Question regarding teeny ball we rescued

[MinLynn]

Many of you have already seen the thread regarding the tiny 55g ball we rescued from a group of very cruel kids. So,anyway, since I've never dealt with balls as new hatchlings I do have some questions.

First,I plan on trying to offer a f/t fuzzy to start off with. If he won't take f/t I have a breeder friend who has offered to provide me with live. Anyway,this little guy desperately needs some food in him. He's emaciated. We just got him set up last night. How long should I go before I offer food? He isn't lethargic at all and has been out and about.I know he hadn't had access to water because as soon as he got in the viv he headed for the water bowl and drank for a very long time. Would it be okay to offer him a meal tonight or should I hold off like you normally would when buying a new snake? The only difference here is I have no clue when/IF this little guy has been fed. Help??? I really want him to make it if it's possible so I can show him not all people are mean and cruel!

[piper]

Many of you have already seen the thread regarding the tiny 55g ball we rescued from a group of very cruel kids. So,anyway, since I've never dealt with balls as new hatchlings I do have some questions.

First,I plan on trying to offer a f/t fuzzy to start off with. If he won't take f/t I have a breeder friend who has offered to provide me with live. Anyway,this little guy desperately needs some food in him. He's emaciated. We just got him set up last night. How long should I go before I offer food? He isn't lethargic at all and has been out and about.I know he hadn't had access to water because as soon as he got in the viv he headed for the water bowl and drank for a very long time. Would it be okay to offer him a meal tonight or should I hold off like you normally would when buying a new snake? The only difference here is I have no clue when/IF this little guy has been fed. Help??? I really want him to make it if it's possible so I can show him not all people are mean and cruel!

I, personally, have left my snakes alone for 3 days and offered food. All the snakes I have received except for my first one hadn't been food for about a week prior to picking them up. It's all up to you, all you are going to do is worry whether he will eat or he won't. He's probably tremendously stressed out from the other thread and that's horrible. Use your best judgement, can you see his head peaking out of his/her hide when inside it? What time of day is the little one active the most? If it's night time, that's good, means he/she is starting to get used to the surroundings. I would prescent for about an hour as well.. make sure it's nice and warm and offer.. For me, what I have noticed, is some won't even look at it if it isn't warm enough, what I have done, is take it back, warm it up and offer again. The only refusal I have had is from my female and that was in the winter.

Ball pythons can be a pain but are awesome pets! Hope the little one does good for you!

Cheers

[MinLynn]

Thank you! I do own 2 other Balls so I know what a pain in the rear they can be with feeding.

This little guy was pretty active for the majority of the evening last night, meaning he was out of his hide,climbing on vines and up and down the glass. He did poke his head out of his little hide when I came by his tank this morning,but has been in there the rest of the day. My baby Colombian Rainbow Boa is due to eat tonight so maybe I'll go ahead and thaw out an extra and see if he'll take it. If not,I'm sure one of my big guys won't mind a snack and I'll hold off for a few more days and try again.

[Kaorte]

It couldn't hurt to offer, but usually you give them a week to settle in and then offer food. Because he is so small, you could try waiting 3-5 days.

Usually it is pretty easy to tell what "hungry" cruising looks like and what "stressed and I want to get out" cruising looks like. From the sounds of it, he wants out.

Sounds like you are on the right track, and I know you won't be disappointed if he doesn't eat on the first go.

[MinLynn]

Well good news! Surry ate a f/t fuzzy this evening! We ended up putting him in a tupperware container like we do any of our other hatclings and within a half hour he had ended up eating it! YAY!