feeding kind of

[Rick Plowman]

I just got my ball python a week ago and i want to get her on the same feed schedule as my corn snake. I put a frozen pinkie in there and she picks it up and moves it but doesnt eat it? I know she may still be getting used to new environment but has anyone else experienced this?

[Simple Man]

Pinkie is way too small for a ball python. Try adult mice or fuzzy rats.

Regards,

B

[Rick Plowman]

Even though she is only 3 months old? Bout foot long?

[ogdentrece]

Pinky mice or rats...

[iCandiBallPythons]

You may not have the food item hot enough and I would def up the prey size. BP's can take a small adult mouse or rat pup shortly after they exit the egg.

[RichsBallPythons]

Pinky Mice are too small, and ball pythons wont acknowledge it as food.

hahtchlings can take hoppers-sm adults for their first meals. And at 3 months old that baby should be at least 150g+ taking fuzzy rats or sm adult mice

[BrianWilson]

Hello,
I've had the exact same problem. Its almost as if they are playing with them (Prey). I'm beginning to wonder if they were raised on "Live" rather than F/T as I was told? Just gonna try again next week.

[angllady2]

Pinky mice are too small for a ball, period.

A baby that size can easily take an adult mouse or fuzzy rat.

It's kind of like someone offering you a single potato chip for dinner. Sure you could eat it, but since it's only going to make you hungrier why bother ?

And even with F/T prey, a ball still need a heat signature to track or they loose interest really fast. For my F/T eaters, once the prey item is thawed in warm water, I towel dry it well, then dry it all over with a hair dryer so it's just as warm as a living rat. Then I lay the prey item down, grip it with the feeding tongs, hit just the head for a full 10-15 seconds and then present. Most of mine strike before the rat is even all the way in their enclosure.

I will say for younger babies, try not to drop the prey right on their heads as you may scare them. I dangle the prey on the opposite side of the enclosure from the snake and rarely have a problem.

Gale

[Rick Plowman]

so i havent had the time to get to the pet store and today was my feeding day for my corn snake. My corn snake will eat the thawed pinkies just fine. So i put a pinkie in a ziplock bag after i thawed them out and i submerged it in warm water. I after bout 10 min of soaking i put the pinkie in the cage and BOOM! So i don't think just having it at room temp was good enough and/or my ball python is getting used to its new environment! Thanks for the tips everyone!

[Rick Plowman]

not sure why it won't link my photo but here it is
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink