Ball Python Cannot hold down rodent

My ball python Allah has not eaten in about a month because of this. Whenever he strikes at the mouse he just pulls back. One time he did get his coils around him but my brother scared him and he let go. He is about 390 grams and about 2 to 2 and a half feet long. He seems hungry but he just can't hold the prey item long enough for him to start constricting it. Any positive advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

It sounds like he is defensive striking as opposed to trying to constrict. They do this when they are stressed out. What type of enclosure do you have him in? How big? Are there any hides? What are your temps and humidity like? What are you using to heat the enclosure? What size prey item are you trying to feed him?

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

It sounds like he is defensive striking as opposed to trying to constrict. They do this when they are stressed out. What type of enclosure do you have him in? How big? Are there any hides? What are your temps and humidity like? What are you using to heat the enclosure? What size prey item are you trying to feed him?

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Agreed - even the tiniest baby is pretty well equipped to kill their prey. Sounds like strikes from stress (defensive) rather than hunger. And being stressed will prevent them from eating - because if you're stressed, you aren't going to put yourself in a vulnerable position (when they are eating, they are completely defenseless - can't strike and can't flee).

This is to Whooh0069 he is in like a 20-29 gallon tank aquarium. He has two hides and ambient temps are usually 77-80 degrees all around with a hot spot of like 90-95 with a heat pad. Humidity all around is like 55-65% and I have been trying to feed him small adult mice.

Is this the same person from youtube who was poking the snake with a pool cue so it would hiss?

Yes but that was I recall 4 months ago and I have an actual snake hook if I cannot pick him up. And about the Allah thing, I am sorry for offending you but get over it, do you want me to put up an annotation saying "Disregard that last comment?". I wasn't poking it with a pool cue at all he was striking at it then he pulled back then I touched him with the pool cue again and he balled up. I am way more knowledgeable now and I don't use it anymore. But this isn't about us fighting, it is about the snakes well being. Thanks

No, im pretty sure you were poking it with a pool stick.
Its pretty amazing how small the internet is, isnt it?

Try not to hover excessively over the tank when it is eating. If your brother "scared" it when it did coil I'm pretty sure you guys were a little to close. It is fascinating watching a snake swallow its prey but be respectful and do it from a distant and give your snake the privacy it needs to feel secure enough to eat.

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

Yes but that was I recall 4 months ago and I have an actual snake hook if I cannot pick him up. And about the Allah thing, I am sorry for offending you but get over it, do you want me to put up an annotation saying "Disregard that last comment?". I wasn't poking it with a pool cue at all he was striking at it then he pulled back then I touched him with the pool cue again and he balled up. I am way more knowledgeable now and I don't use it anymore. But this isn't about us fighting, it is about the snakes well being. Thanks

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Alright well I forgive you just think before you speak next time. :) And It's good that you getting more knowledgeable about this fantastic hobby.

YouTube - Wild Ball Python Alah

So yah you say your snake wont eat. you should stress it out poke at it more with your pool cue..... i mean "snake hook"

Why were you poking the poor thing? It is no wonder it won't eat for you. You have that poor snake stressed out.

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Originally Posted by python1024

Why were you poking the poor thing? It is no wonder it won't eat for you. You have that poor snake stressed out.

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winner winner chicken dinner :banana:

One thing i wanted to point out is, when you grabbed your ball python. it was fine. it didn't strike at you. then you get the pool que and start poking it in the face.

you do realize it wasn't pissed off until you started messing with it. you should be teasing it like that. and its now your own fault its stressed right out.

if it was overly aggressive then it would have bitten you when you grabbed for it. your pretty much digging your own hole deeper the way your treating it.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

One thing i wanted to point out is, when you grabbed your ball python. it was fine. it didn't strike at you. then you get the pool que and start poking it in the face.

you do realize it wasn't pissed off until you started messing with it. you should be teasing it like that. and its now your own fault its stressed right out.

if it was overly aggressive then it would have bitten you when you grabbed for it. your pretty much digging your own hole deeper the way your treating it.

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I'll just save my future arthritis pains. "What he said" :)

Okay guys, he said that was 4 months ago. Let's just assume he has learned to do better and try to help him with his problem now. We are trying to help a snake out here...

My suggestion is to double-check husbandry settings to make sure it is spot on, then don't handle the snake at all except for changing his water bowl and general viv clean-up until he eats. Offer a fuzzy rat every 5 days. If he doesn't eat, then don't worry about it and offer again 5 days later. Do this until he feels secure enough to eat. When you offer a feed, keep everyone out of the room and try to keep the noise level down. Also offer a feed only at night.

Hope this helps.

Additional thought - it shouldn't be necessary to use a snake hook on a ball python. If you are worried about the snake biting you, you can use thick gloves or one of those leather motorcycle gloves until you gain confidence.

Alright guys....enough! He already said that was months ago and he's learned since then that that's not a good way to treat him. LET SOMEONE LEARN without condemning them repeatedly for every past wrong.

To the OP...it's entirely possible...very likely in fact, that your snake is, indeed, too stressed to eat. Your job, as its keeper, is to find out why and try to reduce all such stress as much as you can.

Try covering the sides of the glass with opaque paper to make it more dark and cave-like inside.

Except for the most necessary tasks of refreshing water and removing waste, don't even put your hands into the cage....and don't handle the snake at all....until it is eating on a regular, consistent basis.

Be sure to allow 5-7 days between feeding attempts. Constant encounters with a food source when the snake is already stressed just makes it worse.

Heh...we're on the same wavelength today, anatess! :P

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

This is to Whooh0069 he is in like a 20-29 gallon tank aquarium. He has two hides and ambient temps are usually 77-80 degrees all around with a hot spot of like 90-95 with a heat pad. Humidity all around is like 55-65% and I have been trying to feed him small adult mice.

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I suggest covering the sides and back of the aquarium with something to make him feel more secure. I also suggest feeding him after lights out. I normally just drop the live prey in their enclosures after lights out, and come back in around 30 - 45 minutes to see if it their gone. Also make sure that the enclosure is not in a room that is noisy.

Keep us updated.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Heh...we're on the same wavelength today, anatess! :P

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Great minds...

LOL!

But the truth of the matter is, I learned it all from you Judy!

I watched the video, and I will say my impression was more along the lines of a person that just didn't know better than a person that was being purposefully mean. Since the OP has stated that he is more knowledgeable now and doesn't use it anymore, maybe we all could just drop it and actually try to help this person and his snake rather than picking on something he did in the past?

The snake definitely looks stressed in the video, and that is a likely reason for refusing to eat. The first thing you should do is stop handling him except for the absolute minimum required for tank maintenance. That should help to bring his stress level down.

Your temps and humidity are pretty good, if what you are reporting is accurate. I personally wonder how the humidity could be that high in a screen top enclosure (which usually lets too much humidity escape) with a heat lamp (which usually sucks out the humidity). Are you measuring it with a digital gauge? If not, please get one and find out for sure what the humidity is, and make necessary adjustments if necessary. Also, the book you have setting on top of the enclosure will likely be ruined by being in contact with that much humidity for a long time.

To further reduce stress, you could find some hides that would be a tighter fit for the snake. They appear to really like hides that touch them on all sides. You could also just stick a wad of newspaper in the hide to take up some of the extra room.

Also, I'd highly recommend you add a lot more "clutter" to your tank. Some people (including myself with my first BP) have had great success with putting in enough crumpled newspaper to cover the bottom of the tank. This lets the snake feel hidden even when it comes out of its hide. A better looking alternative is to put in lots of fake greenery, which you can get cheaply at a dollar store or Walmart, just be sure to look it over carefully for any sharp places, protruding wires, etc.

You said in the video is it a wild caught BP. Do you know that for sure or are you just guessing? WC snakes get stressed very easily, and sometimes take a long time to adjust to life in captivity. I've heard of WCs that have taken up to a year to start eating.

After you've made the changes in his set-up, give him a week to adjust to his new surroundings and less stressful life. Then try feeding him, after dark, and make sure the room is quiet. If he doesn't eat, leave him alone for another 5-7 days and try again. Continue like that until he starts eating for you. If it goes more than a few weeks, I'd recommend weighing him once a month on a digital gram scale, so you can see if/when he starts to lose a significant amount of weight. BPs can go an amazingly long time without eating and lose very little weight, and as long as they are not losing much weight and otherwise healthy, it is not a big concern.

The stress level your snake was displaying in the video is a concern, so please address that immediately.

i just wanna say, in that video when it first tried to bite, i highly doubt its because of the camera. it was because you stood up too quickly and shocked him.
remember they cant see well, so moving around at that kind of range is gonna worry him, as he can tell that theres something big and warm infront of him, but cant see in detail where your going or what your doing. for all it knows, any sudden movement like that by you could be an attack lunge by a big cat or something lol, and ofcourse itll hiss out.

To kc261, I use a heat mat with two books on both sides of the screen top with tape on half of the screen(sticky side pointing out of the cage, not in). I am using a flukers hydrometer and thermometer combo and it usually says 77.6 degrees and 60% humidity. The hot spot measured was like 95 degrees with like 45% humidity. I will try the crumpled newspaper but when he starts eating, do I have to leave it there? Maybe some greenery will help because I can leave it once he eats again.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

YouTube - Wild Ball Python Alah

So yah you say your snake wont eat. you should stress it out poke at it more with your pool cue..... i mean "snake hook"

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Makes perfect sense to me really, snakes don't feed if they feel threatened or stressed so give em' a couple nice jabs with a snake hook *cough* pool cue and they'll calm right down.

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Originally Posted by thefifthdentist

Makes perfect sense to me really, snakes don't feed if they feel threatened or stressed so give em' a couple nice jabs with a snake hook *cough* pool cue and they'll calm right down.

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There's already been one warning handed out. Consider this a generous second warning.

These comments are not helping out anyone at all.

After following all the advice given (add hides, cover back and sides, leave him alone for at least a week or two, double check temps/humidity) I might suggest a live asf. Every ball python I've had that has gone off feed for one reason or another always goes for the live asf. Not sure if you have a store near you that sells them.

I know you said you didn't want to start feeding him asf's, but it's probably what he's most used to eating in the wild. Once he eats that, try the following week with an f/t small rat. If he goes for that, you're back on schedule.

He was stressed out for sure. Just be patient and give him some time and he'll come around. Remember also that they feed off your energy, so if you're nervous handling him, he'll sense it and be more stressed and likely to strike. Also once he's settled and you do start handling him, I would do just that - handle him with both hands gently and let him get to know you. Don't just set him down right away on an unfamiliar surface as he'll be stressed out right away. Let him crawl through your hands and give him good support. Limit it to a couple minutes and let him go back in his cage. Wait a few days and handle him again gently. Increase it my a minute or so each time and you'll find he's probably a pretty sweet guy. Just be patient and hang in there.

Thanks for seeking advice and good luck!

Try leave a frozen rat/mouse in the enclosure overnight.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

YouTube - Wild Ball Python Alah

So yah you say your snake wont eat. you should stress it out poke at it more with your pool cue..... i mean "snake hook"

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OMG dude your a moron why would you even think about doing that to him ! i have never had any of my balls even strike at me - NOT ONE TIME. You should not own a snake. You should give it to somebody that would love and take care of him !

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Originally Posted by Nate

There's already been one warning handed out. Consider this a generous second warning.

These comments are not helping out anyone at all.

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Sorry nate i didnt see your post on the last warning :) just makes me upset to see any animal be treated like that :(

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Originally Posted by _Venom_

Try leave a frozen rat/mouse in the enclosure overnight.

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i'm sure you meant a thawed/warmed rodent ,correct?

once in a thread PAM (provent-a-mite) was being discussed and a reader thought it meant cooking oil.better safe than sorry.have fun!

One more time for everyone..... 4 months ago, first ball python, was scared.....you know the rest of it.....everyone is a peta member aren't they.

Do you want me to take a picture of the snake hook?How about I post a link on how it looks like:

http://www.livefoods.co.uk/images/deluxe_snake_hook.jpg

There is the link, it looks EXACTLY like that.

I am not going to here the end of this so report me or whatever to get me in trouble, you are all wasting my time getting mad at ME when I am asking for help from YOU GUYS. Obviously something done 4 months ago still affects me now. So guys the statute of limitations for being scared your snake is going to bite you and holding a pool cue to its face is forever? I will just figure what is wrong with him myself and if it dies and when I post it, you will get mad at ME for not listening to your advice, oh wait you had no advice you were too busy getting mad at ME for something that happened when I first got him, which was 4 months ago. My video has been posted on this thread hundreds of times reminding me of something I try not to remember. God, I hope you guys find some compassion for what I did, I bet when you first had an aggressive snake you might have done something similar to what I did. If I did not care for my snake, first of all I would have never got one, secondly I would not have come to this website for help, and lastly I would have tried to give him to someone else, but no I care so much for this snake because he is my first snake and I care so much for him I come here practically BEGGING for help because he won't eat and all I get is a bunch of BS. This just shows all the people who would rather get mad at the owner and condemn them to shame instead of helping the owner, telling him what to do, and hoping for the best. Everyone is the same.

You can choose to focus on all the negatives you got but for each negative post you have one from a moderator or member defending you and/or giving you advice. I suggest you follow that advice and move forward with the care and enjoyment of your ball python.

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

I am not going to here the end of this so report me or whatever to get me in trouble, you are all wasting my time getting mad at ME when I am asking for help from YOU GUYS. Obviously something done 4 months ago still affects me now. So guys the statute of limitations for being scared your snake is going to bite you and holding a pool cue to its face is forever? I will just figure what is wrong with him myself and if it dies and when I post it, you will get mad at ME for not listening to your advice, oh wait you had no advice you were too busy getting mad at ME for something that happened when I first got him, which was 4 months ago. My video has been posted on this thread hundreds of times reminding me of something I try not to remember. God, I hope you guys find some compassion for what I did, I bet when you first had an aggressive snake you might have done something similar to what I did. If I did not care for my snake, first of all I would have never got one, secondly I would not have come to this website for help, and lastly I would have tried to give him to someone else, but no I care so much for this snake because he is my first snake and I care so much for him I come here practically BEGGING for help because he won't eat and all I get is a bunch of BS. This just shows all the people who would rather get mad at the owner and condemn them to shame instead of helping the owner, telling him what to do, and hoping for the best. Everyone is the same.

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I think you need to take a step back and cool down a little. I agree it is upsetting to come looking for help and have people do nothing but rag on you for a small thing. I watched the video and i don't think you were trying to hurt your snake, in fact i would not even say you were poking it. It looked more like you were afraid of getting bit. Which is not a crime.

All that being said if you read past all the people that have nothing better to do then come on here and attack others. There was a lot of good advise given to you. So try to apply that and Good Luck. :gj:

I concur. The video shows an inexperienced snake keeper afraid of getting bit, and making the best out of what he had available to use as a "snake hook." The past is past, now is what counts. Dude, there's lots of posts in response to your question with very good advice. Take it, and let us know how it goes. And welcome to the community all the same.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

i concur. The video shows an inexperienced snake keeper afraid of getting bit, and making the best out of what he had available to use as a "snake hook." the past is past, now is what counts. Dude, there's lots of posts in response to your question with very good advice. Take it, and let us know how it goes. And welcome to the community all the same.

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+1!

Try frozen thawed, and leave it alone in a dark container with the thawed mouse for a while, so it's not disturbed?

also dont forget BP are very protective of their face...when the time comes to handling them, approach from behind...if you have a fear of getting tagged, I personally recommend, to just get tagged...You'll see its not that bad...

I am a strong believer of animals sensing our energy, your snake is definitely sensing your fear...hence it reacting the way it does...give him the respect he wants (e.g. eating in privacy) and you'll have a happy snake...

And bro BP Net is kinda family orientated to me :community...You're gonna have people picking on you, and teasing, its part of the package...:irkd: A good thing is you also have people taking care of you making sure you get the respect you deserve :petting:...You know in every family you have the :cens0r: holes, but you know as well you have others that take care of you...:grandma:I'm pretty sure, all your questions were answered...Lets be happy for that!

and BTW

:welcome:

Not to get off topic or anything but id relook at your beardie setup as well. Sand is a big no no imho and A 40 gallon is small for a beardie that size.

Pretty snake though, he looks axanthicy on my screan.

You have been given a lot of good advice. I don't think anyone really enjoys getting tagged, but it is not nearly as bad as being bitten by a rat or mouse (those things HURT!). What I do when having to handle a snake that likes to tag me (my roommates taiwan's) I make a fist and have the back of my hand going to the snake first. Now I have big hands and when I do get tagged there is nothing much for them to hang on to. I find most of my snakes settle down once you have them out of the cage. For now though just leave your little one alone. I would throw a cover over it and/or do like the others have said and put something around the tank so he doesn't feel so stressed. Good luck and keep us posted on how it is going.

I covered the sides of his cage with wood and cut brown paper bags taped to the side of the aquarium. It is very dark in there and whenever I go to check up on him he is out of his hide most of the time. I think this might work.

I checked your youtube channel and saw the update on Allah, Good chart but there is a program out there that might help you with all that. I've been using it a tiny bit and I like it better than spreadsheeting everything. It's called Degei and I found a link to it here on the forums, go here.

Dont be scared of your new friend c: your Beardie can leave a worse bite than Allah can. There is a lot of useful information on this forum, take some time when you can and read as much as possible. IMO Snake hooks are unnecissary for BP's, their strike is fairly painless (some might say painless completely) and if you learn to read their body language you'll know when to back off or go for not the head.

http://www.eyehit.com/degei/

On Friday June 12 he ate!!
Thanks everyone for advice and I will be definitely looking out for you guys too!!
See ya

Chris

Glad to hear that!