two won't eat and one missing

[MikeV]

Heres an idea:

For the 2 not eating

Go to a place, library ect that has coloured printing. or do it at home if you have the ink

GO to google find pictures of pretty green leaves (preferably some rainforest type, just because they look cool), print this picture off a few times and tape the pages to 3 sides of the tank (obviously leaving the front open for veiwing ofcourse)

this will make them feel super secure and it will look even better if you start filling the tank with plastic leaves/vines

Another idea, is to do that above^ AND buy extra plastic leaves. Take your BPs hide and completely hide every bit of it besides the entrance. It will look very natural to them and probably make them feel better about security

Just some ideas!

[venessa214]

Sorry you haven't found the escapee yet... but don't give up hope, as they can be gone a LONG time & still be found.

As for the problem feeders, are they big enough for a hopper mouse? If so you should try one, since most snakes are really attracted to their movements - they literally hop around the tank! Aside from that it's hard to say, since BPs are notoriously picky eaters... I have one who hasn't eaten since last October, and there is no logical reason why. Maybe try moving them into small (15qt) tubs for a while?

They aren't big enough for hoppers yet, large fuzzy/small crawler size right now.

I will try adding some vines/leaves, and covering the outside of the tanks-makes sense that it might seem insecure to them being as small as they are.

[Kaorte]

They aren't big enough for hoppers yet, large fuzzy/small crawler size right now.

I will try adding some vines/leaves, and covering the outside of the tanks-makes sense that it might seem insecure to them being as small as they are.

Ball pythons right out of the egg are started on hoppers and after about 3-4 meals of hoppers they move to small adult mice. I would try offering something a little larger next time. If it is too small sometimes they won't recognize it as food.

[venessa214]

Ball pythons right out of the egg are started on hoppers and after about 3-4 meals of hoppers they move to small adult mice. I would try offering something a little larger next time. If it is too small sometimes they won't recognize it as food.

I will try hoppers this time around, but they looked huge when I asked to see them last week. I am trying to judge by the fattest part of the snakes, which really isn't that fat. Hopefully they will eat soon!

[venessa214]

Joker (the one who went missing) surfaced today. I was getting ready to leave for work this morning, went to walk out of the room and thought "where did that stick come from?" till the 'stick' moved. I picked him up and he kind of struck at me, but stopped before he bit. I had to get his tank back out, and when I went to put him down, he latched on to my wrist. It's my first ever bite, and I wouldn't have been more excited, lol. Unless he manage to find something to eat, it had been three months since he had eaten. I don't think he found anything, because he was a little thin, and definitely lost a bit of weight. I got him a medium rat this afternoon when I got off work, and he quickly devoured it. I'm so happy he's back!!! I had pretty much given up that I would see him again.

On the other hand, the two babies still haven't eaten...I've tried hoppers, I've tried waiting longer before feeding attempts. They both look skinny...I don't know what else to do! Would there be any increased interest in F/T, or should I stick with trying for live? How long can these little guys go without eating?

[maverickgtr]

Have they eaten with you before? And was it live? Did the breeder say they were on live mice? They might've had f/t so don't know what to do with live mice. Try offering f/t and wiggle it a little. Also, how much do you handle them? Our ball pythons will refuse food if we handle them too much the day before we try to feed.

Happy to hear you found the escape artist!

[chapskis1]

I didn't notice if anyone mentioned this or not -- but do not handle the snakes until they start eating! I'm not saying you are, but if you are, then you should probably stop. As you probably know, stressed snakes usually don't eat.

Also, you asked how long they could go without eating. It really depends how big they were to begin with -- ie. a 1500g female could go much longer without eating than an 80g baby. As long as they aren't losing a lot of weight, are drinking, and still look healthy they should be okay for a while...

A digital scale comes in handy when the snakes aren't eating -- I just had my male come off a 3 month hunger strike but monitored his weight the entire time and he hardly lost any weight...

Good luck!!

[venessa214]

Have they eaten with you before? And was it live? Did the breeder say they were on live mice? They might've had f/t so don't know what to do with live mice. Try offering f/t and wiggle it a little. Also, how much do you handle them? Our ball pythons will refuse food if we handle them too much the day before we try to feed.

Happy to hear you found the escape artist!

They have not eaten for me at all, and I've had them about two months. They feed live, but I have wondered if I should try f/t. We do handle them occasionally, but we'll stop and see if that will help.

As far as size, they are about 15 inches long I'd guess. I have seen them drinking, but they have lost weight since we got them. If needed, I can post weights, I have a small digital scale for my geckos.