Feeding troubles.

So I have a male yellowbelly BP about 1.5 years close to 3 feet. He usually pounds down 5 mice a sitting. Well I just moved to a new location and my lovely hasnt eaten in a week and would usually be seething with hunger but when I tanked him and droped in a mouse he just was kind of timid around the little bugger and wouldnt eat. He's in a shed right now, but that usually doesnt hinder his eating. So I was wondering... is it just because he is stressed out from being in a car then to a new house today? Should I just wait a couple days for him to relax again? Let me know.. I figure its nothing but a tense animal but I just want to be safe.

Hi,

I would wait the full week and then just feed again as normal. Missing a week won't do him any harm and the week of no interruptions will let him settle down and recover. :)


dr del

They're very timid. He's probably stressed from the move and change in temps in the car and scooting around.

Wait a week and try again. Just be sure your routine is the same as it was in the previous home. The more often you try, the more stressed he may become.

Good luck. :)

do use a lamp or uth? temp changes and stress are probably the problem. just wait a week and see what happens.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thunder Kat

do use a lamp or uth? temp changes and stress are probably the problem. just wait a week and see what happens.

---

UTH? Sorry i'm not 100% down with all the lingo yet.

UTH = Under Tank Heater

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WellyBelly

So I have a male yellowbelly BP about 1.5 years close to 3 feet. He usually pounds down 5 mice a sitting.

---

Have you tried rats yet? 5 mice seems like a lot of work (and cost) each week. Also, with 5 prey items you are getting more hair, teeth and other less then nutritional parts (based on volume).

What you are doing isn't wrong just seems there is a better option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lord jackel

Have you tried rats yet? 5 mice seems like a lot of work (and cost) each week. Also, with 5 prey items you are getting more hair, teeth and other less then nutritional parts (based on volume).

What you are doing isn't wrong just seems there is a better option.

---

He doesnt seem big enough to get down a rat. Like he is really thick but he is still a baby IMHO. Whats a good alternative to mice? Small rats? and around here the price is actually less for 5 mice than it is 2 rats.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

UTH = Under Tank Heater

---

Uhm I didnt know I was suppose to have one or the other. I have a 100w Blue multi spectrum light pretty much over his hide and there is a UTH (ha) Under his hide. I just added the light recently because his tank seemed to be to cold on the heated side (around 81) and he wouldnt come out from under the hide at all. I need to learn more on managing humidity because before coming to this forum I didnt realise it was so vital. He is in the middle of a shed to and Id really like to make him as comfortable as possible. Suggestions? I have a 40g regular set up with a Hide and a water dish and cypress mulch. I have had this same set up from the get and it seems to work fine but I know know if its just me being misinformed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WellyBelly

He doesnt seem big enough to get down a rat. Like he is really thick but he is still a baby IMHO. Whats a good alternative to mice? Small rats? and around here the price is actually less for 5 mice than it is 2 rats.

---

For me (and others) feed a small small rat (40-50grams) 1x per week. This is all a Ball Python needs (except for the very biggest girls). This size is not much bigger than an adult mouse. If you are feeding 5 adult mice each week you are pry giving her close to 100 grams of food. Again not wrong but more than she needs, especially if she is still a little girl.

Hope this helps.

In an enclosure that large, maintaining humidity might be challenging. You can try to move the water dish over the UTH to promote a little evaporation and you can close half of the enclosure top with aluminum foil as well.

Aside from that, you can use a spray bottle to mist the cage several times a day.

hth, good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lord jackel

For me (and others) feed a small small rat (40-50grams) 1x per week. This is all a Ball Python needs (except for the very biggest girls). This size is not much bigger than an adult mouse. If you are feeding 5 adult mice each week you are pry giving her close to 100 grams of food. Again not wrong but more than she needs, especially if she is still a little girl.

Hope this helps.

---

She*.... is a he. and I just toss them in until he shows no more interest. Is this wrong to do? He's bulked up so much because of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Noek

In an enclosure that large, maintaining humidity might be challenging. You can try to move the water dish over the UTH to promote a little evaporation and you can close half of the enclosure top with aluminum foil as well.

Aside from that, you can use a spray bottle to mist the cage several times a day.

hth, good luck

---

What size set up would you recommend? I keep hearing a lot about tubs and I want to know more. I am planning on breeding my yellowbelly to my spider and yadda yadda get into breeding. Are tubs the way to go? and does anyone have a picture of what I should get and where to find it?

Hi-

I started out with a glass enclosure and it looked really cool, but it wasn't very practical. Aside from the practicality, my bp spent most of the time in her hide anyway so it just looked like a real cool setup with no snake :/

Getting the tubs made several things easier: cleaning and humidity are the biggest changes that I see.

My two snakes are both around 109grams each and the tub size I am using is 18qt.

You can go to walmart or target and check out the Sterilite, Rubbermaid, and Iris plastic tubs.

Good luck,

Keon

Does anyone have a picture of there tub set up?

Aaaaaaall sorts of pics posted. Search the DIY for setup instructions for an idea. Other members have posted pics too when they've explained sizes and styles of hides, where to place the probe for the thermostat, etc.

Have fun with it. :)