Some hatchling ball pythons won't eat?

[gulfexports159]

I hatched out four clutches this year and have had a problem with two snakes out of all 4 clutches. One albino female and one normal just will not eat on their own. The normal I had to force feed but it got to the point where she passed away and kept regurging. The albino is being force fed currently because I can't loose her. Any input as to why this seems to happen with some babies or is it just my babies. The albino will not eat period, assist feeding doesnt work because it just regurges. Is it a genetic disorder or like it doesnt know how to eat or something? any input would be great and if anyone else has had this happen I'd love to hear.

[Mike41793]

Maybe its like natural selection or something lol. Im sure not every baby in the wild survives. Tbh they really arent all meant to survive.

I have no experience with assist feeding though, sorry i cant be of more help!

[gulfexports159]

That's ok but yeah, maybe some just aren't meant to live, and like you said none of them really are lol. It is just frustrating to see such a beautiful animal not eat and then die of starvation. how can something not eat? I don't understand it.

[WingedWolfPsion]

If they're regurgitating, then it's likely they have internal defects...so it's not just that they refuse to eat.
Not all deformities are visible on the outside.

(Unless you meant that the snake is just spitting it out--if that's the case, just keep putting it back in her mouth. You have more stamina than she does. When she's all worn out, she will give up and swallow it, I've only ever had one that didn't give up eventually, lol).

[jjmitchell]

I dont force feed babies, but I do encourage assist feeding babies that are hard to start....that being said not all of them make it.... I know I lost a pair of smokin black pastels my first season. It hurts, but believe me the good outweighs the bad....

[.G&S Royal pythons.]

Try yogurt, take a syringe and inject some yogurt into there stomach, the bacteria in the yogurt like jump starts there feeding cycle/response and makes them hungry, give them roughly 12 hours after injection and offer food, i know it sounds crazy but it works.

[RobNJ]

Some animals just don't thrive...

What have you been offering as food items? I have had babies go weeks without feeding when offered rat fuzzies, but snatch up a hopper mouse or ASF the second I offered it to them.

Also, how often have you been force feeding? Doing it too often will only complicate matters, IMO.

[PweEzy]

I would put a hide in the tub. I had a het girl out of my pied clutch that didn't eat for 4 weeks. I put a hide in the tub and she hasn't missed a meal since!! Give it a try if you haven't already!

[TheSnakeEye]

I would put a hide in the tub. I had a het girl out of my pied clutch that didn't eat for 4 weeks. I put a hide in the tub and she hasn't missed a meal since!! Give it a try if you haven't already!

I second giving this a shot as well. My Champ male was eating, then stopped eating and wouldn't eat again until I put a hide. Now I'm not taking out the hide until he starts breeding.

[BP Newbie]

Try yogurt, take a syringe and inject some yogurt into there stomach, the bacteria in the yogurt like jump starts there feeding cycle/response and makes them hungry, give them roughly 12 hours after injection and offer food, i know it sounds crazy but it works.

What an interesting concept.

In any case gl with the survivor and sorry for your loss.

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