My new ball python wont eat

[staticmonkey42]

Hi! I just bought a 2 year old ball python at the reptile show a month ago, and i haven't been able to feed him. For now hes in a 20 gallon tank until i get my bigger one, but its a great setup. I didn't touch him for a week, but i just tried feeding him again and nothing. The breeder said he eats live mice, and he ate the week before i got him. But when i put him in a 10 gallon tank with a feeder mouse ( definitely not to big) he just ignores it. /he will crawl right over a mouse, not even acknowledging it. For the past week the temperatures have been 80 degrees with 45% humidity, i know its supposed to be 90, im getting a light tomorrow) so i think this might be the problem. Maybe the constant 80 temp is affecting him. But i put the heat lamp over the 10 gallon with the mouse because the 10 gallon heats up to 95 in 30 minutes. So should i leave him in the tank for a bit longer?

[Buttons]

Feed him in his 20gallon tank. It might just be stressing him out moving him into another tank.

[staticmonkey42]

How long can i keep the mouse in his 20 gallon? like can i walk away for an hour and come back or should i supervise?

[iCandiBallPythons]

You should supervise.

[Raverthug]

Did the breeder say what he was feeding it. Try a rat mabey.

[Big Gunns]

You "think this might be a problem"????? Big Gunns is gonna yell at you now because he hates customers like you. Don't take it personally, but you need to be yelled at. This is a ball python you're dealing with here. Any time you drop temps with a ball there's a good chance it will go off feed. You dropped the temps by not setting it up correctly. It's winter, you just bought it, and you set it up incorrectly. Bingo...it doesn't eat. What a surprise. Next thing that happens is your on the BOI complaining that the seller ripped you off. OK maybe not, but you're still not happy and most likely in BG's vast experience you blame everyone but yourself.

OK...BG is just being a meanie. Don't go away all hurt. You'll be a fan soon enough. Contact the seller if you can and find out how exactly he had it set up....then try and duplicate it. If you can't contact him/her, set it up like you know it should be. BG suggests Aspen or Cypress over newspaper and continue trying live food...but wait a week after you have it set up correctly. It may be too late though. You have just mini cycled your ball. It may not eat for months.

Good luck and welcome to the world of Big Gunns and Ball Pythons.

[seeya205]

Also you need tight fitting hides with one small opening! Get you temps up and do not handle or bother the snake until it has eaten a couple of times!

[nightingale2k1]

Try making hiding place like put a cave for your ball to hide and put some papers so that he can hide. after that, try to put baby rat and leave it for a while (at evening may be) and close the closure. watch from outside, make sure he wont see you. I did this and this is work.

[BPelizabeth]

First of all read this, it is awesome information and will help you with your set up.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=43936

Secondly...you can do it with a light but honestly....it is better to get some under the tank heating system. When you do you HAVE to have a thermostat to control it. You can get all this at reptile basics and if you have questions....call Rich...he is awesome and will answer all the questions you have. Belly heat assists the BP's in digesting their food. Secondly...feed in the enclosure. It is much easier for you and much less stress for the snake. I believe as do many others that the whole cage aggressive is just a folk tale. The only time we have had an aggressive problem is when my hubby stuck his hand in the enclosure on feeding day after handling a mouse. Duh!!

Also and this is very important....pretty much anything can bite. Hence a mouse can do some serious damage to your snake. You either can stun or prekill the mouse prior to feeding and/or certainly keep a close eye on the mouse and the snake until the mouse is dead.


Bp's are know for being finiky eaters...especially if the husbandry is not on point...or the stars and moon are not aligned. Ok the last one was a joke...but you get what I am saying. I have some that are very agressive with their feeder and some that are so shy that I have to prekill it. Just depends on your snake.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[zantedeschia]

If you leave a live mouse in the cage for any length of time, toss some food in there as well so the mouse won't bite your snake. Things I've found they like are dry cat food, dry oatmeal flakes, stale bread crusts and cooked rice.