Please help.

So I got a baby BP on May 3rd at an expo, from one of the most trusted breeders in ontario and mine still hasn't been eating. I know you probably already heard this before but im like desperate. Ive tried dipping the mice in tuna, frozen, live, putting them in a dark tub together...the list goes on. The temp is right and so is the humidity. I have the same two enclosers set up (i bought two) for both of them and one ate and the other hasnt. What should I do? I dont have the money for a vet. should i force feed? or wait? its about 6 weeks old now or so.

Have you had a chance to review "why won't my snake eat" on our caresheet?

What size enclosure do you have this baby in? Have you ever had experience getting hatchlings started?

:welcome:

Please take a look at our care sheet for BP's, and all the sticky's, to make sure your husbandry is correct.

Ive checked the care sheet yes, everything is correct, shes in a 10g

How often are you handling her?

a few times a day:P im assuming thats to much?

Hi,

Just a little. :)

Try not handling at all until she eats. Still do the usual tank maintenance etc though - just no unecessary handling.


dr del

I don't handle hatchlings at all until after their first meal. I would suggest that you move her into a six quart tub, on paper towel with a hide on the warm end, and a water dish on the cool end. I'd use a small plastic flower pot saucer with an entrance soldered out like in the photos.

That's a 15 quart tub for a ball python that's a hatchling. All my hatchlings now are kept in six quart tubs.

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

There's a baby under there:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...b/BabyTub2.jpg

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

i think that you should not touch her for two weeks and put her in a quiet place so that she gets used to her new home....holding them alot when you first get them makes them stressed. also wait a few days before you try feeding her again...maybe that will work.. also what size tank is she in? sometimes if the tank is to big they get stressed...good luck

10 g tank

Try throwing a bunch of crumpled up newspaper in there. Just fill the tank up. Then in a week, try feeding her in her home enclosure. Pre-scent for 30 minutes (let the mouse thaw in the room or leave the live feeder in the room). Turn off the lights and place the prey item in the tank. If it is live, keep an eye on it but be very quiet. If it is frozen thawed, leave the room all together and come back in an hour and see if she has eaten. If not you can either heat it up a little bit with a hair dryer or just toss it. I sometimes leave F/T food in overnight if my girls are being picky.

I would just give her time to chill and adjust to the new home.

Did you get any information from the breeder about her feeding schedule and have you contacted them for any advice? I would let them know just in case things don't get better soon.

Are you trying to feed frozen? If so, do you have access to live? Sometimes live gets them more excited and can entice them to eat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Try throwing a bunch of crumpled up newspaper in there. Just fill the tank up. Then in a week, try feeding her in her home enclosure. Pre-scent for 30 minutes (let the mouse thaw in the room or leave the live feeder in the room). Turn off the lights and place the prey item in the tank. If it is live, keep an eye on it but be very quiet. If it is frozen thawed, leave the room all together and come back in an hour and see if she has eaten. If not you can either heat it up a little bit with a hair dryer or just toss it. I sometimes leave F/T food in overnight if my girls are being picky.

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This isn't my thread however I had a problem feeding my new baby ball a black f/t hopper that was rejected a few days ago. Just tried offering it again but she rejected it. Turned off the lights as you suggested, placed the hopper infront of her hide on the warm side and left the room for ~10 mins. Came back in, turned on my lamp and she was just smelling it. Turned off the lights again for another ~10 mins, came back in and noticed she was just finishing it up and swallowing the last bit of it. I was so happy. Thank you very much for the tip! She didn't strike it like the first white hopper given to her the day after she was purchased. Guess the pet store didn't feed her much or she just doesn't like black ones.

Good luck with yours DominoHarder. It's very stressful when they don't eat! :(

Okay so last night i put a blanket over the tank threw in a hopper in the the cave on the warm side, woke up this morning and it was gone! soooo happy it worked out:) YAY