Help! One Month Old Baby Ball Python Won't Eat

[vivi]

I missed the hatchling part- thanks bcr. I'm surprised the breeder rehomed you a BP that young.

[christineho]

Tank aggression due to feeding in the home enclosure is a myth. In fact, you are more likely to get bit if you feed your snake in a separate tub because it will associate being picked up with being fed, which is the last thing you want.

Keepers with a large collection feed in the enclosure for convenience.

Keepers who have giant snakes such as reticulated pythons, burmese pythons, or anacondas, feed in the enclosure to avoid ER visits.

Keepers who have venomous snakes feed in the enclosure to avoid trips to the ER or morgue.

I have a few adult retics that are 14-16 feet long. My biggest female is 100+ pounds. Every one of them is fed in the enclosure. None are enclosure aggressive.

Now, you are more than welcome to come to my place, pull any one of them out of the enclosure to feed it, and then put it back afterward. I just get all rights to the video footage because it's going on YouTube.

This is great info. I think I'll keep my arms intact and feed in the enclosure from now on

[Bogertophis]

Tank aggression due to feeding in the home enclosure is a myth. In fact, you are more likely to get bit if you feed your snake in a separate tub because it will associate being picked up with being fed, which is the last thing you want.

Keepers with a large collection feed in the enclosure for convenience.

Keepers who have giant snakes such as reticulated pythons, burmese pythons, or anacondas, feed in the enclosure to avoid ER visits.

Keepers who have venomous snakes feed in the enclosure to avoid trips to the ER or morgue.

I have a few adult retics that are 14-16 feet long. My biggest female is 100+ pounds. Every one of them is fed in the enclosure. None are enclosure aggressive.

Now, you are more than welcome to come to my place, pull any one of them out of the enclosure to feed it, and then put it back afterward. I just get all rights to the video footage because it's going on YouTube.

I couldn't agree more. Ditch the idea of feeding in a separate tub...the handling alone, before feeding a snake, can easily put them off feeding.

Psst: our snakes are wild animals that rely on their instincts to survive, & the only thing that picks them up in the wild is a predator about to EAT them! Not very appetizing if you're a frightened little snake, is it?

I've been keeping all kinds of snakes for decades, all fed where they live, & they're quite good at being handled without biting me. To avoid bites, you only need to understand how to communicate to a snake that it's not feeding time, using their best senses (which differs some among species, not all have heat sensing pits).

[Craiga 01453]

Tank aggression due to feeding in the home enclosure is a myth. In fact, you are more likely to get bit if you feed your snake in a separate tub because it will associate being picked up with being fed, which is the last thing you want.

Keepers with a large collection feed in the enclosure for convenience.

Keepers who have giant snakes such as reticulated pythons, burmese pythons, or anacondas, feed in the enclosure to avoid ER visits.

Keepers who have venomous snakes feed in the enclosure to avoid trips to the ER or morgue.

I have a few adult retics that are 14-16 feet long. My biggest female is 100+ pounds. Every one of them is fed in the enclosure. None are enclosure aggressive.

Now, you are more than welcome to come to my place, pull any one of them out of the enclosure to feed it, and then put it back afterward. I just get all rights to the video footage because it's going on YouTube.

One of the best replies to date regarding seperate feeding tubs.

[Bogertophis]

One of the best replies to date regarding seperate feeding tubs.

Yes, I think I'll be quoting it...

Some snakes are scared & put off eating when handled...but THEN they grow UP, & there's a whole different issue, LOL>

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Let's face it that animal should have never been sold (too young, and not well established enough) but what is done is done.

DO this to a T and I mean a T no picking and choosing what you like or what is convenient.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

[christineho]

An update: bumped the warm side up a couple of degrees and fed a live fuzzy in his enclosure -- he ate within 10 minutes! Thank y'all so much!

[Bogertophis]

An update: bumped the warm side up a couple of degrees and fed a live fuzzy in his enclosure -- he ate within 10 minutes! Thank y'all so much!

Congratulations! Now take it slow...don't be in any rush to handle this snake until AFTER he's eating regularly & without refusals for "a while". We normally say at least 3 meals, but this guy is so young, I'd recommend that you double it, because the breeder should have fed him 3 times ALSO, before allowing him to go to a new home. So pretend he's in "ICU" (intensive care unit) & I think he'll be fine. Hope so...

I've both bred snakes & acquired some that others bred...some just take some extra "TLC" (ie. care) to thrive. Keep an eye on those temperatures, it matters a lot for ball pythons.

[christineho]

Congratulations! Now take it slow...don't be in any rush to handle this snake until AFTER he's eating regularly & without refusals for "a while". We normally say at least 3 meals, but this guy is so young, I'd recommend that you double it, because the breeder should have fed him 3 times ALSO, before allowing him to go to a new home. So pretend he's in "ICU" (intensive care unit) & I think he'll be fine. Hope so...

I've both bred snakes & acquired some that others bred...some just take some extra "TLC" (ie. care) to thrive. Keep an eye on those temperatures, it matters a lot for ball pythons.

Absolutely! Going to let him settle in for at least 4-5 more feedings