BP hasn’t eaten since I got her!!!

[cailinek]

Hi everyone,

Im a new snake owner and I got my female BP on July 18th. I know from research that the first week or so my BP will roam and I shouldn’t handle her while she gets settled in her new environment. But it’s been a wwhile and I’ve tried feeding her 3 rats and she won’t eat them.
First I thought it may be too soon for her to eat...
Then I thought she just wasn’t hungry...
At the moment she is sleeping in the daytime regularly BUT today she was roaming during the day so I tried feeding her again...she didn’t even react.

I dont know what to do now and I’m worried she’s going to die if she doesn’t eat soon!!

she hasn’t lost any weight and she’s sleeping and roaming at night and like being handled(I think).

I need some answers or just reassurance!!!!

[BPGator]

How old is she and how much does she weigh? Also describe your enclosure for her: hides, temps, humidity, etc.


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[cailinek]

She’s two years old. About 3ft but I’m not sure about her weight. Her enclosure has a hide on the warmer side and a water dish on the cooler side. I don’t have a hide for her on the cooler side b/c in her previous enclosure there was only one as well. But I crumbled a bunch of newspaper around to make her feel more hidden and she seems to like going under them and stuff.
Theres also some branches and rocks for her to climb on.

[redshepherd]

She’s two years old. About 3ft but I’m not sure about her weight. Her enclosure has a hide on the warmer side and a water dish on the cooler side. I don’t have a hide for her on the cooler side b/c in her previous enclosure there was only one as well. But I crumbled a bunch of newspaper around to make her feel more hidden and she seems to like going under them and stuff.
Theres also some branches and rocks for her to climb on.

Is she in a tank? If so, you'll want to cover 3 sides with black paper. You'll also want to provide another hide and some cover, like fake vines.

You can post your temps, equipment, pics, and what you use to measure the temps.

Roaming during the day usually doesn't mean hungry- in these cases, it's usually stress and looking for a more secure or comfortable spot. You'll have better chance offering at night while she is in her hide with her head poking out.

Also do not offer more than once every 5-7 days, and only after your husbandry is on point

[Bogertophis]

For best results, always feed a new snake EXACTLY what they were fed before: was she fed rats? or mice? They don't smell or taste the same. (not
that I've personally tasted them...) Was she fed live or fresh-killed or frozen-thawed? It matters... Some snakes like (need) the stimulation of moving
prey (if dead, use tongs to make it look alive) while others may feel intimidated by any motion (as they're used to only eating f/t or f/k prey) & will refuse
to eat unless you leave it in their cage overnight in complete privacy.

For best results (too late now, but FYI for future reference)- eating is "job one". Don't handle a new snake at all until after they've fed easily for you at
least 2 or preferably 3 times -without any refusals and at normal intervals. So if they eat once a week, you'd not be handling until you had them for about
a month...including no food for the first week for "settle in" time.

Offering too often, as redshepherd said, only adds to their stress & makes them more likely to refuse, so don't offer more than once a week.

We need more info about your set-up too, in order to trouble-shoot: your snake may not feel secure or have the correct temperature options. She needs a
secure hide on the cool side too.

Her cage location matters too: is it in a quiet location? or 'Grand Central Station'? What about other pets? kids? Snakes are pretty much deaf, but not
oblivious, and they feel vibrations acutely. (doors slamming or even cupboard doors slamming, music or video with a lot of bass...etc)

[dr del]

At three foot she eats without a doubt - the question is what and how.

I'd recommend asking the person you bought her from what she was on before.



dr del

[Prognathodon]

Don’t worry, unless she came to you emaciated she’s in no danger of starving to death. I know it seems just *wrong* to our mammal-brains, but 3 weeks really is not fasting to a healthy BP.

We only offer to our three big girls every 2 weeks, and refusals aren’t uncommon.


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[Craiga 01453]

At three foot she eats without a doubt - the question is what and how.

I'd recommend asking the person you bought her from what she was on before.



dr del

^^^^ exactly this ^^^^

No need to worry, 3 weeks is nothing for a healthy BP.

Make sure husbandry is on point and the snake feels safe and secure. I would add another hide as well. Just because there wasn't one before doesn't mean you can't make improvements.

[Bogertophis]

And even though you've already handled her, I'd stop...until after she eats for you, twice or more times.

Being re-homed is quite stressful to a snake...they don't understand how & why their world disappeared & got replaced with a new one. Her restlessness
is likely a desire to find her old home turf.

[Zincubus]

These guys have basically nailed it ....

We just need a real good description of your set up ..
Ideally a photo or two would be very helpful .

The crucial concern for me is ALWAYS the surface temps so I'd like to know what kind of thermometer you are using ..is it a circular stick-on one or a standing one or one with a wired probe ?

The free TapaTalk app is great for uploading photos if you're struggling.

Two identical hides is a must asap - one on warm side and the other on the cool side even a third in the middle but that's not as crucial.

Always feed in the evenings, in low /dim light ... also many Royal / Ball Pythons will ONLY strike from their hides and if you try feeding them whilst they're out and about in the viv they will most likely just move away from it nervously..

Of course I'm going to advise you to read up on and then try the hairdryer method !!


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