First time feeding!

I have had my baby boy Zeus about a week and a half and fed for the first time today. He's just about 3 months old and I gave him one f/t fuzzy mouse. Is that adequate? It was kinda a rough experience for me, and him too I'm sure. He was sitting on his tree/branch when I went to offer, so that was not a good start. He struck at it from there but didn't take it. I accidentally dropped the mouse. He came down and headed towards his warm hide. I put the mouse a few inches in front of him. He ignored it. I left it in there and walked away for a while. I came back and it's gone!!!:)He's still curled up in his hide....I think he ate it but I'm not sure. I'll admit...i was scared when he struck at the mouse while I was holding it (with tweezers). That's why I dropped it I guess.:oops: Did I do everything ok? I'm looking for some reassurance.

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Originally Posted by jgauger

I have had my baby boy Zeus about a week and a half and fed for the first time today. He's just about 3 months old and I gave him one f/t fuzzy mouse. Is that adequate? It was kinda a rough experience for me, and him too I'm sure. He was sitting on his tree/branch when I went to offer, so that was not a good start. He struck at it from there but didn't take it. I accidentally dropped the mouse. He came down and headed towards his warm hide. I put the mouse a few inches in front of him. He ignored it. I left it in there and walked away for a while. I came back and it's gone!!!:)He's still curled up in his hide....I think he ate it but I'm not sure. I'll admit...i was scared when he struck at the mouse while I was holding it (with tweezers). That's why I dropped it I guess.:oops: Did I do everything ok? I'm looking for some reassurance.

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He's probably a quiet eater. If you place a feeder animal by the entrance to his hide every week, it will probably be eaten that way.

Fuzzy mice are much too small for even hatchling ball pythons. If your getting frozen, look for a mouse or rat that's the same thickness as the thickest point on the snakes body. Give or take a little bigger or less.
Feeding something too small can be just as bad as feeding something too big.. ;]

should I offer another mouse then???

i would try another

Ok. I will. I'll keep you posted. He seems content. I bought Zeus from a breeder, but obviously went to petsmart for supplies...and food. I guess I should have looked at the size of the mice when I bought them. I figured they were too small when I fed him, but my blind trust of the petsmart employee failed me. lol.

If he's in his hide I'd probably wait until the next feeding day and up the ante then, if he's out on the prowl then there's no harm in throwing him another.

Funny you say he's striking from the branch. My room mate's buddy came up from Florida for a few days, turns out he has a BP as well. He housed it with his RTB...bad idea, I know, said Red Tail went off feed about a month after the BP came in and died from starvation. But, he also said that his HP spent a lot of time on the branch, and always hunted from it (striking from above and pulling it up to him like a GTP). Found that kinda cool.

I thought it was kinda cute. He spends just about every night up there. Warm hide or near it during the day, tree at night. Its on the cool side too so I guess I dont know why. I'll post some pics of him in his tree if I get a decent camera. I only have my cell phone camera right now. It's really cute though.

I put another fuzzy just in from of his hide. I covered his cage up so he'll feel secure...I'll just check back with it in a little while to see if its still there, at which point I'll refreeze it. Thanks for the help.

the first feedint is always cool and sometimes frustrating.. he'll be fine and so will you lol

i wouldnt refreeze it.im thinking it will get eaten but if it doesnt just pitch it.

it will be gone;)

Just took a look. The mouse was still there. Grabbed it with the tweezers, shook it a little. Bam! perfect response. Zeus is currently attempting to swollow his second fuzzy of the day. Thanks guys. It was amazing.

For a first time feed, sounds like it went alright since the mouse got eaten :D

You just gotta relax that reflex to jump and drop the mouse. I remember the first time I got bit by my corn snake when I got it when I was just a little kid, it was the first day I had it, the breeder my parents brought it from came to our house and brought an entire cage setup and the little hatchling. I had it in my hands as he was setting up the cage, and all of a sudden the little guy just decided to strike at my knuckle. It was SO FAST that I almost dropped the snake(so glad I didnt), and it was so freaking hard to fight the reflex to shake my hand to get him to stop.

First rule about interacting with a snake, be calm no matter what.

Like I said, for a first feed it went fine if your buddy got some food in him.

Thanks again. First time feed and he took two fuzzys. Couldnt ask for better. I'm working on relaxing. This helped.

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Originally Posted by jgauger

It was kinda a rough experience for me, and him too I'm sure. He was sitting on his tree/branch when I went to offer, so that was not a good start. He struck at it from there but didn't take it. I accidentally dropped the mouse.

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yesterday was my first feed...my bp is about the same age as yours..not too sure...but i was the same way..and i had tangs...but i dropped it several times and said screw the tangs and used my gloved hand...mine did not bit...i was just scare he was going to tag me and not the f\t mouse...but no luck...and with the live one i used a gloved and and dangled it a few inches form him and nothing he balled up...so i just put it down and watched...he got it...woo hoo...it was so relaxing to know he was hungry and ate. Cant wait till next week now!!

I uploaded them:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...imageuser=9880

Wednesday will be my first feeding. I hope it goes as well as yours did, but well see since im feeding live. Ill try and find a large fuzzy or a small whatever comes after fuzzy. My girls only 2 months.

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Originally Posted by iM DoCtor

Wednesday will be my first feeding. I hope it goes as well as yours did, but well see since im feeding live. Ill try and find a large fuzzy or a small whatever comes after fuzzy. My girls only 2 months.

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i still have to weigh mine...i gave her an adult mouse...worked great!!