Not eating, don't know what to do...

[Quiet Tempest]

I would suggest using a mouse hopper -- not a pink or a fuzzy, but a hopper. The fuzzies really don't move enough to get the snake's interest but a hopper will and I don't believe a hopper poses much of a (if any) threat to the snake if left in the enclosure overnight.

[blackcrystal22]

Sometimes, lowering the size of the cage will help to make them feel more secure.

Do you have two tight hides that are not log hides?

Before you switch to a smaller cage (or tub), try covering 3/4 of the cage in dark paper to make him feel more secure and make sure those hides are avaliable.

Also, sometimes snakes will not eat f/t, and you really have no choice but to give live a shot. Just keep an eye on him if you feed him live. Once you get him eating in general, he may be able to switch to your desired food type.

Good luck.

[quillian91]

I have two small hides that are two dark blue plastic bowls. They are definitely small enough for him. 3/4 of his cage is already covered with black paper, and his lid employs the duct-tape, foil, clear vinyl method that was mentioned on the site to keep in humidity.

His humidity is 54%, his cool side is 82 degrees, and his hot side is 94 degrees.

[stevepoppers]

Have you been keeping track of weight? That might tell us when an assist feed is due. Is he starting to look skinny? Did he look skinny to begin with?

He's probably fine and just not hungry. I recently bought one that's been like that for all of his six years.

Can you tell anything about his shed stage?

Despite what you've done to the enclosure, it may still just be too much open space for one so small.

[don15681]

Bigger isn't better. You have a hatchling in a 20 long tank, a 10 gallon tank is too big. get a 6 qt tub from walmart price is around 1 dollar. use paper towels in it. most likely the snake never ate. start reading on assist feeding to be prepare if you have to go that route.

[Kaorte]

I would also move him to a 6 quart tub with a nice tight hide on paper towels or aspen.

a 20g is pretty big for a baby and even bigger for a baby who has possibly never eaten a meal in its life.

[don15681]

Can you get a weight on your snake in grams? This will be helpful. If he's 6 weeks and never had a meal, you're very close to having to assist feed him. i've done it on a few hatchlings with great results. If you have any questions on it pm me.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Stop handling him. Completely. Whether he seems to mind or not--he minds. Do not handle him again until he's eating regularly, period.

Hatchlings have far less weight reserve than adults when it comes to fasting. I would be concerned about a hatchling that failed to eat for 4 weeks. They cannot go for months the way older, heavier snakes can.

It's very important to resolve the problem as soon as possible. The most common reason for this is that there is something wrong with the snake's environment--it does not feel secure, so it will not put itself into a dangerous position and feed (a feeding snake cannot defend itself or flee easily).

Hatchlings need:

A small cage. Smaller than you might think. A 6 qt plastic shoebox is appropriate. Make sure there is at least one small, tight hide in there along with the water dish. As the snake grows, it can be moved to larger enclosures. If you're using an undertank heater controlled by a thermostat, the solution is simple--place the plastic shoebox inside the existing tank, so that 1/3 of it is over the heat pad.

Seclusion. Keep the snake away from household traffic, in a quiet area, and don't handle it.

Darkness. Ball pythons are nocturnal. Offer food at least a half hour after the lights are out. Make sure you are giving the snake a regular photoperiod (lights go off at the same time every night, and on at the same time every morning--use a timer if you're not going by light through the window).

Correct-sized prey. The prey item should be as big around as the widest part of the snake, and should be a prey item the snake is used to eating (if it was eating rat fuzzies, offer a rat fuzzy--if it was eating mouse hoppers, offer a mouse hopper).

Patience. Wait three days between each attempt at feeding. Offering food too often will generally prevent the snake from feeding.

If you see the snake roaming around the cage constantly, something is wrong. It is trying to escape to get to someplace it will feel more secure.

If the snake begins roaming quickly around and ignoring a prey item, you can generally remove it--the snake is trying to leave the area to get away from it, so it is not going to eat it on that attempt. If the snake remains coiled or in its hide, you can leave the prey item in longer, as the snake may decide to eat it.

[quillian91]

Thanks for the responses! I will do those immediately! Tomorrow, I will go purchase a bin and set it up. I have noticed him roaming around constantly, and I hope that a new set up will make him feel more secure.

I haven't handled him in a few days, so I'll just continue.

I have had him for about three weeks, and I cannot guarantee that he has before then at all. I think he has, as the woman bred live feeder mice as well, but I truly can't be sure.

Tomorrow I'll set him up in a bin so that he feels more enclosed. If he doesn't feed in the next week or two, should I try assist feeding?

[Vypyrz]

Thanks for the responses! I will do those immediately! Tomorrow, I will go purchase a bin and set it up. I have noticed him roaming around constantly, and I hope that a new set up will make him feel more secure.

I haven't handled him in a few days, so I'll just continue.

I have had him for about three weeks, and I cannot guarantee that he has before then at all. I think he has, as the woman bred live feeder mice as well, but I truly can't be sure.

Tomorrow I'll set him up in a bin so that he feels more enclosed. If he doesn't feed in the next week or two, should I try assist feeding?

Yes, if moving him to a smaller enclosure doesn't work, try assist feeding...