feeding failure...

ok so i just trying to feed Momo my new BP. i didnt handle him all week, the temps and humidty are where they are suppose to be and i put in a small live mouse just awhile ago for about 20 mins and nothing. i could see momo's head close to the from of his hide and nothing. so i got the mouse and held it by the tail about 3-4 inches away from his hide for a little while and nothing so i just have a live mouse so another week till next sunday. but should i do?

i would just leave your snake alone... let it get more relaxed... and then try feeding again in a week. if he still won't eat... then i'd add some crumpled up newspaper into his enclosure for a week and then try to feed again.

when he gets hungry enough... he'll eat. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by recycling goddess

then i'd add some crumpled up newspaper into his enclosure for a week and then try to feed again.

when he gets hungry enough... he'll eat. ;)

---

can you explain what the crumpled up paper will do?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

ok so i just trying to feed Momo my new BP. i didnt handle him all week, the temps and humidty are where they are suppose to be and i put in a small live mouse just awhile ago for about 20 mins and nothing. i could see momo's head close to the from of his hide and nothing. so i got the mouse and held it by the tail about 3-4 inches away from his hide for a little while and nothing so i just have a live mouse so another week till next sunday. but should i do?

---

Was he able to see you or your shadow? Some balls will not eat if they see you move.What i do is set as still as you can or in a area where i can see the cage but the snake can not see me.If this is a baby then sometimes they will take a little longer to eat for the first time.

it's actually a method adam recommends. it assists the snake to feel safer in it's enclosure. it can slither underneath.

what kind of enclosure do you have?

i am using a tank set up. i was holding the mouse from the backside of the hide so he wouldnt see me just the mouse. and yes it is still a baby i believe. i still dont understand what the newspaper is for. just get a piece and crumpled it up and throw it in the tank for a week?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

i am using a tank set up. i was holding the mouse from the backside of the hide so he wouldnt see me just the mouse. and yes it is still a baby i believe. i still dont understand what the newspaper is for. just get a piece and crumpled it up and throw it in the tank for a week?

---

makes the snake feel like the enclosure is not as big. do it with more than one piece. add 4 or 5 or even more depending on how big your tank is and take out a piece every week or so. the snake will not really notice much that the floor space of the tank "got bigger" and will be more accustomed over time

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

i am using a tank set up. i was holding the mouse from the backside of the hide so he wouldnt see me just the mouse. and yes it is still a baby i believe. i still dont understand what the newspaper is for. just get a piece and crumpled it up and throw it in the tank for a week?

---

How large is the tank? If its larger then a 10 gallon its to large for your baby ball python.How many hides does he have? Baby balls think everything is out to eat them so you have to make his tank a safe area for him.They do not like wide open spaces so thats where the crumpled up paper comes in handy.How are you heating his tank?

your snake may be a little afraid with the clear glass of a tank... that's why many of us use rubbermaid, sterilite containers which are more cloudy.

fill the bottom of the tank with lightly crumpled (in balls) newspaper. you can do it now. whatever it takes to fill the bottom of the tank. and as tmlowe said above... each week you just remove one of the crumpled pieces.

you can also try covering three of the sides of your tank so only the front is clear... that'll make him feel safer as well.

use live mice.

marshall,

they are using live mice.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00863.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00862.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00860.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00857.JPG

its a 20 long...yeah i know i do need to cover the sides i'll do that for sure tomorrow than. well i dunno if it is a baby or not. its almost long than the tank maybe like 6 inches shorter

dang, missed that one. i assumed since he was holing it that it was f/t. thanks for catching that, BUT, let the mouse roam around the cage and hide out of view, still watching the mouse though. you dont want any injuries to occure if the mouse stresses out.

what was the snake eating before? might have been rats. try a rat next time.

EDIT(just saw the enclosure pic): you need one secure (=tight fitting) hide on the warm and another identical one on the cool end of the enclosure.

i would check with the person you bought it from as to what it was eating. live, f/t - mice or rats and then continue with the same.

(marshall... they said they let the mouse run around in the tank for 20 minutes)

i would cover the tank... with a towel in the meantime... cause that is one BIG open tank for a little snake!

ouch!!!, i'll just go now. LOL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mr~python

EDIT(just saw the enclosure pic): you need one secure (=tight fitting) hide on the warm and another identical one on the cool end of the enclosure.

---

marshall, what's up buddy? this isn't like you...

they do have an identical small hide on both sides... see the blue bowls turned upside down :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mr~python

dang, missed that one. i assumed since he was holing it that it was f/t. thanks for catching that, BUT, let the mouse roam around the cage and hide out of view, still watching the mouse though. you dont want any injuries to occure if the mouse stresses out.

what was the snake eating before? might have been rats. try a rat next time.

EDIT(just saw the enclosure pic): you need one secure (=tight fitting) hide on the warm and another identical one on the cool end of the enclosure.

---

he does have two hides, maybe just a tad large for a baby?

that was just me seeing things. the shiny bottoms made it look like it was to blue water bowls filled up with water too the brim.:rolleyes:

dont mind me, ill go back to the corner:P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

ok so i just trying to feed Momo my new BP. i didnt handle him all week, the temps and humidty are where they are suppose to be and i put in a small live mouse just awhile ago for about 20 mins and nothing. i could see momo's head close to the from of his hide and nothing. so i got the mouse and held it by the tail about 3-4 inches away from his hide for a little while and nothing so i just have a live mouse so another week till next sunday. but should i do?

---

just copying this for marshall :carrot: kinda like crib notes for a test... :rofl:

Very nice setup you have there...but it does look very big for a baby. Were I in your shoes at this moment....I'd find some dark paper and cover three sides of the glass with it, and plan to leave them covered. And then do the newspaper trick. Fill as much of the tank as you can, leaving just enough space to give you access to the water bowl.


Ball pythons live in tight little burrows in the wild, or tunnels in termite mounds. Very tight, secure places. When they have to come out, they do so when its dark or near-dark...and stick close to rocks or fallen logs or anything else that might provide a sense of cover for them. The crumpled up newspaper will give your little BP something to feel all around him...make him feel like he's hiding even when he comes out of his little caves. And that in turn, will help him to learn to relax and feel safe in his new home.

Instinctually speaking, he has no way of knowing when some other animal may suddenly come looking for dinner...or claiming the nice little caves as their own homes. It sometimes takes them awhile to realize they have the whole territory to themselves and they're safe in it.

Just a couple of thoughts (excellent post there Judy...super advice!). Look at that from your little snake's point of view. That's a lot of open space to hunt in when you could be just as likely to be prey as predator exposed like that. Try the newspaper trick. I have a pic somewhere of it so I'll try to post what it looks like. Sometimes with a larger enclosure you could even take a piece of thick cardboard and temporarily divide the enclosure. This keeps the live prey on the same half as the snake but does not crowd them unduly. Never crowd a live prey into your snake's face. Please never restrain a live prey item either. It will make the prey panic and can cause it to be more aggressive towards the hunting snake. A healthy normal BP can handle an appropriately sized live prey item without any human help.


You may want to pre-scent the area. Put your live mice in a container with a lot of ventilation and sit them on top of the tank lid for 30 minutes minimum before you introduce on to the snake (I call this priming the pump lol). If you aren't feeding after dark, try that as it's the most natural time for your snake to be out hunting. You need to monitor all live feeds but don't hover over the enclosure as your snake will read you as a predator and won't likely hunt it's food.

updated my tank today tell me what you think. i put black craft paper on all 3 sides and crumpled up some newspaper and put it in there.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00878.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00877.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00872.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00871.JPG

Good start...and the black paper around the enclosure should help. Now...add more newspaper. LOTS more...as in "fill-it-all-the-way-to-the-top" more. And it'll be perfect. ;)

fill it all the way to the top with paper? thats not to much???

another update with the news paper. i hope this is good enough for now....

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00884.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00883.JPG

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC00882.JPG

No such thing as "too much" newspaper. ;)


The last thing I just noticed is that you have a bright white light shining on the tank. That is another potential source of stress. If its there for heat, try switching it out for a red or blue "night" bulb. If it's just there for light...try a lower wattage or even no light at all.

i took those pics with the top off and the light looks really bright but when i have the screen top on i cover it with manilla folders so its just enough light to see in. its not very bright at all. so how long so i need to leave those newspapers in and do i try feeding live again or prekilled or f/t?

I know it's not real attractive...but I'd leave the newspapers in until the snake starts eating...and then just take one or two balls out each week...until VERY gradually, they all disappear. But don't even start that process until the snake has eaten a couple times.


If I were in your shoes, I'd go ahead and try a live feeding with a baby rat. The baby won't be able to hurt your snake, so you can leave them alone together....and get the feeding pattern established and gaining a little weight...and then later try to switch to f/t if that is your preferred method. But if you want, you can still try f/t and see if the newspaper security is enough to get him eating.

Just remember...whichever method you try...wait a full week from today...let him get used to the new surroundings and learn to trust that nothing but yummy food will ever share it with him.

i have a live small mouse its pretty good size. i tried feeding him last night so would it be ok to try again tonight and leave it in there over night?? i also bought some food for the mosue to put in the tank from which i read it was a good idea to do. the newspaper doesnt bother me anything for my new buddy Momo

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JLC

Just remember...whichever method you try...wait a full week from today...let him get used to the new surroundings and learn to trust that nothing but yummy food will ever share it with him.

---

It's your choice....you can try. But every time you try too soon, you risk stressing him out more and delaying the actual time when he does finally eat. Wait a week.

i have a question about feeding live and all the newspaper. cant the live mouse or rat just hide in the newspaper and than my BP will never have a chance to eat it?

Well, that's another reason to start out with a baby rat...so it can't climb up into the paper. However...I have a feeling that wherever a rodent can go...the snake can follow!

oh alright than. i dunno if they have baby rats here where i live but i can look around. my BP was just peeking its head out of his hide last night and the mouse would come up to the opening of the hide he was in and nothing. this happened several times too

Try not to stress too much. Give your snake time and he should start eating. He may not be completely comfortable yet. My new bp just ate for me for the very first time today and it took her a complete month before she would eat for me. If your setup is as it should be, all you should need is some patience. Good luck!:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

... my BP was just peeking its head out of his hide last night and the mouse would come up to the opening of the hide he was in and nothing. this happened several times too

---

That's most likely because he's still too uncertain about his new home to even worry about being hungry right now.

i got some GREAT news!!! i left a live mouse in the tank with my new BP for less than 2 hours and when i just checked he ate it!!! SUCCESS!!! MONEY N'DA BANK! its great i have a quick question though he has some aspen stuck in his mouth what should i do?

Congrats on the successful feeding! I'm not sure about the bedding issue, I personally use paper towels. They're not very pretty to look at, but it makes clean up time very easy. :)

don't worry about the aspen... your snake can digest bones so a little shredded aspen is of no concern. i keep all my snakes on aspen.

congrats on getting your snake to eat. in the future... i wouldn't leave a mouse in for that long (not a live one anyways)

and just so you know... judy was giving you some very good advice. she has a LOT of knowledge... so you can trust what she suggests to you. it's great you got the snake to eat... but you could have set your snake up for some feeding issues in the future... you took a risk which, IMO, should never have been taken. i know it's your snake... but it's also a living creature which deserves to be respected and cared for to the best of your ability... and when you are getting such excellent advice... and then because of your excitement to "see it feed" or "see that it's fed" you chose to ignore the best interests of your snake for your own personal gratification. (posts 28-30)

i know i took that risk but now that he ate im going to wait another week. fed him at the same time of the night and not handle him at all like i did this past week. and we'll see how it goes from there

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by munky5435

i know i took that risk but now that he ate im going to wait another week. fed him at the same time of the night and not handle him at all like i did this past week. and we'll see how it goes from there

---

Sounds good. :)

i want to thank you for all the help everyone....especially you judy. thank you very much

No problem glad to be a help! Don't hesitate to ask if you have anymore questions.:)

Just catching up on threads and see you've had a success with the changes to the enclosure and that good old newspaper trick...it's a very good trick...not pretty but it works. Just remember as Judy said to very slowly over many weeks, remove one or two balls of newspaper...not all at once. I wouldn't even start removing them until you have 3 or 4 consecutive weeks of good feeds going on. Congrats on the feed!