My ball python isn't eating.

I don't know if it's because she's stressed with the new tank and surroundings or what. But she hasn't even been interested in the mouse it appears.

I take the mouse out at night and put it in a seperate container, so it doesn't try to bite my snake again >:[. A scale or two was damaged. Grr.

I was mad. I almost threw the bastard out the window.

So about her eating. Should I just let her take her time to get used to her new surroundings? I don't know what it is. She ate last a week and a half ago or so. She should be hungry!:mad:

She's in a new tank? When did you move her? What are the temps, humidity; how many hides are there?

Two hiding places, she's in her half log right now, humidity is sufficient, it's 83 degrees in there, I moved her two days ago.

Maybe she isn't interested in the mouse because it was in a pickle jar. I cleaned it out first and well, but it still has that pickley-smell to it. Hm. Maybe I should bathe the mouse.

It's a giant cleaned out jar that I use to put mice in over night. ( I won't leave mice in her tank over night, they tend to bite.)

Id say give it a week or so, and try again maybe its just stressed, that what happened when my snakes cage changed.

Could be few things:

1. She might be about to shed.
2. Might be extra stressed. Let her be, without handling, for a week.
3. The mouse is too big?
4. Do you have a warmer end as well? You need one end to be 80-84, and the other 90-94.
5. Once I offered my bp a mouse that was wet and he refused. 2 days later I offered same mouse dryed up and he ate. So the smell, or wetness might matter.

Yes, she does have one end of the tank that's warmer. No, the mouse isn't too big at all.

>:[ Now I have to keep this mouse for awhile longer til she wants to eat it. You wait and see, I'll start naming it and buying a nice little tank for it. It'll be like Mr Jingles.:confused:

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Originally Posted by Leda

Yes, she does have one end of the tank that's warmer. No, the mouse isn't too big at all.

>:[ Now I have to keep this mouse for awhile longer til she wants to eat it. You wait and see, I'll start naming it and buying a nice little tank for it. It'll be like Mr Jingles.:confused:

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haha i have a pet male rat that has been added to my breeding colony. he was refused by my female normal. and he was a cool little dude and like to hang out on my shoulder so next feeding time he wasnt offered up!

lol i wish i could find something fascinating in f/t lol.

I wanna feed live too :( but he's hooked on F/T and as long as he keeps eating F/T I'm not gonna offer live.

That mouse is gonna be a problem. I can see it already.
I laughed pretty hard today. At Christmas dinner my grandpa says "Do you HAVE to feed your snake, mice? Can't it eat hotdogs or something?".

Haha. It was pretty funny. Mostly because he was serious.

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Originally Posted by Leda

That mouse is gonna be a problem. I can see it already.
I laughed pretty hard today. At Christmas dinner my grandpa says "Do you HAVE to feed your snake, mice? Can't it eat hotdogs or something?".

Haha. It was pretty funny. Mostly because he was serious.

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Haha. My dad asked me if we could feed him chicken and also there was a gift under the Christmas tree for "The Snake," which was a rubber mouse. hah

thats wicked funny, my dad asked me the other day if i have ever had snake meat. sad thing was he was serious and i was holding both my new BPs! I said nothing in reply and walked upstairs to put them away. hes a hardcore texan, hes shot a few rattlesnakes in his days. I guarantee that he will inflict no harm on my snake.... I wish my grandparents were still alive... :salute::tears::snake:
good luck with feeding, i just got my bigger bp izzy to eat 2 small mice! so im happy first time hes eaten for me!

What was the deal about the mouse bitting the snake. That may have something to do with your problem. It is also winter and normal for off-feeding behavior. At any rate give it two weeks and try again, with feeding live if the snake isn't responding to the mouse within a minute of putting the mouse in there remove it and try again in two weeks. Just what I would do don't sweat a ball python going off feeding as it is common.

Chuck

WELL. The mouse died. >.>

Don't ask how. I don't even know. I had him in a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: thingy with food and water. It was fine, then I woke up. Well. You know how it goes.

I'll buy her a new one next week or so.


Uh and does anyone know why uhh...

Like if I put my snake on my shoulder or whatever, it's like she's..."massaging" me. :confused:

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Originally Posted by Leda

WELL. The mouse died. >.>

Don't ask how. I don't even know. I had him in a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: thingy with food and water. It was fine, then I woke up. Well. You know how it goes.

I'll buy her a new one next week or so.

Uh and does anyone know why uhh...

Like if I put my snake on my shoulder or whatever, it's like she's..."massaging" me. :confused:

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Did the pickle jar have air holes?

She's not massaging you, she's simply moving around on you and it feels like a massage.

If she's young, she should not be off feed. How often were you offering the mouse? It sounds like you were leaving it in with her for long periods of time each day?

Not eating is a symptom of a problem, you need to find out what it is.

• How often are you handling him and for how long?
• How often are you offering food?
• What are your temps and what do you use to measure them?
• How snug are your hides? They should be touching him on all sides when he's in them.
• What size is the enclosure?
• Is it in a high or low traffic area?
• How long did you allow him to acclimate?

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Originally Posted by Leda

WELL. The mouse died. >.>

Don't ask how. I don't even know. I had him in a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: thingy with food and water. It was fine, then I woke up. Well. You know how it goes.

I'll buy her a new one next week or so.


Uh and does anyone know why uhh...

Like if I put my snake on my shoulder or whatever, it's like she's..."massaging" me. :confused:

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If you keep snakes you are going to have the occasional refusal. If you choose to feed live you need to plan ahead and have a proper housing set up for the rat or mouse to keep it over for a week or two. A pickle jar isn't going to be ventilated enough even with airholes to stop a very quick and nasty ammonia buildup, especially with a mouse in it. You can easily find a used ten gallon tank, buy a proper rodent safe wire mesh lid for it, a water bottle, a food dish and a bag of rodent food plus some bedding to keep a live setup ready for when you need it.

Bp's can go off feed for the littlest reasons...
My BP has been off food for over a month now, and it's not the first time! And it's because of the temps being all wackey. If they fluctuate too much or if you don't have a warm enough side.

But give ur snake time, and don't freak out. He/she will eat eventually as long as everything is set correctly. And only try once a week the same day, and try every day or two. That won't help!

I think ur rat died because it was in the pickle jar! LOL... I don't know why you would put him in a pickle jar! Even with holes in the jar lid, you would need a LOT of holes depending on the size of the jar I guess...
I once had like 5 little rats in a little rubbermaid container and I had drilled maybe 10-15 little holes (about the size of a pencil). And they almost died on me too. It was because they didn't have enough ventilation and the humidity levels inside the container went through the roof in less then 12 hours...
I opened the lid and they were all moist and smelly so maybe u didnt have enough ventitlation. But they did live!
Now I use little hamster cages...

anyway, Good Luck with ur snake and your rats!

Her hiding places are snug. She fits perfectly into them. Temps are all sufficient. I use a digital and regular thermometer to measure them.

I only put the mouse in there when I am able to spend time around the tank, because I don't want any biting to take place. (My friends unattended ball python got its EYES eaten out by a rat).

It was a really small mouse, in a giant, ventilated pickle jar. Haha. I didn't have some giant rat in a tiny pickle jar. I fed it, gave it water, etc.

As for my snake, I handle her everyday, it's been about three/four days in attempting to get her to eat, the only thing that's changed is her environment. She's had to switch tanks twice.

Stop handling your snake for a week and try feeding again. The new environment + your frequent handling is probably stressing the snake out. If by three/four days of attempting you mean that you offered the mouse 3 days in a row then that is probably stressing her out even further.

One week with no handling and no feeding attempts and I think you'll be alright given that the temps and humidity are accurate.

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Originally Posted by Leda

Temps are all sufficient.

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Sufficient? What are they?

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I only put the mouse in there when I am able to spend time around the tank, because I don't want any biting to take place. (My friends unattended ball python got its EYES eaten out by a rat).

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Wow, your friend left that rat in a LONG time for it to eat the eyes out of it's snake.

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As for my snake, I handle her everyday, it's been about three/four days in attempting to get her to eat, the only thing that's changed is her environment. She's had to switch tanks twice.

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Why have you had to change tanks twice? Did you allow her 7 days to acclimate after each change? Whenever any of mine go off feed - they don't get handled again until after they eat. Handling is for your pleasure, not the snakes. Try not handling her, let her settle in, and offer her a mouse again in a week.

balls go off feed all the time. there are many large breeders that have the majority of there collection go off feed for most of the winter months. my rule of thumb is to try once a week and dont even start to worry about 2 months. i thaw out about 100 rats a week and take them to the snake room. 0ut of 105 bp's i usually have about 15 rats left over. there are a few problem feeders but for the most part some snakes that eay every week with out a problem one week will just want nothing to do with it. just the ball python game.

and if you are feeding live mice i would go with a weened rat they are way less likley to bite your snake as they relly dont even have that big of teeth yet. most of my feeding live feeders bites come from mice they are relly bad about it.

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Originally Posted by MATT FISHER REPTILES

balls go off feed all the time. there are many large breeders that have the majority of there collection go off feed for most of the winter months.

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They do? I don't believe Adam's 700+ snakes go off feed for most of the winter months, last I talked to him, they eat year round. I'll have to ask Kara about their collection next time I talk to her and see if that's true for them.

I don't have a large collection, but my 20+ animals are all still eating each week, even those that are breeding.

My 26 are all eating other than the very occasional refusal or perhaps one of the WC adults that tend to fast a bit here or there. Other than that it's just typical stuff....put rat in...TWHUMMMP....happy full snake.....they don't seem to care if it's December or August. :)

do you drop temps for breeding. that is usually what triggers it.

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Originally Posted by MATT FISHER REPTILES

do you drop temps for breeding. that is usually what triggers it.

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Nope, I didn't cool, but that's because my apartment gets cooler and draftier in the winter anyway. But I keep the hot spot the same temps year round, but the cool side is cooler.

I know Adam cools, and his eat year round too.

Correct me if I'm wrong here but I don't believe this person is asking about refusal to eat in a breeding size adult BP. :confused:

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Originally Posted by MATT FISHER REPTILES

do you drop temps for breeding. that is usually what triggers it.

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And this person isn't breeding, so since she shouldn't be dropping temps, it shouldn't be triggered to fast - that's why we say not eating is a symptom of a problem.

From what I can tell, her ball isn't eating because she overhandles it, and has moved it at least two times without allowing it to acclimate, and is offering prey too often. She says her temps are "sufficient" but hasn't shared what they are.

Sounds like the OP mentioned the answer to the refusal but doesn't realize it.

New enviroment.
Daily handling.
Bit by mouse.

Anyone of these alone could cause a feeding refusal and all 3 together:colbert:

She wasn't bitten to the extent of actual damage. The very tip of her tail was barely grazed. But it still bothered me.

Her day time temps are kept at 85° - 90° F. She has her "basking" area, her hides, everything seems alright.

She's very active, she soaks, she acts completely normal excluding the fact that I've tried to feed her a couple times and she hasn't eaten. She didn't appear completely uninterested in the mouse, but just didn't eat it.

The mouse kind of looked screwed up when I first got it, maybe there was something wrong with it. But she was INTERESTED in it, but just didn't make any moves.

I'll try a different mouse when I notice that she's gotten used to her new environment. Simple as that. She's not sick, I haven't changed the temps. She's simply a new snake adjusting to an environment outside of what she's used to. It's what I initially figured, I also figured that it'd be nice to get some other opinions and assurance.


Plus, this is a forum for people to get help/discuss their pets. Not a urinating contest. It's extremely unproductive to turn it into a fight when it's supposed to be help.:colbert:

Leda,

Not sure if you just read the same thread that I did, but there was no fighting, simply discussion.

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As for my snake, I handle her everyday, it's been about three/four days in attempting to get her to eat, the only thing that's changed is her environment. She's had to switch tanks twice.

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You are handling your snake too much and have offer food too many times in a short time. (If you offer to often or too soon after a refusal you will only stress your BP, which will lead to more refusal)

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She's very active, she soaks, she acts completely normal

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Being very active and soaking is not normal

When you move your snake to a new enclosure you need to allow 7-10 days for your snake to acclimate to his new environment.

Right now double-check everything

Check your temperature and make sure they are 80-84 on the cool side, 90-94 on the warm side

Check your humidity and make sure it is between 50%-60%

Make sure the enclosure is in a low traffic area.

Make sure your enclosure is the appropriated size, an enclosure that is too big can be overwhelming, and can cause stress overtime.

Make sure your hides are tight enough so your BP can snug in, all sides must be touching your BP's body (Avoid log hides as they do not really provide enough security for a BP).

Stop offering food & stop handling your BP for a week, once a week has passed offer food again.

If your BP eats than, you will still need refrain from handling it too much, at least until your BP eats with consistency.

I concluded such, awhile ago.

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Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons

You are handling your snake too much and have offer food too many times in a short time. (If you offer to often or too soon after a refusal you will only stress your BP, which will lead to more refusal)
Being very active and soaking is not normal

When you move your snake to a new enclosure you need to allow 7-10 days for your snake to acclimate to his new environment.

Right now double-check everything

Check your temperature and make sure they are 80-84 on the cool side, 90-94 on the warm side

Check your humidity and make sure it is between 50%-60%

Make sure the enclosure is in a low traffic area.

Make sure your enclosure is the appropriated size, an enclosure that is too big can be overwhelming, and can cause stress overtime.

Make sure your hides are tight enough so your BP can snug in, all sides must be touching your BP's body (Avoid log hides as they do not really provide enough security for a BP).

Stop offering food & stop handling your BP for a week, once a week has passed offer food again.

If your BP eats than, you will still need refrain from handling it too much, at least until your BP eats with consistency.

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Very helpful post Deb. :)