Something I really hate to see

My spider girl is a bit on the small side and so far has been refusing food.
I tried f/t and live. She looks at the food but that's all. Then she goes back into her hide.
Not what I want to see happening since she is a bit too thin for my taste.
Spiders are usually great eaters. Any suggestions?
I'm beginning to wonder about her having eaten 12 plus times since she is only 100 grams.

When you try to to feed f/t do you dangle the mouse or do you let it (the mouse) sit there? Also check her temps if the warm side is under 92, change it to 92-94 and if the cool side is lower than 82, bump it to 82-84. Hope she eats soon.

well...you probably shouldnt feed her in her enclosure...give her a few days, then put her into a seperate place (like a cardboard box), and put the food in there with her, and leave her for a while. Thats what i do with mine whenever he wont eat (hes only not eaten once though.lol)

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

well...you probably shouldnt feed her in her enclosure...give her a few days, then put her into a seperate place (like a cardboard box), and put the food in there with her, and leave her for a while. Thats what i do with mine whenever he wont eat (hes only not eaten once though.lol)

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In my experience, they feed better in their own enclosures - with all their "furniture" in place. They should already feel safe and secure enough in their enclosure to have no problems eating there. I also eliminate the need to handle them after they've eaten this way.

I just know that I keep all of mine in tub set-ups or a rack, 15 quart for my '06's and 41 quart for my yearlings. Although I have some yearlings in my rack that are sharing 30 quart tubs (with the optional dividers that HerpEnclosures sells to make the 30 quart tubs into two long 15 quart enclosures). Other than Kashmire - who was my first ball python, I've not experienced any fasts other than the occasional one week refusal, which to me, doesn't qualify as a fast.

I'm a true believer (from experience) that smaller is better for a happy ball python - smaller enclosure, small tight hides, and I also keep them warm with the recommended temp ranges.

I do also feed live to all of mine, so I've not personally dealt with the challenges of switching a ball to pre-killed or f/t.

I have always been told not to becuase i use Aspen substrate, and they could possibly ingest that, and there is a chance that they will think you are food next time you go into their enclosures. I could be wrong, but i have always taken mine out, and they have always fed. I have never had a problem with them not eating though, so i dont have too much room to talk here...just what i have been told by others.

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

I have always been told not to becuase i use Aspen substrate, and they could possibly ingest that, and there is a chance that they will think you are food next time you go into their enclosures. I could be wrong, but i have always taken mine out, and they have always fed. I have never had a problem with them not eating though, so i dont have too much room to talk here...just what i have been told by others.

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All of mine are on aspen, and they do ingest some on occassion - but their stomachs are designed to digest fur, bones and teeth - a little aspen doesn't stand a chance.

As far as them thinking you are food when you go into their enclosure, that's a myth. I wouldn't dare consider handling any of mine on feeding, but any other day, they are just fine. As long as you don't have the scent of prey on your hands, and you are going into their enclosure for routine cage maintenance and water changing, they won't make that association.

Routines are very important too. My crew know what day and what time of day is feeding time. I also feed in the same order each week.

If feeding in a separate enclosure works for you - then there's no need to change that! Just wanted to dispel some concerns you had! :)

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

I have always been told not to becuase i use Aspen substrate, and they could possibly ingest that, and there is a chance that they will think you are food next time you go into their enclosures. I could be wrong, but i have always taken mine out, and they have always fed. I have never had a problem with them not eating though, so i dont have too much room to talk here...just what i have been told by others.

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Now thats the reason i use newspapers as my substrate,no chance of them eating it:) .Another thing you acctually place more stress on the snake by removing it from the place they feel safe.This is from my experiance over the last 9yrs.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

My spider girl is a bit on the small side and so far has been refusing food.
I tried f/t and live. She looks at the food but that's all. Then she goes back into her hide.
Not what I want to see happening since she is a bit too thin for my taste.
Spiders are usually great eaters. Any suggestions?
I'm beginning to wonder about her having eaten 12 plus times since she is only 100 grams.

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Steve,i am sorry to hear she is not eating for you:( .Have you ever assist fed a ball python before? If not try this,make sure the frozen thawed mouse fuzzy or whatever looks correct for her is totaly thawed.Then take her and GENTLY open her mouth with the rodents nose.Then place it inside her mouth and gently let her go.This might take a couple times but hopefully instinct will kick in.This is best done on say a table or something to where she will not get away from you.I have done this for several snakes and 99% of the time it has worked.So here is a positive thought for you and your little spider:cool:

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Now thats the reason i use newspapers as my substrate,no chance of them eating it:) .Another thing you acctually place more stress on the snake by removing it from the place they feel safe.This is from my experiance over the last 9yrs.

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I'll make sure i keep that in mind. My snakes have never had a problem eating, so im going to stick to my routine, but i know what to do if i happen to get one that is pickier.
Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

I'll make sure i keep that in mind. My snakes have never had a problem eating, so im going to stick to my routine, but i know what to do if i happen to get one that is pickier.
Thanks!

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See now if we all pool up our info on ball pythons, maybe they would find out and stop giving us headaches:clap: :rofl: :rofl: .Then we all would have nothing to talk about here:( .

How long have you had her? and has she had the tipical 2 to 3 weeks of not being messed with to settle in to her new home?

I made a big mistake with my 2nd snake, I was holding her from day one and she never ate for me. After I moved here to GA and she had to be left behind due to her health, She still wouldnt eat for her new owner. I found this site, and told her about the 2 week rule, she tryed it and now the snake eats every week like clock work.

Also one of my snakes (Pandora, as I was told...) only eats 3 extra small white mice every sunday (the size of a weenling mouse) and will refuse any other color or sized prey. (that will change soon) Baby will only eat mice or rats that are 100% live, not stunned and they have to be a tan or a light brown color. He wont touch any other color mouse or rat.

IMO you might want to try a bunch of colors of mice and see if that could be the problem. if that wont work, a trip to the vet might be needed.

haha.
Its hard when you are a newb (i still am one, but slowly growing out of it) to look for information and find it reputable, you always want to post about it and ask. lol.

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

haha.
Its hard when you are a newb (i still am one, but slowly growing out of it) to look for information and find it reputable, you always want to post about it and ask. lol.

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Now see thats why this site is so special.No matter if your a newbie or a old fart here everyone helps each other get there questions answered:cool: .*whispers the only member you have be worried about is Recyling Goddess(Aleesha) when she is off her meds*:8: :8: :8:

:rofl: I like that... you might have to worry about me to... I can be just a bit odd....:crazy:

When one of mine goes off-feed, I forget about it; for about a week, I offer no food at all, just going into the cage for water change and any cleanings that are needed. I find that their appetite seems to build up when I do this; Bela refused a meal several weeks ago; then I waited a week (actually I think it was 10 days) re-offered her a rat, and bam.
I wish you luck; how long have you had this BP?

The thing that concerns me with this one is the "V' shape and the fact that after 12 plus meals it just hits 100 grams. That and the fact that it refuses food and spiders are generally known to be great eaters.
This deal has had a lot of snags from the beginning so this is now making me very nervous.

ouch. that would make me nervous too. what do you mean by the V shape? could it be a broken rib?

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Originally Posted by SPJ

The thing that concerns me with this one is the "V' shape and the fact that after 12 plus meals it just hits 100 grams. That and the fact that it refuses food and spiders are generally known to be great eaters.
This deal has had a lot of snags from the beginning so this is now making me very nervous.

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Have you had it checked/treated for internal parasites?

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

ouch. that would make me nervous too. what do you mean by the V shape? could it be a broken rib?

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The top and sides form a V shape.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Have you had it checked/treated for internal parasites?

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Not but it looks like I may have to.

What does the person that produced the animal have to say? I'd imagine that he/she would be more than willing to help you out being such an expensive investment and all?

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

What does the person that produced the animal have to say? I'd imagine that he/she would be more than willing to help you out being such an expensive investment and all?

-adam

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You would think so but trying to track this guy down is like pulling teeth.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

You would think so but trying to track this guy down is like pulling teeth.

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That's ashame.

-adam

Ouch. Thats not good. I honestly have NO idea who i got my normal BP from, but i have never had any problems with him.
I hope you get ahold of him, and get everything sorted out!!!!

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Originally Posted by SPJ

The thing that concerns me with this one is the "V' shape and the fact that after 12 plus meals it just hits 100 grams. That and the fact that it refuses food and spiders are generally known to be great eaters.
This deal has had a lot of snags from the beginning so this is now making me very nervous.

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Steve,is there a chance to get a refund from this clown and give him back his sick snakes? This guy has given you problems from the beggining and you have been very patient.To tell you the truth if this was happening to me i would have made a thread on fauna two weeks ago.I am sure they would love to assist you in getting THIS deal corrected:D .

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

What does the person that produced the animal have to say? I'd imagine that he/she would be more than willing to help you out being such an expensive investment and all?

-adam

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Adam,this guy should stick with his ROCK collection

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Adam,this guy should stick with his ROCK collection

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I'm sure that I have no idea what you're talking about.

-adam

Other than the numerous delays and disapointment to me with one of the animals not being included due to it being the wrong sex none of the others have had any issues. I am just overly concerned since it's a spider.

Regarding the rock, don't confuse the 2 two screwy deals Joe.:D This is not the one where I got the shaft on the animal I sent out.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

Other than the numerous delays and disapointment to me with one of the animals not being included due to it being the wrong sex none of the others have had any issues. I am just overly concerned since it's a spider.

Regarding the rock, don't confuse the 2 two screwy deals Joe.:D This is not the one where I got the shaft on the animal I sent out.

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Ooops i gotta write this stuff down i guess.Way to many deals gone bad(i know others) to keep track.

At any rate, it is unfortunate that the breeder is so hard to get ahold of. It scares me to think that someone could spend that kind of money and not get any support afterward..
Although, if it were a hatchling that was eating before shipping, I don't see anything wrong that the breeder had done.. unless they were lying about its' feeding past.. has this snake eaten for you since you got it?

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

has this snake eaten for you since you got it?

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Nope. Shows no interest at all.
I'll give it another week or 2. Live usually triggers a response but not with this one so I got a bit concerned.

I think it is time to get it to a vet. I'm really sorry that this is happening to you. If there was anything I could do I would be doing it. This is a shame. :(