Feeding Problems Part 2

[Spike4179]

So last week I tried feeding my ball python for the first time but she refused to take it. This week I'm having the same problems. She just defensive strikes at it but doesnt latch. She will strike at it while in her hide but since not latch but since it's a plastic hide it flys off of her and she is out in the open. This is the 2nd week I've had her and it's been 3 weeks since she last ate. Should I see if she'll take live or just keep trying f/t.

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[303_enfield]

How old is the snake an what's its weight?

[Spike4179]

How old is the snake an what's its weight?

She is around 9 months old and 140g. She is not at all skinny she still has some width to her.

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[bhsurf4]

She is around 9 months old and 140g. She is not at all skinny she still has some width to her.

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Im not an expert, but 9 months old and 140 grams sounds small to me! Ball pythons are notorious for being picky eaters, but with juvenile ball pythons it’s usually husbandry (temps, humidity, enclosure size) related. I never had an animal go more than a week or 2 without feeding until they got to be 1000 grams plus.

[303_enfield]

If all else fails, force feed her. But I would only do that after it's been a month off feed.

Good luck!

[Zincubus]

Why are we talking about force feeding when the guys just got the snake a few weeks ago and has only tried TWO feeds ?


I’d suggest he lays out his set up details ...

Should have two identical hides ( not light plastic that just fall off ) for starters - to give the snake a sense of security.

Feed evenings , low lighting and try the hairdryer trick !!


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[Zincubus]

So last week I tried feeding my ball python for the first time but she refused to take it. This week I'm having the same problems. She just defensive strikes at it but doesnt latch. She will strike at it while in her hide but since not latch but since it's a plastic hide it flys off of her and she is out in the open. This is the 2nd week I've had her and it's been 3 weeks since she last ate. Should I see if she'll take live or just keep trying f/t.

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Why have you started another feeding thread ... you’re basically discarding all the help and advice we gave you in the first thread by starting from scratch in a second thread


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[CALM Pythons]

If all else fails, force feed her. But I would only do that after it's been a month off feed.

Good luck!

Whatever you do ignore/avoid this Suggestion like the Plague.
This person doesn’t have a Clue what they’re talking about. Balls go 10 months without feeding as adults. Now yours is very small if its infact 9 months, but you said its in proportion. Force feeding is a last and final attempt when a snake wont feed and is starving itself. “Emaciated”.
Do not try to feed a snake that wont eat every week. Wait a min of 2-3 weeks in between. Refusing is habit forming. Also when you attempt, do it after 8pm, keep it darker in the room.
Check your temps of course.
78 cool side- 91 hot spot.
Hide on each side. Humidity 50% to 60%.
Keep the enclosure in a low traffic area. I had a young male that would not eat and stuck out into the air or at prey. Tried everything for a couple months. Gave him to my friend who has several constrictors also and he put him on his 2nd floor that is only used for his collection. Snake now eats every 3 weeks, and is handled every 2 weeks, he turned into a calm, well rounded snake over the last 2 years. You need to find out what your snake is comfortable with. I have 2 Teenagers that wear a hole in the rug walking to each-others rooms all summer and pass by the Reptile room constantly, that Boy didt like that and it totally changed him for the worse within the first 3 weeks i had him.
I have 3 others that come to the Glass when you are walking around and want to come up... its all in their makeup and who they are. You need to find this out. Building trust and making them comfortable is built around whats best for them. I have a Burm thats a sweet heart on his terms, go over the top of him or head on and you’ll have 5 rows of teeth hanging off of you....
Relax, your snake isnt going to starve if your not seeing skin and bones...


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