What is going on??

[Vader6]

Ok first off here is my other thread about my pastel not going into his hides and some other stuff.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...d.php?t=107920
NOW he goes in his hides and w/e and seems to be a happy BP an all. HE STILL WON"T EAT!!! Feeding night was tonight. I have been told feed live feed live. So I bought the smallest mouse that they had at the store. Let the mouse sit on top of the enclosure for the scent to kick in and 30 min later here comes Naga see what's up tongue flicking and all. So I give it 15 more min to entice him. So I then open the top and grab the mouse by the tail and put it in front of him. He is scared silly! As soon as it got near him he coiled back and moved in the opposite direction. So I was like ok let try it again, gave the mouse a little flick on the head to claim it down so it dangled there and no dice. So I'm like alright I'll kill it and leave it in the enclosure for a while (10 min) and see what he does. He took ONE strike at it and missed and then after that no dice. Licked it, nosed it, ever thing. Nothing happened. So I'm annoyed cuz this is the SECOND refusal so I take him out and see if I put only him and the mouse in a tub will it work. NOPE! He CUDDLED with the damn thing. So now he is back in the enclosure with no food just chillin.
PS I did have the lights on when I was feeding but didn't know if that would make a difference.

NEED HELP!!!!
Just as some background the same was started on Frozen mice fuzzies. But A dead mouse should be the same thing. Help me with anything. Tried the methods just don't get what is his deal. He comes out but doesn't eat. Help is needed and I thank you all in advance for it.

Here are some pics of comparison, maybe the mouse was to big but I thought he would have given it a try or something......


I know this will come up so here are the temps:
Ambient all around is about 81-83
Cool hide is 74-77
Hot hide is 90-94
Humidity is 50% (It is low I know)

[broadude]

Ok first off here is my other thread about my pastel not going into his hides and some other stuff.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...d.php?t=107920
NOW he goes in his hides and w/e and seems to be a happy BP an all. HE STILL WON"T EAT!!! Feeding night was tonight. I have been told feed live feed live. So I bought the smallest mouse that they had at the store. Let the mouse sit on top of the enclosure for the scent to kick in and 30 min later here comes Naga see what's up tongue flicking and all. So I give it 15 more min to entice him. So I then open the top and grab the mouse by the tail and put it in front of him. He is scared silly! As soon as it got near him he coiled back and moved in the opposite direction. So I was like ok let try it again, gave the mouse a little flick on the head to claim it down so it dangled there and no dice. So I'm like alright I'll kill it and leave it in the enclosure for a while (10 min) and see what he does. He took ONE strike at it and missed and then after that no dice. Licked it, nosed it, ever thing. Nothing happened. So I'm annoyed cuz this is the SECOND refusal so I take him out and see if I put only him and the mouse in a tub will it work. NOPE! He CUDDLED with the damn thing. So now he is back in the enclosure with no food just chillin.
PS I did have the lights on when I was feeding but didn't know if that would make a difference.

NEED HELP!!!!

Here are some pics of comparison, maybe the mouse was to big but I thought he would have given it a try or something......


I know this will come up so here are the temps:
Ambient all around is about 81-83
Cool hide is 74-77
Hot hide is 90-94
Humidity is 50% (It is low I know)

Basically, most hatchlings will not eat unless they feel secure added: he was coming out to investigate and then you interrupted and killed the mouse?

I would start feeding him in his enclosure until he became more confident (if you aren't doing this). I would also give him an upside down clay flowerpot with the hole punched out of the top to give him greater security and an advantage over the prey as they will have a more difficult time jumping on him and scaring him. I wouldn't dangle anything in front of his face as he has shown he's not confident yet.

Some bps take all our bumbling with aplomb..and some are so timid..it's a good thing they are CB because they would probably never survive in the wild!

[Crawdad]

Do I understand it right that you have had this snake for about 2 weeks? It's probably just stressed out, you've only had him for 2 weeks, and have been handling him quite a bit during that time. I would try putting him in his tub and leaving him alone for a week (no or very little handling), then offer again. There's a good reason people say to not mess with them for a full week .

[Boanerges]

Did you put him in a smaller tub? A 20 gallon for a 76g ball python could be stressing him out. What substrate are you using? Are you messing with him much through out the week?

[Kaorte]

Just leave the feeder in the enclosure for an hour or so and turn off the lights and leave the room.

If it doesn't get eaten in a couple hours try zapping it with a hair dryer and putting it back in for another hour or so.

if he doesn't eat then try again next week. He will eat when he is ready.

I don't know if you mentioned it but what kind of hides does he have?

[Vader6]

^I do feed in the enclosure. I left it in there for about 10-15 min and he just danced around it flicking his tongue away. Ill take a pic of his whole set up as is. I mean it should feel secure, idk y he wouldn't. Haven't handled min in the past 6 days to let him settle in and that still didn't work. This baby ball has got me all confused.

[RichsBallPythons]

at his size pop him in a 6qt tub and cover it with a rag at night to give him peace. and leave the mouse in over night. I have some hatchlings not eating unless the rat is laid down and left over night. Leave him in the 6qt tub until hes too big for it then move him up to 15qt tub. babies take time to eat if not secure.

[Crawdad]

You've only had him two weeks! Just give another week and offer again. If your husbandry is right (multiple hides of proper size, proper temps, proper humidity, proper enclosure size) then your snake may just not want to eat. Let it ride for another week and try again . If you keep shoving food in his face he will just keep being stressed.

[Vader6]

Do I understand it right that you have had this snake for about 2 weeks? It's probably just stressed out, you've only had him for 2 weeks, and have been handling him quite a bit during that time. I would try putting him in his tub and leaving him alone for a week (no or very little handling), then offer again. There's a good reason people say to not mess with them for a full week .

Handled him the first week, b/c I was retarded and didn't see not to do that. So after he refused for me last time I haven't touched him AT ALL except to get how thick his was to get the right feeder in the past 6 days.

Did you put him in a smaller tub? A 20 gallon for a 76g ball python could be stressing him out. What substrate are you using? Are you messing with him much through out the week?

He is in a 20G. I use Aspen bedding for small animals. And the last question I just answered to Crawdad.

Just leave the feeder in the enclosure for an hour or so and turn off the lights and leave the room.

If it doesn't get eaten in a couple hours try zapping it with a hair dryer and putting it back in for another hour or so.

if he doesn't eat then try again next week. He will eat when he is ready.

I don't know if you mentioned it but what kind of hides does he have?

Should I do that now or next time?? And he has the SMALL reptile basics hides. I am taking pictures of the set up right now, h/o.

[Kaorte]

^I do feed in the enclosure. I left it in there for about 10-15 min and he just danced around it flicking his tongue away. Ill take a pic of his whole set up as is. I mean it should feel secure, idk y he wouldn't. Haven't handled min in the past 6 days to let him settle in and that still didn't work. This baby ball has got me all confused.

10-15 minutes is not enough time. Leave him be for at least 30 minutes. If the prey is dead you can leave it in much longer.