Should i trade in?

So I have had my BP for a couple weeks now and he wont eat for me. He was only about 3 weeks old when i got him. Hes starting to look thin IMO, i can see loose skin hanging off of him and i decided to call up the place i bought him from and try there suggestion of trying a smaller mouse as that is what they have done with the youngns. He said to present it and if he doesnt take it right away to take it back out and try again in a couple hours until he takes it but that hasnt worked either. I like him but with his young age and refusal to eat im wondering if I should ask to trade for a better eater. Think this is possible or worth the trouble? Hes been a very calm docile snake but probably to a point that its not good for his survival. Im concerned.

As your first ball python, I could understand taking him back...but what if you get another just like it?

Ball pythons are notorious picky eaters. It's just one of the bad that comes with the good. I have a few that are like that and my conditions are near perfect...they're just not happy with the switch from live to f/t at the moment

What are you feeding? Frozen/Thawed or Live?

ive been feeding live. Originally offering a small jumper i believe and today i tried a hopper still with no luck. Im thinking of checking with him again tomorow to see if they have one that he knows has been eating good, and whether or not they would accept a trade. I feel like i have bonded with the little guy but i would prefer having a healthy BP in the long run.

WHat time of day are you feeding?


~mike

ive been feeding at night typically after hes started cruising. Today was an exception ive been trying to feed him every couple hours like the guy said since about 1pm.

Is there anything else i can do for him? this is kind of a last resort.

IMO dont try feeding him again for a lil while for maybe 4 days and see what happens. Just my opinion though.

how bout handling wise? After he didnt eat last week i didnt handle him from Monday to monday and the only handling of him was to move him into the tub and after he didnt eat there i decided to take him on the couch with me for a few minutes and thats the only handling in the past week.

What size cage is he in?
What are the temps on the hot/cool sides?
How many hides and where are they located?

If the setup is OK then try leaving him alone for a week and then put a live fuzzie in for him to eat.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

What size cage is he in?
What are the temps on the hot/cool sides?
How many hides and where are they located?

If the setup is OK then try leaving him alone for a week and then put a live fuzzie in for him to eat.

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10 gallon, 89-95 on warm end, 1 hide on each side.
I tried that this week and no luck.
i bought him a red light bulb today too so as to keep down the disturbance.

The only other thing I could say that I tried (as "gruesome" as it may be with mine) I've taken fresh killed mice, and taken a knife to their heads, opening it up so that the brains are showing (and i'll use the knife to smear some of the brains on the mouses head) then I'll use tongs to hold the mouse by the tail and dance it around 3-6 inches away from the snake (dont get too close or bop the snake on the head like i've seen some people because to some snakes this just scares the poor things!) and normally the brains do the trick for my snakes. I've had EVERY one take pre-killed once I've brained em but one snake, and that's because she just has to be stubborn. She was my first and can just be a pain in the arse!

If braining the feeder doesn't work, you may want to consider having a fecal done since it is not eating. It could be a problem that needs to be treated before he will eat.

a fecal? thanks guys ill give that a try the next time.

Try a lil russian hamster or a gerbil,thats what i did and she took it in a second.she took a few thawed mice but wont touch them anymore,then i fed a russian hamster and she snapped it up in a second,russians or gerbils might work if ypu can getg a regular supply.

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Originally Posted by hardball

a fecal? thanks guys ill give that a try the next time.

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Its either taking some of his poo to the vet or have a vet take a "fresh" sample to test for parasites inside of him.Since you got him from a pet store its a good chance he is a captive hatched baby and could have internal parasites.It never hurts just to get him checked over in the first place.The person who said to try to feed him every few hours needs to be slapped :mad:.If your snake does not eat then leave him alone for 7 days,then try again.The way you were told to feed him is only causing him unneeded stress and making matters worse for you and him.If you ever need the TRUTH on anything concerning ball pythons ask the members here first!;)

Don't handle or interact until he's eaten regularly four (or so) times. The only time you'd be doing anything would be to top off his water or clean the cage/tub. Anything other than that can wait until he's eating w/o any reluctance. The more you're messing with him, the more stressed he'll become. Also try a smaller than normal meal. Once fasting for a while, his body won't be able to handle a large meal right away.

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Originally Posted by hardball

how bout handling wise? After he didnt eat last week i didnt handle him from Monday to monday and the only handling of him was to move him into the tub and after he didnt eat there i decided to take him on the couch with me for a few minutes and thats the only handling in the past week.

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I assume from this that you are feeding in a separate tub? The most likely reason for a young bp to refuse meals is stress. Moving your snake from his "home" to a separate, foreign environment to feed him will cause stress. Try feeding him in his home next time.

Hope you get your little one eating soon!

Steve

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Originally Posted by hardball

ive been feeding at night typically after hes started cruising. Today was an exception ive been trying to feed him every couple hours like the guy said since about 1pm.

Is there anything else i can do for him? this is kind of a last resort.

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You are stressing this little guy out. Offer him food ONCE a week, not every couple of hours.

I suspect that your husbandry is likely the reason he's not eating, and you'll only experience the same problems with any other snake. You need to figure out what is wrong with your set-up and fix it.

Some questions to ask:

1) Is your enclosure small enough? For a 3 week old - 12 quarts max, 6 quarts would be ideal

2) Are your hides small and snug? Can he feel the hides touching him on all sides?

3) Are your temps correct and do they remain constant, 24 hours a day? 92-94 on the warm side, 82-84 on the cool side.

4) Is your thermometer reliable? Are you using a digital device and are you measuring at ground level?

5) Is your humidity consistently 50%? Are you using a digital device to measure that?

Figure out what's "broke" and fix it. Hint - it's not the snake.

Also feed him in his enclosure and leave the hides in with him.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

You are stressing this little guy out. Offer him food ONCE a week, not every couple of hours.

I suspect that your husbandry is likely the reason he's not eating, and you'll only experience the same problems with any other snake. You need to figure out what is wrong with your set-up and fix it.

Some questions to ask:

1) Is your enclosure small enough? For a 3 week old - 12 quarts max, 6 quarts would be ideal

2) Are your hides small and snug? Can he feel the hides touching him on all sides?

3) Are your temps correct and do they remain constant, 24 hours a day? 92-94 on the warm side, 82-84 on the cool side.

4) Is your thermometer reliable? Are you using a digital device and are you measuring at ground level?

5) Is your humidity consistently 50%? Are you using a digital device to measure that?

Figure out what's "broke" and fix it. Hint - it's not the snake.

Also feed him in his enclosure and leave the hides in with him.

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And i think some of yall think that this is how ive fed him by offering once every couple hours but that was only yesterday after i called up the guy at the snake store and took his advice. I did try to feed him once out of his cage but all the other offerings have been in his tank.
The only thing out of that that isnt right would probably be the hides, they are a little big. Im going to check some pet stores online to see if theres anything smaller.

What size is his enclosure?

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Originally Posted by hardball

And i think some of yall think that this is how ive fed him by offering once every couple hours but that was only yesterday after i called up the guy at the snake store and took his advice. I did try to feed him once out of his cage but all the other offerings have been in his tank.
The only thing out of that that isnt right would probably be the hides, they are a little big. Im going to check some pet stores online to see if theres anything smaller.

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You don't need to buy a fancy hide from a pet store. Any small container from around the house will work, provided it's small enough for the snake to feel secure. Tupperware, microwave meal bowls (wash well, obviously), small flowerpot saucers...just make sure it's small and snug and dark.

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Originally Posted by slartibartfast

You don't need to buy a fancy hide from a pet store. Any small container from around the house will work, provided it's small enough for the snake to feel secure. Tupperware, microwave meal bowls (wash well, obviously), small flowerpot saucers...just make sure it's small and snug and dark.

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Agreed. These hides cost me $.50 each (the flower pot saucers) and I soldered the entrances:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...ub/BabyTub.jpg

Here's the baby under it:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyTub2.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/PretzelA.jpg

And this is the size of the tub:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyRack.jpg

hes in a 10 gallon tank. I just got him a couple new matching hides that are much smaller that should be a snugger fit for him and a little branch for him to climb on since hes a climber. How long should i wait before trying to feed him again? 7 days?

Yes, wait 7 days and disturb him as little as possible during that time. Then, put the hopper in a small critter keeper and set it near or on top of his enclosure for 30 minutes so he can smell it and become interested.


Drop the mouse in the enclosure at the opposite end that he's in, and walk away. Some will be very hesitant to eat with a predator (you) watching. Check back in 30 minutes. It should be gone.

It would probably be best to wait until evening and keep the room dark and quiet.

I know you're probably excited to see your first feed, but there will be many more with him - your goal right now is just to get him to start eating consistently for you.

Good luck!

you know if your bp is CBB or captive hatched? CH can have these problems, along with sickness and parasites.