Squelch won't eat

[Elusive Dream]

After advice from a veteran here (Deborah) I started this thread.

I picked up Squelch 2 weeks ago yesterday. He is about 4 months old, has been eating f/t and I have his feeding charts. He has only had one occasion where he did not eat in that time.

Sundays are his feeding day. I figured he wouldn't eat the day after I brought him home but offered anyway. No dice.

Tonight was the second offering. So he hasn't eaten in 2 weeks. Again no dice. There is no pet store around here that offers live feeders and as I have 2 little kids I don't really want that to be the option.

I talked to the pet store and they said to bring him back in and they would hold him for a week and try and get him to eat.

I have had a ball python and a Burmese in the past and never ran into a problem, but that was in an area where I could anything from pinkies to piglets live.

He is in a 20 gallon tank, blacked out on three sides, hides on both cool and warm side. Warm 91-92 cool 79-80. Humidity in range for non-shed stage. Very active when being held and when in the enclosure. Shows no interest in the prey period. Even when you pester him with it he won't even strike out of irritation.

Don't want to give up on him but have no access to live prey and frankly don't want to go that direction as I have little kids now. It was cool about 17 years ago when I was younger.

Thanks in advance.
Willis

[jcoylesr76]

Relax a few missed feedings wont hurt him much, they can go months without eating, if he has been eating for your prior, then it is his stubbornness most likely. taking him back to the pet store for a week, uhm,.... i would highly advise not to that will add a lot more stress and chances his hunger strike will last even longer, then the quarantine time once he returns, if it was a few months then i would consider being worried. not after a few meals. especially since he is a new animal, i still got one snake i got back in February that still has not eaten for me, but ate consistantlly for the breeder.

[Archimedes]

Two weeks isn't anything to worry about, he'll be fine.

The only thing I'd change about his husbandry would be to give him more privacy in his enclosure. You mentioned he stays pretty active. Ball pythons like nothing more than to be curled up tight in a dark place; you may hear the phrase "a hiding ball is a happy ball". If he's cruising constantly, he may be looking for somewhere to cram himself. Two hides is often plenty sufficient, but when you have an anxious snake, it might do to ball up some newspaper and litter the floor of the enclosure with it, just to give him more places to disappear.

Since you just got him, I'd give him two or three more weeks, offering a meal each week. Keep in mind, if the prey is too big he may be intimidated. 10-15% of his body weight is ideal, but if he goes another week or two without food, size down to a fuzzy that's been warmed in chicken broth.

Hope this helps! Best of luck with him. Love his name, hehe.

[Elusive Dream]

jcoylesr 76 - Squelch has not eaten for me just at the pet store.

Archimedes - They sent me home with 6 frozen fuzzies at the time of purchase so that is the prey I have been offering him. The hides he has are pretty good size and I am in the last step of the DIY hides for him that are smaller. They will go in Wednesday (36 hours after finishing) and I am hoping they will make him feel more secure.

Thanks for the optimism.

I have never had a snake refuse to eat so this is new to me. Not to mention the last snakes I owned were in 1996 so a lot has changed since then!

Willis

[Elusive Dream]

At what point do I start to worry? Should I offer him prey midweek or just keep waiting till his feeding day (Sunday)?

Thanks
Willis

[Archimedes]

Once it gets to be more than 5 or 6 weeks, I'd worry. Until then, continue to offer weekly, he could be overwhelmed if you offer to frequently, causing a longer strike. When will his new hides be in?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I will post it again since I still stand by it

Starting a new thread with your question would be best however and allow you to be more suggestions.

Anyway DO NOT assist you NO, assisting is stressful and should only be use as a last resort.

At 4 months your BP obviously know how to eat.

2 weeks is nothing and stressing your animal by changing environment back and forth b bringing it to the store and back with do nothing then make it worse on your snake when it comes to feeding.

There are many things that can lead to refusal, such as offering and in most cases with new owner it is often husbandry related.

Make sure the enclosure is not to big, downsizing if needed (tighter cramped space offer more security), make sure the animal feels secure by providing tight hides, offer proper temps and humidity, offer the same prey type than previously offered, etc

Additionally if you could answer those questions http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Questionaire it would really help too.

[Billy305]

Usually a happy BP will be hiding all day. Not all over the place. Give him a place to hide leave him alone, male sure he has water, and offer him food once a week. He will eat when he's ready. I wouldn't consider worrying too much until maybe 8+ missed feedings.

[Luciferskeeper]

More than likely hes not eating due to stress, or husbandry issues you may not be aware of. I personally think a 20 gallon tank is too big for his age but can be made comfy for him with plenty of hides and clutter. All the constant roaming is definitely a sign that hes uncomfortable. Be sure to triple check all temps regularly, also keeping the enclosure covered will help him feel secure. 2 missed feedings is really nothing to worry about give him time and fix all enclosure issues (if any) and he will eat.

[jcoylesr76]

jcoylesr 76 - Squelch has not eaten for me just at the pet store.

Archimedes - They sent me home with 6 frozen fuzzies at the time of purchase so that is the prey I have been offering him. The hides he has are pretty good size and I am in the last step of the DIY hides for him that are smaller. They will go in Wednesday (36 hours after finishing) and I am hoping they will make him feel more secure.

Thanks for the optimism.

I have never had a snake refuse to eat so this is new to me. Not to mention the last snakes I owned were in 1996 so a lot has changed since then!

Willis

Something else i noticed, you had stated the pet store had sent you home with some fuzzies mice?, 4 months old should be at least in adult mouse or fair rat pup (or close to it if it has been feeding consistantly), the food may just be to small depending on his size. to large or to small food will sometimes cause them to not eat as well.