Ball python wont eat F/t Mice!

[bdevo]

Ive had my ballpython for two weeks now, he is 267 grams. His Tank is a 20L with 2 hides a water bowl in the middle, and aspen. He just shed perfectly 2days ago so I thought now is a good time to try and feed him. I left two mice on top of tank screen while I napped let them thaw out. When i woke up, I blasted them with a hair dryer. I then took his hides out, and try to feed him one of the mice. He came close smelled it, then turned away and just ignored it. The guy I got him from is a local breeder and he was feeding him freshly killed, but thought he would take the FT no problem. Should I get live mouse and try that or give him some time and try again?

Thanks in advance I love this forum I read all day from my iPhone

Brandon!

[5GsReptiles]

Sounds like maybe rushing him... How old is he? If you want him on F/T I would wait a another feeding try the F/T if that doesnt work get him live but I would try to get him over to rats... Rats are far more nutritious for your snake

[bdevo]

hes ab 267 grams, honestly idk the age forgot to really ask... The mice i have are kinda small, hoppers, but i was gonna try and feed two. Should i just go out and get rats? idk what size is good... ehhh

[5GsReptiles]

Hmmm 267grams I would go with a rat crawler or rat pup deffinatley with hair eyes just opening wobbly walking around to start with... I wouldnt worry about missing a meal or 2.... But yes best to be on a rat much better for him.... Get him used to live or fresh killed rats before you try to move him over to F/T rats.

[5GsReptiles]

Is he a pet or are you intending on breeding him?

[Stubean15]

i had this problem once and i realized it was taking the hide off.. if i take my snakes hide off then zombie dance it up he just leaves me hangin.. now i just dangle it off the tongs outside his hide he will come out and get it.. its a security thing.. as long as i leave him in the hide he comes out strangles it and takes it back in to swallow.. then like clock work after its down he goes and lays in the other side (above the uth) for at least a day..

2 weeks isn't that bad just wait a week and try again but don't take his hide off him, cus once he gets it he doesn't think he will have anywhere to go.. he doesn't know you are gonna put it back on lol when they have a mouse half way down their throat or are concentrated on strangling a dead mouse they feel vulnerable so they like to be hidden for the rest of it..

and i know ive seen videos were people remove them the snake strikes and they put the hide back down but these arent snakes that are being switched from pre killed to f/t.. and they have been in their environment for more than 2 weeks

idk it worked for me.. good luck!

[JLC]

Rats or mice...makes no difference. There have been no studies done (that I've ever heard of) that say what a ball pythons exact nutritional needs are...so how can anyone say one prey item is better than another? Whatever the snake will eat is what's best for it.

You've only had him for two weeks. It can sometimes take longer than that for them to get over the stress of moving to a new home. And the new home itself might be causing stress as well. If it was born at a breeder's and kept in a small hatching tub/juvie tub and then sent to you...and got plunked down in a big glass aquarium, for instance....it might be feeling very insecure and unwilling to put itself in the vulnerable position of eating.

My suggestion is to re-examine it's entire enclosure to make sure he has as much security as possible...and that temps are in the proper range AND consistently held there. (Wrong temps or fluctuating temps can also put them off food) Then wait another week and try again.

Also, be sure to heat the prey all the way through. If you let them thaw at room temp for just an hour or two and then "blast them with a blow dryer" then they may still be pretty cold in the guts, even if the fur/skin feels warm.

Hopper mice may also be way too small for a bp that size. He can VERY easily take full grown mice. The tiny prey might have seemed not worth the energy it would take to eat.

[5GsReptiles]

Sorry then disregard my opinion... I will no longer comment on feeding

[Rorschach]

Someones a bit bent out of shape ^^

Anywho it takes patience to switch to f/t as it will not always work out first try. I fed f/t at first, switched to live and had a terrible time trying to go back to f/t.

In some cases it's like trying to force me to eat tofu, just not happenin'! Nothing wrong with live though if it's what you gotta do.

Take care

[Rorschach]

Also would like to add, two weeks is around the recommended time you give your snake space when you first get them to help him/her get used to their new place and get rid of the stress from the move. So it doesn't surprise me at all that your snake won't eat frozen thawed yet. In time friend