Baby Ball not accepting food

[rperry03]

Don't feed in a separate container, try it in their enclosure. It can be very stressful for a baby to be fed out of their house.

x2

I use to feed mine out of its cage, I just don't go in unless you absolutely have to when they are in feeding mode because they will strike at everything that moves lol

I have never had one of mine strike me in their cage, just the hog island when he was in a seperate feeding container and not ready to be handled and put back yet after eating

[RichsBallPythons]

Sorry Rich, I was waiting for advise, not just empty blame.

Everyone else is helping, you not so much in the beginning. I did not say anything more then the breeder had them on pinkie mice and did not want to switch the food until they were settled. I usually feed fuzzies or hoppers to babies, pinkies are not much more then fluid and skin.

Which is all the more reason to stay away from that breeder. The breeder was skimping of food to save money and increase his/her profits. Which explains why yours is still the size of babies out of the egg rather double the size in the 2 months its been hatched.

[Vini Sourile]

Not to diss you Rich but sometimes I feel many are quick to jump to certain conclusions and find someone to blame. I dont think his temps are all over i think he was just referring to his temp gradient.. I dont think his temps would really be 80/82/85/88. If its a 20g tall the floor space is about that of a smaller one, its a little big but i think it shouldn't be horrible if you just clutter it a little more if it isnt already. Yes pinky mice aren't the best food source but he has his reason. You could suggest increasing it to a hopper or subadult but don't jump on him over it. Just let him know.

I just placed a new rock (not heat rock) in the empty space in the middle to increase shadow area and hiding. Also blocked off the view of 3 of 4 sides of the tank and put a 2" black strip in the front so the view from the floor would see the black, not the room. She has a cave on the cool side just big enough for 2 BPs to squeeze in, hot side has a log up against the back for privacy, they really love both hides and use often. There are 2 more days of meds and then she will be off of it. I will allow her to stay in w/o visits for 3 days then attempt food again. I'm just not sure when assisted feeding will be required.

[Vini Sourile]

Which is all the more reason to stay away from that breeder. The breeder was skimping of food to save money and increase his/her profits. Which explains why yours is still the size of babies out of the egg rather double the size in the 2 months its been hatched.

Good point about the money, never thought about it. Is a fuzzy or hopper a good size? She did like the fuzzy i gave her on week 2. I have heard that the rat pups smell different and some BPs will not take to them right away.

[RichsBallPythons]

Hoppers are weaned mice just old enough to be on their own. About 10grams in size give or take few grams.


Also your last post kept saying THEY like the hide. Are you housing 2 snakes together. If so this is your major reason to the one not eating.

[Vini Sourile]

Hoppers are weaned mice just old enough to be on their own. About 10grams in size give or take few grams.


Also your last post kept saying THEY like the hide. Are you housing 2 snakes together. If so this is your major reason to the one not eating.

I had 2 BPs from same clutch, always stayed together in the enclosure. I have had 2 BPs in same enclosure before without a problem so never though about it. The weird thing is that they both ate after the first week of solitary and then on week 2 the one I still have ate the fuzzy/hopper with no issue, both times in a separate container.

[Vini Sourile]

Would the antibiotic be a big reason for not eating now? I kind of thought it would be a stress on the baby to have a drop of meds in the mouth every night.

[RichsBallPythons]

If your still housing them together, one has already taken dominance of the cage. this in turn makes the weaker less dominant snake stressed and not eat.

When they lay in same area on top of one another, its them fighting for that spot.

[RichsBallPythons]

Would the antibiotic be a big reason for not eating now? I kind of thought it would be a stress on the baby to have a drop of meds in the mouth every night.

Yes as its stressful. Is there a reason the vet is giving you meds to give to the baby. And what is the name of the medication.

[Vini Sourile]

Yes as its stressful. Is there a reason the vet is giving you meds to give to the baby. And what is the name of the medication.

Med is Baytril. The second BP died after we had her for 3 weeks, not sure why. It sounded like this one had a slight click at times and did the whole mouth part open thing many times which made me think RI.