BP doesn't want to eat

[notwiktoria]

So my ball python doesn't want to eat. I got him about 2.5 months ago and he hasn't eaten even once. I feed him thawed mice and he doesn't seem interested at all. His temp is about 75-80 on the cool side and 90 on the warm side (with basking spot).He also has an UTH. Could I try crickets maybe? I should also mention that he had mites but I cleaned out his tank and used mites spray and he doesn't have them anymore but he is still living on paper towels until I know for sure they're not there anymore.

[bcr229]

Is your UTH regulated by a thermostat so it doesn't overheat and burn your snake?

How old is your snake, what size enclosure is it in, and what types of thermometers are you using to measure temperatures? Also what is the humidity in the enclosure?

[Bogertophis]

NO crickets! How much handling are you doing? Does he have hides? At least 2, one on cooler side & one on warmer side.

Did you briefly but adequately warm his f/t rodent right before offering it to him? BPs rely on their heat-sensing pits to recognize their prey- they're not into cold food.

And HOW you offer his food matters greatly also- BPs are shy, ambush-predators- they prefer to eat in evening hours, not under bright lights- in a quiet room, some privacy...& if you add motion to their prey, a little goes a long way, & a lot of motion is apt to turn them off.

Prey should not appear to approach the snake, okay? (they don't do that in the wild either) Some snakes will only eat motionless prey, also- what have you tried or not tried?

Offering too frequently will just stress them further into refusing. Offer once a week (& not at all if they're in shed), not more often than that. Do you have feeding tongs?

[jmcrook]

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/foru...2-BP-Husbandry