Baby won't eat.

[coldbloodaddict]

You don't mention the tub size...Anything over a 6qt could be a contributing factor...

A live hopper mouse will get the best results...

I have been keeping Balls for over 10 years and never brained a prey item to get one to eat...

[sho220]

I have been keeping Balls for over 10 years and never brained a prey item to get one to eat...

I've tried...didn't do squat...

[tjohnson722]

It didn't do anything. The tub size is a I think a 10 quart.

I opened his mouth yesterday, everythings there except I still haven't seen a tongue???????

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[Homegrownscales]

I've never brained or done any of the chicken broth or tuna juice (ya weird) tricks with anyone. I've had a couple stubborn babies too. If the umbilicus spot was open I highly doubt he had even his first meal but... Well. In my experience that usually closes up the first week of a little ones life. Then comes the shed then they eat (hopefully).
Secondly, all of this trying to get him to eat is stressing him further. Further pushing him to not eat. Leave him alone for a good 4 days. I would highly suggest using a black out tub. This is a tub that receives no light whatsoever I have a few spray painted black tubs on hand at all times for nervous nellys. And I've had a couple. This works pretty darn well IMHO. When you try and feed use a live hopper mouse. At this point we need to get him eating. Up your humidity because this will keep him well hydrated and take a DEEP breath. We don't want to over due it and have the little one just go nutty. He sounds young and IMO shouldn't have been sold but hey what do I know? I know you're not new to the snake world but picky babies or fresh hatched should stay for a bit longer or go to those with experience with exactly that. Primary I only have two people that I would ever consider selling a picky baby or a fresh hatchling to. Both of them have way more experience than I do.
But that's neither here nor there. Check temps, up humidity, and black that bin out. Leave him alone for 4 days and try with a hopper mouse at night.
Hopefully this works for ya.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[tjohnson722]

Ok. I will do that.

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[Shanna]

Leave him alone for 4 days and try with a hopper mouse at night.
Hopefully this works for ya.

Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

I have a pretty identical problem & I was searching the forums for similar questions and thought I'd ask in this thread. You said to leave him alone for 4 days after the last feeding, then try a live hopper?

My lil' guy was purchased on the 26th of May. I was "told" he ate on the 23rd. He shed on the 29th in one piece. I attempted feeding a f/t hopper on the 30th and again yesterday. I've tried the "zombie dance", "hair dryer", feeding in the enclosure, without any luck.

So, I should wait 4 days before offering live? If he refuses what's the next step? Assist feed? It seems like a lot of time to wait between feeding. Thanks!

[tjohnson722]

So, I just tried again, no luck. Should I consider force feed?

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[Chained]

So, I just tried again, no luck. Should I consider force feed?

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i'm no expert by any means, however, i was in a similar situation not even a week ago. i won't say "hey, do what i did" but i will tell you what happened for me.

i watched many, MANY videos on assist feeding, just to make sure i knew exactly what to do and how to not hurt my baby.

the process i used was holding sam firmly behind the head, using my thumb and index finger, and the rest of my hand supporting his weight. he is a bit long, so i also rested him partway on the floor of his tank.

he DID NOT like it at first. alot of thrashing around, trying to squirm out of it. eventually he settled down, and once he stopped moving all over the place, i took the thawed mouse behind HIS head, and used his nose to gentle push up/wiggle in to sams mouth.

now maybe i got lucky, but the moment his mouth opened, and i put the mouse just inside, he clamped down on it and began swallowing right then. i gently set him back down, closed his tank, threw a towel over the front, and left him alone. no regurgitation, and he pooped a few days later.

remember, if you decide to assist feed, just watch some videos on it first, it's really not that hard, but its so much easier to learn from watching someone experienced do it.

[Annarose15]

I have a pretty identical problem & I was searching the forums for similar questions and thought I'd ask in this thread. You said to leave him alone for 4 days after the last feeding, then try a live hopper?

My lil' guy was purchased on the 26th of May. I was "told" he ate on the 23rd. He shed on the 29th in one piece. I attempted feeding a f/t hopper on the 30th and again yesterday. I've tried the "zombie dance", "hair dryer", feeding in the enclosure, without any luck.

So, I should wait 4 days before offering live? If he refuses what's the next step? Assist feed? It seems like a lot of time to wait between feeding. Thanks!

Yes, give him 4 days alone and then offer a live hopper in the evening.

So, I just tried again, no luck. Should I consider force feed?

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Force feeding is extremely stressful, and fairly dangerous. You should always try assisting before resorting to forcing (assisting was described in the post above this). However, I would give your baby one more try before going to assisting, as long as he hasn't lost much weight. Have you gotten a scale since it was mentioned at the beginning of the thread? This is an important tool for monitoring your pet's health, regardless of whether you intend to breed. Also, make sure you have switched to aspen bedding and that his hides are very snug. You can also crumple up some newspaper in the tub to make it as cramped (secure) as possible.