Force feeding?

[xFenrir]

My Spider has been on this mostly-on-and-off hunger strike. I get her to eat MAYBE one large mouse a month. I know Balls go on fasts, but she's starting to look pretty damn skinny, she's got a prominent triangle-shape to her. I'm getting worried, and wondering if I should try to force-feed her. Problem is, I've seen it but I'm too afraid to try it.

I know she's hungry because she'll strike and constrict, but when I come back 10-15 minutes later the mouse is just laying there and she's got no apparent interest anymore. For a 2-year old she doesn't even weight 800g's... Should I be worrying or is this something I should just keep waiting out? She's healthy, no more RI and nothing else is wrong with her that I or the vet knows of.

[mechnut450]

have you tried other food items aka rat pups, asfs or such to get her jump started . I done force feeding a couple times and I know it stress full for both owners and snake. WhenI did mine force feedings I used a smaller pray item aand wpent an hour working to get her to eat first time after like 3-4 meals like this she started eatingon her own.

[cschneider]

I've had the same problem with one of my pastels. I switched her to live and didn't have that problem anymore. This is just my opinion, but with my pastel girl, it seems like maybe she constricted the f/t so long, it got cold so she didn't eat it. Maybe try to heat up your f/t with a blow dryer, especially the head and see what happens...

Either way, live or f/t, definitely try all other options before force feeding. That should be your absolute last option.

[ptate]

What is she housed in? Sometimes if you move them to a completely dark enclosure and somewhat smaller than you would normally keep them in; they will begin to start eating again. I would also recommend giving her a little more time than 10-15 min before you disturb her during the next feeding attempt. Try feeding her a live rat weanling (35-40 grams) late in the evening if you can get a hold of one near you and leave it in there with her for at least 30 -45 min before you disturb her.

[Kinra]

I would try leaving her alone all night after she takes it. Some BPs really like their privacy and if it is dead it can't hurt her. Worst case it's still there in the morning and you just toss it.

[xFenrir]

Well we're planning to order F/T rats within the week, I'll see if she'll eat those and if not, guess I'll try a live rat pup and see if that works.

I would leave it overnight but she's on aspen bedding and I don't want that stuck all over the mouse/rat. I feed her in a tub, and at first she'd eat right away. Then again, when I got her they said she was eating rat pups but we couldn't buy any at the show so we were forced to get large mice. Could she have lost the gusto for mice once she figured out they weren't rats?

I really don't want to force-feed her, I'm not confident that I wouldn't accidentally hurt her, so I'll try any other option before going to that.

[akaangela]

I have 2 pastels that just decided they wouldn't eat rats anymore. Nothing I could do would change their minds. They now has an addiction to ASF's. I am glad I can get ASF's (most of the time). They will eat mice but not very happily. I wouldn't give an 800g a rat pup. I would do a small. You don't want to get something too small for him.

Also some snakes just don't grow like others. I have 2 Mojos. They are on the same feeding schedule one (thank heavens the female) is HUGE. The male is small. I did have to start offering them different size of rats when the girl started to shoot ahead of the male but other than that, everything is the same.

[jbean7916]

Try laying paper towels over the bedding on feeding day. Then you can feed in the enclosure and not worry about bedding getting stuck to the mouse.

sent from my EVO

[muddoc]

I really don't want to force-feed her, I'm not confident that I wouldn't accidentally hurt her, so I'll try any other option before going to that.

There is NEVER a reason to force feed an animal that has willingly taken food items in the past. It is obvious that your animal is capable of eating, because they don't get to 800 grams without eating. Do not force feed her. My suggestion would be to try smaller prey items for a while. Some animals will constrict and not eat because they feel the prey is too big. Also, as some have suggested, a live rodent is always a good way to entice a snake back into eating.

Lastly, I know it is stressful, but welcome to the world of Ball Pythons. Some of them will only eat 3-5 times a year (I have multiple animals that do this). I have a couple of 6 year old females that are just under 1000 grams. Remember that it is extremely rare (and actually I have never seen a documented case) that a Ball Python will starve itself to death. While we may be in a rush to get them to size, so that we can breed them, they often times want to grow at ther own pace. She will eat when she gets hungry.

Hope that helps,

[xFenrir]

Thanks for your advice everyone. I'll see how she reacts to the rats, maybe she's just gotten tired of mice. If not we'll try ASF's or live and see if those are the key. I'll try the paper towels over the bedding too, maybe she likes to eat in the dead of night.

Or perhaps she just likes watching me rip my hair out on a weekly basis trying. Thank goodness her "younger sister" Satin eats like it was going out of style. At least someone in this house isn't picky about what rodent they eat.