The all too familiar feeding problems with ball pythons

My snake seems like such a finicky eater and it is really bothering me. She is about 531 g. It seems that if I hold her or make a loud noice before feeding she will not eat. She also would rather snap at them than try to eat them. I don't think it's a big problem right now but I woundered more about the handling thing, does that deter your guys' snake from eating.

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Originally Posted by mwedgley

My snake seems like such a finicky eater and it is really bothering me. She is about 531 g. It seems that if I hold her or make a loud noice before feeding she will not eat. She also would rather snap at them than try to eat them. I don't think it's a big problem right now but I woundered more about the handling thing, does that deter your guys' snake from eating.

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I just fed my baby bp the other day with ease, I actually picked him up and moved him then dropped the mouse and he ate it fine, so for handling no, possibly loud sounds yes

Many people find that if they handle their BP's too much or too close to feeding time they will not eat. How has your snake been eating?

i would say going forward just try to keep the same atmosphere and routine when you feed her. i do the same thing with my animals every time i feed them and they are handled just before and right after, just to move them, and they have never had problems feeding.

Why do you need to hold it prior to feeding? Just quietly place the prey item in the enclosure, step back, and let it happen.

Also remember that no ball python under 1000 grams should be refusing any meals...if they do...it's usually because the KEEPER is doing something wrong. It could be the setup, bad hides, no hides, sub-par temperatures, improper prey size, etc...a "feeding problem" isn't just a problem in itself, but a symptom of other things that aren't right.

Describe your setup including temperatures, cage size, # of hides, placement of those hides, and your feeding routine (what, when, and how you feed). We'll be able to help more with that info.

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Originally Posted by mtxsub7

so for handling no, possibly loud sounds yes

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Snakes can't hear ;)

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Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Snakes can't hear ;)

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They can sense vibrations :cool:

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Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Snakes can't hear ;)

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there is A LOT of bad info coming from the forum that i have noticed.

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/snake...akesnoises.htm

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Originally Posted by extensive

there is A LOT of bad info coming from the forum that i have noticed.

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/snake...akesnoises.htm

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He was correct to the extent that they don't "hear" like we do...

The short answer is that they "feel" noise and are very sensitive to the vibrations in the air and ground that noises create...

Remember anyone can post and good as this forum is, inaccurate information is posted more than you think...but is often corrected.

I have to agree with Brad, not eating for a younger ball python is often a symptom of a problem.

Yes, overhandling your snake can cause it to go off feed. If I have an animal that normally feeds well suddenly refused feeding, the very first thing that I do is stop all handling (other than what's necessary to clean their enclosure). That more often that not, gets them back to feeding regularly.

It's been my experience with my small collection (currently about 20 ball pythons being fed weekly) that ball pythons, when housed properly with proper temps, adequate security (aka tight hides), fed appropriately sized meals (aka not too large) will feed weekly rather reliably, even in the winter months.

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Originally Posted by extensive

there is A LOT of bad info coming from the forum that i have noticed.

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/snake...akesnoises.htm

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And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

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Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

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But to quote myself... Science is not entirely sure yet, so I'm not sure either... :)

hmmmmmm

What feeding problems? :confused:

I've been noticing ALOT of misinformation too on this forum, and I'm honestly getting tired of it. :weirdface:

Ball pythons are one of the most widely kept snakes in captivity and I think you can make an argument that as a result, they are also the most "MIS-kept"...hence the reputation for being bad feeders...when in all reality the problem is too many of the PEOPLE that keep them don't know what they're doing.

The feeding response of a well-kept, healthy ball python rivals even the most enthusiastic species of snakes in captivity....

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Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

And your link is one of them. Snakes cannot 'hear' per se, they only are able to sense very low frequencies at a hery high volume. I would not place a snake directly next to my stereo and listen to rap music at 100 db, but I doubt snakes can sense acoustic waves that are at a normal or even remotely high noise level.

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Actually, the Barkers address this in their book - I'll look it up when I get home - they conclude that they CAN hear.

From Pythons of the World, Vol. 2: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker, P. 25

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According to Wever (1978), the gopher snakes he was testing could hear aerial sounds in the frequency of 40 to 2,000 hertz at reasonable voumes, with the greatest sensitivities in the lower ranges. There is no reason to assume that the hearing of ball pythons is any less acute, as the structure of the ball python ear is very similar to that of the gopher snake. The frequency of the human voice falls within the range of 80 to 3,000 hertz (Goris, pers, com.), and most voices are in the range of 500 to 1,000 hertz. Therefore, the answer to a commonly asked question about ball pythons is, "Yes, your snake can hear you when you talk to it."

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Originally Posted by rabernet

From Pythons of the World, Vol. 2: Ball Pythons by Barker and Barker, P. 25

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Well, to assume that snake A can hear because snake B can, based on a study 30 years ago which also states that the inner ear is 'similar', not identical, is a bit of a stretch IMO... but oh well, maybe they can hear, maybe they can't. :)

Well I can't tell you my temps because I think one of the rats chewed my temperature guage so I have to get another. I can tell you right now that my setup and handling probably isn't perfect. I am new and this is my first ball python. Alot of care sheets out there I have found to be basic and junk. i am totally up for suggestions. Also I am going to build a new cage out of melamine and when I do that I am going to correct a lot of thing in it. The cage should be built in about two weeks

You should know if a rat did that.... it's pretty dangerous to leave snakes and rodents together unattended.

I know as I said I am learning and I feel horrible about it now eating. As far as not knowing its because I found my snake was only eating if I threw a rat in there and put a blanket over the cage if I didn't hear the food being eaten within 5 I'd check on them. I don't want to do that that's why I'm trying to figure out other options

Nobody's trying to make you feel bad, just understand that it could've been the snake that rat was chewing on. My smaller bp needs extra privacy, but I can still leave enough exposed to monitor the feeding.

no I know I'm just want to make my snake very comfortable. I do usually monitor the feeding as much as possible.