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  1. #31
    BPnet Senior Member MR Snakes's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Quote Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl View Post
    Knife, gun and lighter..... there is always a reason to have quality tools
    Have the first two. Now need to add the third.

  2. #32
    Registered User ShawarmaPoutine's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Quote Originally Posted by Deborah View Post
    Every year especially when baby season is upon us, many people become proud new owners of their very first hatchling Ball Python, sadly more often than not the excitement often turn to frustration and worry when their new acquired pet refuse to eat for them.

    The good news is that YOU can get your animal to eat on it’s own but for that you will often have to forget everything you read, everything you were told, forget about what YOU want or like and be open to a PROVEN temporary method that has help many get their animal to feed for them.

    Ball Pythons unlike other species MUST have their needs met to a T, it is very important especially with an hatchling getting used to a new environment, among those needs SECURITY is the single most important one and should always be kept in mind.

    So how can you provide your hatchling with an optimum setup that will get you on tract rapidly, leading to a more enjoyable first time experience?

    If your hatchling is less than 200/250 grams here is what I always recommend.

    Use a 6 quart tub as enclosure; remember this is TEMPORARY, ideally until the animal reached 200/250 grams. Whether you dislike tubs or have the perfect 10 gallons setup ready to go it does not matter what matter it to provide the optimum setup which means cramped.

    Use aspen as bedding, aspen will allow your new pet to bury himself in the bedding offering added security should it be needed.

    Use 1 plastic flower pot saucer as hide (6 inches in diameter), they are very low profile with the top touching your BP’s body, which will provide an even more secure environment

    Provide a small water dish.

    Provide temperatures of 76/78 on the cool side and 86/88 on the warm side (no higher) – You will obviously need a UTH, a thermostat and a reliable digital thermometer to achieve those requirements.

    Provide a humidity level of 50%/60%

    Once you bring your BP home and place him in his new setup, LEAVE HIM alone, I know it is tempting to handle your new friend but it is best to let him acclimate to his new environment until he eats for you.

    So now your BP has been home for a week and you have not handle him so what now? Well now is feeding time. Remember getting the animal to eat for you is the priority, switching is not so even if you prefer F/T right now it is irrelevant unless you bought an animal that was eating f/t previously, same goes with rats if the animal was feeding on rats offer rats if not feeding should be as followed:

    Offer a live mouse (the ideal size will be equal the girth size of your snake) in the tub (do not feed outside the tub), close the lid and remove if un-eaten after 10/15 min. It might not work the first time around and in some extreme cased (un-started animals, picky eaters, rehab) it might take more than one try and additional little tips, but it can be done, and worry and frustration can become a thing of the past.

    This setup will also solve stress issues that can build up over time in very young animals even if they are eating.

    If you have additional question you can PM me, I will be happy to share additional tips and trick I might not have covered here.

    Finally pictures are worth a 1000 words

    Ideal setup



    Ideal hide for above setup

    What's the morph of that baby?

  3. #33
    Telling it like it is! Stewart_Reptiles's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Quote Originally Posted by ShawarmaPoutine View Post
    What's the morph of that baby?
    Just a Coral Glow
    Deborah Stewart


  4. #34
    Registered User Calla's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    I got a fussy eater and even though he is six months old, he only weighs 121 grams. When he has eaten, it has been live mice only. Due to several factors, his last meal was February 11th and even though I only have had him for five days, I noticed cruising/hunting behavior last night so I gave him a live rat fuzzy today and perfect strike and no delay in eating!! I am hoping next week to give him another live and then maybe see about f/t. Your post is extremely helpful!

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    Stewart_Reptiles (02-28-2019)

  6. #35
    Registered User malixm's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Going to try this starting tonight!

  7. #36
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    I started this on a 55g baby two nights ago and he still refuses to go into the hide! All over the tub including on top of the hide...but just won't go in. Once I set him in the hide and he hung out for about 10 seconds and then was back out again.

    Gradient is 83-->76 air temperature with a 90 degree warm spot under his hide. I'm committed to just "leaving him alone" and assuming he'll eventually figure things out and go into the hide when he needs to...but he seems far more interested in trying to escape the tub than to settle down in his hide. I'm actually a little worried he'll get too cold if he continues to refuse to go into the hide.

  8. #37
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    use this on my two snakes that have been mediocre eaters at best. within a few days both are eating at every opportunity.

    the shift in perspective is a lot. thinking that giving an animal less space is better is difficult to grasp.
    Last edited by brandonstokley; 05-25-2023 at 07:12 PM.

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    Armiyana (05-25-2023)

  10. #38
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Hi Deb!

    In such a small enclosure, how do you heat the container?

    Thank!

    Matej

  11. #39
    BPnet Royalty Zincubus's Avatar
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    If anyone has any non or poor feeding snakes please just try the hairdryer method !!


    If in doubt please PM me and I’ll send happily send you the detailed explanation


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk




  12. #40
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    Re: My ball python won t eat - My BP is stressed - hatchling 101

    Quote Originally Posted by Zincubus View Post
    If anyone has any non or poor feeding snakes please just try the hairdryer method !!


    If in doubt please PM me and I’ll send happily send you the detailed explanation


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    100% agreed. I tried this recommendation from another member, and worked like a charm!!!

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    Bogertophis (12-26-2023)

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