Feed question

[ChristinaP]

My ball won't eat.

The pet store gave us a feeding chart. It Shed Jan 31-Feb 1, offered on 2-3, fed Feb 4th. Fed again the Feb 12th, fed again Feb 17th, shed Feb 26-27. Fed March 4, and March 9. We got him the 14 which was feeding day. We offered the 14th and 17th but he didn't eat either time.

They were feeding him 2 pinkies, but she gave us fuzzies and said he was ready to move to fuzzies, so is it a change in food, he doesn't like fuzzies? Is he close to shedding time?

We bought 2 digital thermometers and his temp for the cold side stays around 87 and the warm side stays around 99, so his temps are ok, he shouldn't be cold. Should we wait a few more days and re-offer fuzzies or go back to pinkies???
Thanks

[JeffJ]

Pinky and fuzzie mice?

a hatchling Ball Python can easily take small-medium adult mice right out of the egg.

also its not a surprise it will not eat since you just brought it home. its a lil stressed. wait a week for it to get acclimated then try feeding again.

[ChristinaP]

Yes, mice.......is that the wrong food??

[JeffJ]

no mice are ok. its just they have instructed you to under feed the poor thing.

only time i feed hoppers or fuzzies is to my Baby Boa, or if my BP starts to get a little but picky and i need to get the ball rolling on feeding again.

next time you buy a food item ask for a smaller adult mouse. thats a more fitting meal.

i dont think my BP would even show intrest in something as small as a pinky now.

[dr del]

Hi,

Actually your temps might be a bit too high. Where are you measuring those?

And I think the food might be a little to small - unless of course you mean a pinky or fuzzy rat?

Have you read through the caresheet - it has a nice section on possible causes of not eating.

Have you asked the shop how they were preparing and presenting the meal for him?

Do you pre-scent before offering him the food?

How often are you offering the food and how often are you handling him?

Once we get a few of these answers we will hopefully be able to help get you off to a good start.


dr del

[dsmalex97]

is it me or do her temps seem a little high??

temps should be 82-85 ambient temp, and 89-93 on the hot side. Also what kind of set up do you have? Humidity might be bothering him. They should have 40-55% normally.

[dsmalex97]

also how do you heat the tank?

[JeffJ]

is it me or do her temps seem a little high??

temps should be 82-85 ambient temp, and 89-93 on the hot side. Also what kind of set up do you have? Humidity might be bothering him. They should have 40-55% normally.

they could be. but i know in my rack my Accu-temp reads 98*F however surface temperature read via thermal gun is is 92*f so it depends how the temps are being read.

[ChristinaP]

I have a digital that sits right above the heat pad and a digital that's on the cold side half way up the tank. That's where I was told to put the thermometers.

I heat the tank with the under the tank heater and a black light that sits on top, 60 watt, the 45 watt didn't get the temp above 75, so we went tio a higher watt.

I haven't pre-scented, would I also get that at the pet shop?

The lady at the pet shop said she warms it for 15 mins in hot water, until there's no heat difference between your hand and the mouse, she then moves him to a smaller cage and feeds him there.

Set up
1 wooden hide
1 cardboard hide I made since I couldn't find a second hide big enough
carpet (will be changing to aspen when Nick gets paid tomorrow)
small rock water bowl (again will be changing to a dog bowl tomorrow when pay day)
3 plastic and ceramic flowers
2 digital thermometers
1 hygrometer (stays around 60-75%)
10 gallon tank

oh, and handling, I have only held him 2 times, Nick's held him the other 2 times (that was moving him to a smaller feed tank, he wasn't really handled)

The temps on the care sheet said basking ~85, and warm ~95, I thought my temps fell in that range????

Thanks for the help!

[trott]

Give a few weeks to get acclimated. Make sure your husbandry(temps, tight hides,low traffic) are up to snuff. Feed in the enclosure and at night.
Pre-scent.

Live Pinkys and fuzzies you can leave in overnight(at least i do) so that helps a little.