in his cage again and he coils up again. I've tried handling him once a day to make him used to human contact and nothing helps. Every time I go to feed him he wants nothing to do with me lol. My other bp eats like a pig. I was able to feed him the day I got him, no problems at all.

I'd leave him for a week or so with no contact at all , then try my method above .
Just wait until evening and wait until he's already in his hide THEN try dangling a warm mouse in front of the hide entrance . If he's going into shed mode you are better waiting until afterwards ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blondiee411

Another problem I have with him is when I do go in to feed him, he immediately curls into a ball. I let him relax and uncoil and go in his cage again and he coils up again. I've tried handling him once a day to make him used to human contact and nothing helps. Every time I go to feed him he wants nothing to do with me lol. My other bp eats like a pig. I was able to feed him the day I got him, no problems at all.

---

It would be a good idea to post a picture of your setup, and we can critique it. Ball pythons, especially hatchlings, need to feel very hidden and secure for a few days in order to feel secure enough to eat/feel hungry. They need hides where they can hide themselves completely inside, without being seen. Also, I would avoid handling him at all, until he eats a meal for you. Handling him once a day/getting him "used to humans" is actually giving the opposite effect.

You can also just follow this already written step-by-step, it would make things much easier.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

Keep us updated on progress !

:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

This method WORKS if done properly ...

A couple of mine will only strike feed from within their hides so I do as suggested in the above post and dangle the rodent in front of the hide's entrance - usually works but if it fails simply reheat the rodent with a hairdryer and immediately offer again whilst it's still warm , continue until it's grabbed ...
I always wait until evenings to feed as they're nocturnal of course .

Incidentally , if it shows no interest at all not even a tongue flicker maybe it's best to leave for a week .

---

You can also use the heat lamp (if you have one) on top of your snake's vivarium to quickly heat up the mouse. Of course don't do it for long, the mouse's stomach can actually explode.:O The same thing happens in the microwave, so never use it for warming rodents. Good luck with your picky eater OP!

Redshepard asked the #1 question for this scenario - describe your setup. Your snake is only 3 months old and hasn't eat in a month. He's tiny. He needs a small area where he feels secure and he does not need to be handled at all until he's eating consistently. I know you want to hold him and play with him but that is stressing him out even more. Follow the links you were given and mimic that setup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will post a picture of his setup tomorrow! He has a water bowl, one of those 1/2 log homes, and moss covering the entrance for comfort. I will try leaving him for a week but I'm a little worried since he hasn't eaten in a month and a half now. He definitely seems eager to eat but like I have stated before, he cowers whenever I even open his lid, let alone dangle a mouse in front of him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blondiee411

I will post a picture of his setup tomorrow! He has a water bowl, one of those 1/2 log homes, and moss covering the entrance for comfort. I will try leaving him for a week but I'm a little worried since he hasn't eaten in a month and a half now. He definitely seems eager to eat but like I have stated before, he cowers whenever I even open his lid, let alone dangle a mouse in front of him.

---

How big is the tank? Tiny snake needs tiny enclosure.
How are you heating it? Under tank heating pad with a thermostat is recommended.
The logs don't work well; they don't provide enough security. And you should have two hides - one on the cool side and one on the hot side.

Your best bet really is following the hatchling 101 link given previously.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think you already stated your issue, your handling him too much and he is stressed out. New snakes need time to settle and should not be handled right away. Leave him alone for a week. Then if you have availability to live rat pinkies, I would try that to get him feeding again. Once he is feeding regularly you can switch him back to F/T. So leave him for a week, then at night drop a live pinkie in his enclosure without disturbing him, no lights on in cage or room and leave him alone. Go back and check in an hour. If he has come out of his hide but has not eaten it yet, leave him again, he should find it and eat it. If he has not come out of his hide then try dangling it right in front of his hide opening, without being seen if possible. If he still has not taken it, depending on how much he needs food, I would either wait another week and try again or if you think hes getting to the point of starving, a vet visit and looking into assisted feeding could be needed until you get him back on track. That is a last resort to save an animal though because it is very stressful for them and rarely ever needed.

Id set him up in a 6 qt tub like it says in that hatchling 101 link and just leave him be. Let him relax a bit. Once he isn't concentrating on being freaked out he will feel safe and secure and before you know it he will slamming rodents like a boss.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPGator

How big is the tank? Tiny snake needs tiny enclosure.
How are you heating it? Under tank heating pad with a thermostat is recommended.
The logs don't work well; they don't provide enough security. And you should have two hides - one on the cool side and one on the hot side.

Your best bet really is following the hatchling 101 link given previously.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Excellent point about the logs !!

They are open- ended and as such jaunt don't offer any security , possibly the opposite ?! I'd imagine it's like hiding in a tunnel .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sorry I did not get around to posting pictures today, I have had exams all week! Anyways, he is in a 2.5 gal glass tank. I took the log out and got him small plastic hide. He does have a cool side and a warm side with a small water dish. I tried feeding him tonight with no luck. I dangled the mouse outside the hide while he was in there. I have left a mouse in there overnight and he did not touch it. I left this one in overnight and if it is not eaten in the morning I will discard of it and leave him be for a week. This is my second ball python so I am familiar with the enclosures they particularly want. My other bp (Copper) slams mice like nothing. He's a crazy eater! I guess I was blessed with him being a great eater and was caught off guard when the new snake wouldn't eat :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blondiee411

Sorry I did not get around to posting pictures today, I have had exams all week! Anyways, he is in a 2.5 gal glass tank. I took the log out and got him small plastic hide. He does have a cool side and a warm side with a small water dish. I tried feeding him tonight with no luck. I dangled the mouse outside the hide while he was in there. I have left a mouse in there overnight and he did not touch it. I left this one in overnight and if it is not eaten in the morning I will discard of it and leave him be for a week. This is my second ball python so I am familiar with the enclosures they particularly want. My other bp (Copper) slams mice like nothing. He's a crazy eater! I guess I was blessed with him being a great eater and was caught off guard when the new snake wouldn't eat :P

---

Did you offer a WARM mouse ?

Usually offering warm and if no success then reheat and offer again , repeat process as long as it takes .

All that said ... if there is no initial interest shown and not even a tongue flick then it's better waiting a week or so .

I think you need to just give the animal time. Now that he has a better hide, leave him alone for a bit. Give him a few days, just alone in his new world. If his husbandry is right he will eat soon, once he's not so stressed.