Feeding ball python for the first time, refused?

Exactly 7 days ago I got my little girl. 6 months old. She’s adjusted well, in fact she hides almost all the time lol. I offered her a small mouse for the first time tonight, she showed no interest and actually stayed in her hide. I was wondering if it’s okay to leave the mouse outside the hide for an hour or so to see if she’ll take it. I’d also be worried she may ingest some of the cypress mulch substrate. Any suggestions on this? Ive warmed the mouse up and I’d hate to waste it. Come to think of it I think she was fed on rats before I got her, so I’m wondering if that’s my issue. Her temps and humidity are perfect also. (Although she’s almost always in her hide on the cooler side)
thanks! :)

It would be perfectly fine to leave the mouse out for an hour. If she doesn't eat it you should throw it away though... Some ball pythons like being left alone to eat. It's okay if she eats a little bit of substrate, but if you're concerned you can put the mouse on something like a paper towel or piece of plastic inside the enclosure.

It should be okay to leave overnight. Some BPs don't eat when you're watching.

I believe she will be okay if she ingests a little cypress mulch. If you're really worried, you can but it down on a paper plate or towel, although she might just drag it off.

If she was fed on rats before, I would stick with rats honestly lol.
I just had hard time switching from mouse to rat so if she will take rats, go for it!

Don't leave prey items on paper towels...it takes very little moisture for a paper towel to stick to the rodent, & then be ingested by the snake. That can result in
a health issue (serious blockage) as snakes cannot digest paper towels. It's best they don't swallow any substrate: even though a little may not hurt, & probably
happens in the wild, it's easy to avoid with our pets by putting prey on something that functions safely as a "plate", such as a paper plate, a plastic food container
lid, even a piece of cardboard.

Mice & rats smell & presumably taste quite different. Some snakes automatically like both, but others take some persuading to switch from one to the other. That's
likely what your problem was.

Some snakes need more than a week of settling in before they'll feed also. Do you know when she ate last, Shadowy? She might even be going into a shed.
(I assume you know not to handle a new snake until it's feeding reliably -preferably 3 times- at normal intervals.) Just be patient & try not to worry.
And by the way...:welcome:

They can eat a little substrate, no need to worry. They can digest almost anything, and swallow objects larger than their own girth. No need to worry about that.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't leave prey items on paper towels...it takes very little moisture for a paper towel to stick to the rodent, & then be ingested by the snake. That can result in
a health issue (serious blockage) as snakes cannot digest paper towels.
:

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Nice catch! You beat me to it!

Leaving prey on paper towels = no
Leaving prey on cardboard, paper plate, plastic lid, etc... = ok

Quote:

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Nice catch! You beat me to it!

Leaving prey on paper towels = no
Leaving prey on cardboard, paper plate, plastic lid, etc... = ok

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Hey, hey, we're a team here. :cool:

Need to stick with rats if that is what she was feeding on before. Just wondering why you'd change to mice?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

Need to stick with rats if that is what she was feeding on before. Just wondering why you'd change to mice?

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I honestly didn’t even think about it when I ordered from the supplier. I’ll probably order rats and resell the frozen mice I already have. I was not able to successfully get her to take the mouse last night.

My normal ball will only eat white rats, if any have black he just refuses them.

They can be picky with food


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Update! I offered her a fuzzy rat today, refused to start with but I left it in there about an hour ago, I just checked on her and it’s gone! :) I feel so much better. My next idea was going to offer her live prey.

Also funny story, I got in touch with the breeder and it turns out she was eating mice before. So I’m not sure why she didn’t like the mice I had offered before. I guess I’m fortunate it was so easy to switch her to rats. Lol

Congrats on her eating! You're very lucky that she made such an easy switch to rats, hope I can get mine off of mice that easily. Maybe she was still getting used to her new surroundings last week.

Congrats stick with those fuzzies for a while. That's what I have mine on is Frozen thawed Fuzzy's

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

Update! I offered her a fuzzy rat today, refused to start with but I left it in there about an hour ago, I just checked on her and it’s gone! :) I feel so much better. My next idea was going to offer her live prey.

Also funny story, I got in touch with the breeder and it turns out she was eating mice before. So I’m not sure why she didn’t like the mice I had offered before. I guess I’m fortunate it was so easy to switch her to rats. Lol

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Some snakes don't like being watched when they eat...many also prefer dim or no lighting. If you're watching them eat, stand very still...any motion nearby can be a
distraction, & signals a possible predator coming their way...remember they don't know us visually, & instinctively assume the worst- it's how they stay alive in nature.

Glad it worked out so quickly, anyway. :gj:

Isn't it funny how some snakes can be so strange about the silliest things?!?!
So far I would say my boy doesn't have any hang ups...... so far. Lol[emoji16]
I love this little boy so much
I can be sitting here reading and he's in my lap and sometimes he's so still I forget he's even there. And that's exactly what I wanted was a lap python[emoji173]

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Isn't it funny how some snakes can be so strange about the silliest things?!?!
So far I would say my boy doesn't have any hang ups...... so far. Lol[emoji16]
I love this little boy so much
I can be sitting here reading and he's in my lap and sometimes he's so still I forget he's even there. And that's exactly what I wanted was a lap python[emoji173]

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Aww that's so cute! I'd love a lap snake. I think mine is still a bit nervous about being taken out, if I let him roam around he tries to get under furniture or into tight spots. I always have to keep a close eye on him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Isn't it funny how some snakes can be so strange about the silliest things?!?!
So far I would say my boy doesn't have any hang ups...... so far. Lol[emoji16]
I love this little boy so much
I can be sitting here reading and he's in my lap and sometimes he's so still I forget he's even there. And that's exactly what I wanted was a lap python[emoji173]

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It is so funny:D she gets scared so easily it makes me feel bad lol
I can’t wait to get to that point with my girl.
Even though I know they can’t necessarily love, I know they can definitely learn trust.

Yes they definitely learn trust it takes longer for some.
There are times that if I happen to move too fast he gets a little bit scared and I feel bad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

It is so funny:D she gets scared so easily it makes me feel bad lol
I can’t wait to get to that point with my girl.
Even though I know they can’t necessarily love, I know they can definitely learn trust.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

It is so funny:D she gets scared so easily it makes me feel bad lol
I can’t wait to get to that point with my girl.
Even though I know they can’t necessarily love, I know they can definitely learn trust.

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I agree...they learn and remember they know & trust us. And for those who think rat snakes never sit still, the last time I had Mahita (an adult Trans Pecos rat
snake) out, I was petting her & she went to sleep on my lap. Snakes can be so darn cute...:snake: And the bonus is that when we are focused on communicating
to them that THEY are safe, we get the same good vibes as well. ;) A win-win.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Aww that's so cute! I'd love a lap snake. I think mine is still a bit nervous about being taken out, if I let him roam around he tries to get under furniture or into tight spots. I always have to keep a close eye on him.

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Just be gently & patient...holding them close to us so they feel sheltered works best...they stress when out in the open (instincts to beware of predators).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Don't leave prey items on paper towels...it takes very little moisture for a paper towel to stick to the rodent, & then be ingested by the snake. That can result in
a health issue (serious blockage) as snakes cannot digest paper towels. It's best they don't swallow any substrate: even though a little may not hurt, & probably
happens in the wild, it's easy to avoid with our pets by putting prey on something that functions safely as a "plate", such as a paper plate, a plastic food container
lid, even a piece of cardboard.

Mice & rats smell & presumably taste quite different. Some snakes automatically like both, but others take some persuading to switch from one to the other. That's
likely what your problem was.

Some snakes need more than a week of settling in before they'll feed also. Do you know when she ate last, Shadowy? She might even be going into a shed.
(I assume you know not to handle a new snake until it's feeding reliably -preferably 3 times- at normal intervals.) Just be patient & try not to worry.
And by the way...:welcome:

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This ^^


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

Update! I offered her a fuzzy rat today, refused to start with but I left it in there about an hour ago, I just checked on her and it’s gone! :) I feel so much better. My next idea was going to offer her live prey.

Also funny story, I got in touch with the breeder and it turns out she was eating mice before. So I’m not sure why she didn’t like the mice I had offered before. I guess I’m fortunate it was so easy to switch her to rats. Lol

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That's great news !

A drop feeding Royal python is a definite PLUS :)

My Royals all do best strike feeding from within their hides , evenings only and in dim / low lighting ... the master~stroke is to give them a blast with hairdryer a moment before offering !!


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