Baby ball won't eat! What am I doing wrong?

[seeya205]

Feed him a hopper that I prekilled last night because I was afraid of him getting bite. He was very interested and went back into a "s" shape a couple of times but did not strike. I left it in the tank all night! That is more interest than he has shown before. Any other time he completely ignored it. It was a grey hopper so maybe I will try a white one next time. Maybe he is still settling in!

[trott]

Sometimes they can be put off by you standing there.
Nice tight hides.(Half logs, no good). No traffic area. Pre-scent for at least half hr.Feed in the enclosure. Try at night(real dark) with live rat fuzzy or pinky . You can leave it in overnite. 20 gal is big. Use cardboard or something to divide the tank off so the prey item doesnt hide on the other side and leave the the fuzzy in overnite.
When pre-scenting, put the prey in a small tupperware with holes and place it right on top of the tank.

[Elise.m]

When I had to try frozen, Snickets wasn't interested at all. I think at one point she went into as s shape. Ever since I started doing live she comes out instantly (I dangle the mouse over her hide where she can see it so she knows it's coming) this last time I wasn't even able to get the lid back on and she was already coming out. I think she likes being able to stalk the mouse a little bit. Try live next time, and see what his stalking response is.

[redstormlax12]

I just got my first BP about a month ago. And im new to the forums but still just want to put my 2 cents in.

When i got my BP from the breeder he said he should switch over to F/T easy since he was such an aggressive feeder with the live. I got mine and about a week or two later i offered him a F/T weanling mouse. This one was white. He wasnt interested at all. Was doing the same thing as yours, just trying to get out of the tub. I was a little worried that he wasnt feeding ( i know their fincky, but i just worry a little more than normal with my animals ) So i covered the sides of his tub, turned up his heatpad and left him alone for about five days. Then. 5 days later, I grabbed a black mouse, Thawed if for a few hours adn then i put it on his heat pad for about 20-30 minutes to get it to body temperature. Then i put him in his feeding tub with paper towels for a subtrate. I grabbed the mouse between its shoulder blades and started to parade it around. In about 3 seconds he struck, but didnt bite and grab it. Then i paraded it for about 5 more seconds and he eagerly grabbed it.

My BP tends to take the black mice a little more readily than the white. Granted ive only fed him four times, its just what ive noticed. The last time i fed him i uncovered just the front of his living tub. Hes doing great now and i get to feed him again this weekend. The last time i put him in his tub, he knew it was feeding time right away. Started to get in the feeding postion and i didnt even have to parade the mouse. He just grabbed it.

Oh and i covered the sides of his feeding tub with paper towels and put his heating pad underneath half of his feeding tub. Once hes eaten i give him a hide in the feeding tub and leave him for about an hour to make sure hes got it down nice and good. I know im no expert and by no means do i claim to be. More of an loudmouth, as you can see. But i hope he eats soon.

Connor

[seeya205]

Thanks Redstorm for the advice! You can relate because of being in the same boat as me! I had covered a the sides 2 weeks ago! Also thanks Elise for all your help and time! I will try leaving it in there but I just don't want it to hide on him because I crowded up the tank! I also bought 2 new Exo-Terra reptile caves for hides(medium size). I will try again monday night and let you know how it went! Thanks again guys!

[seeya205]

Well tonight I threw a white hopper in his tank. He curled up in the corner like he was afraid of it. About every 15 minutes I checked on him because I am a little nervous with live prey but after about an hour, I went in there to see a tail hanging from his mouth! I am so relieved! As a first time snake owner, he made me nervous! I am one happy snake owner! Thanks guys for all your help!

[Elise.m]

Glad he ate for you!

[redstormlax12]

Congrats. Hopefully you wont have any more trouble.

[Bitis_Gabonica]

Sometimes it isn't easy to get a Ball to eat that first time. It just takes some patience. Glad to hear that you got yours feeding.

[trott]

Awesome. Try to figure what works for your guy and take notes if you have too. Ate at night, real dark, type of prey , prescenting etc. Because a week later you don't want to have to figure it out all over again.Once you get his routine down you could tweak from there.