Snake refuse F/T and live, what can I do?

[SlitherinSisters]

You should NEVER be handling a snake that is not eating.


To the OP, this is a snip-it of my feeding tips page. There is A LOT of info on there, and I don't want to take up the entire page. It's the same steps I follow when I have a tough feeder. The two most important things: never handle a bp that isn't eating, and put it in a smaller tank/tub or at the very least fill it with crumpled newspaper or fake plants.

http://www.slitherinsisters.com/feeding-tricks.php

Feeding can be a bit tricky, especially with baby bps. They haven't quite figured everything out and could be stressed from traveling, being at pet store, or being in a tank/tub they don't feel secure in. If your bp isn't eating the problem probably lies with his feeling secure if everything else is good. Also remember that if your snake is not eating you should not be handling it. Don't even look at it!!! I also have a "things to remember" at the bottom of this page that I suggest reading through.

Take these steps and see if it helps and only offer food once a week to minimize the stress:


1st Week
Make sure his hide is snug for him, a big hide is a big problem. He should have to ball up or squish himself a little inside of it. They like to feel snug!

Continue to offer a prey item once a week. If you are feeding frozen thawed (and warmed up!) leave it in overnight. A few of my snakes won't eat frozen thawed till about 2 in the morning when I put the F/T in at 9pm. If you are feeding live you can leave it in for 10-30 minutes ONLY if it is well watered and fed. If you got it from the pet store I suggest setting up a cage and feeding and watering it yourself before putting it in the tank. Pinkies and hoppers are fine left in the tank/tub for the night because they don't have teeth, if you aren't sure, check for teeth it's simple.

You can also try putting the bp in a paper sack with a pinky or a hopper overnight (be sure that the hopper doesn't have teeth).

I've heard of dipping them in chicken broth, but I've never had success with it, nor have I ever heard of anyone having success with it.


2nd Week
Add some crumpled newspaper to his tank/tub to help fill in the open spaces. If you're looking for a nicer look you could add fake plants to fill the space, but keep in mind right now the main issue is getting him to eat, not tank aesthetics.

Continue to offer whatever your snake was eating before, ONCE a week.


3rd Week
Try a different food item. If you are feeding frozen thawed offer live. If you've done that and it didn't work offer a different rodent than you've been trying (mouse/rat). You will most likely have more luck with live than F/T.

My advice at this point would be to offer live mice once a week. If your ball python is still very small you might be able to find some very small adults, or if you're lucky hopper mice. I suggest mice because they are smelly and move a lot more than rats.


4th Week
If these don't work and you still have your snake in a tank you may want to move him to a shoebox size tub if the he is still a baby/juvenile/subadult. If not, you can continue to try the tank, and switch later on if you wish. However, if your snake has been eating regularly before, 6+ feedings, and you haven't changed his tank around other than the advice I offered earlier you may not want to change it. It's one of those, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

If you move your bp to a tub you will want to use a heat pad to warm 1/3 of the tub. If you use the lid you do not have to put holes in the tub because those tubs are not air tight. You will have to watch and make sure the humidity doesn't get out of control. I also suggest putting a towel over the tub, or taping construction paper to the outside of the tub to help block out the light and make your bp feel more secure.

Continue with a live mouse/hopper once a week from this point.


5th-8th Week
A recap: you can leave the mouse in for 10-30 minutes at a time as long as the mouse is well fed and watered. You do run the risk of the mouse eating your snake if it is malnourished. If you got the mouse from the pet store, set up a tank or cage for it, and feed and water it before putting it in with your snake.

You should leave the room during this time and turn off the lights. Some snakes are very shy and will not eat with someone in the room. You can try the paper sack during these weeks with a pinky or hopper again if you wish. Remember that nothing with teeth should be left in for more than 30 minutes.