Wierd Problem Feeding my Ball

[jmichael]

Hi Guys. So this has happened twice. I have a 6-8 month old normal ball python that is about 95 grams and eating frozen mice hoppers. She will strike the food, coil around it and hold it there for 8-10 hrs without eating it. Last time, she got it down to about the Mice's back legs (she was eating it tail first) and there it stopped. She has eaten the hoppers numerous times before without any problems. Any advice on this? She is a great snake and I just want to do the right thing for her well-being. Thanks for the help

[The Serpent Merchant]

Welcome to the site!

She holds onto the mice for 8-10 hours? If that's not a typo then there is something wrong. Also are you sure on the age? That is really small for a snake that old.

Is this a consistent issue, or are they isolated events?

Can you give us some info on your husbandry?

• cage type/cage size
• heat sources
• temperature measurement devices
• current temperatures/humidity
• any thermostats being used
• substrate
• etc.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Also, are the mice completely thawed and then very well warmed up before offering?

[Coopers Constrictors]

A 6-8 month old 95 gram Ball is a very bad thing. Can you provide more details to this?

[darthsamurai]

I just hatched out a clutch 3 weeks ago. the smallest snake was 35 grams. the biggest was 60. There is no reason a 6 month old should weigh that little

[barbie.dragon]

My hatchling is 3 months old and she weighs 243 grams a week and a half ago empty o.o

But about your feeding thing. Yeah my bp just sat on her food for about 20 minutes after she was done constricting and went off exploring her cage. I think bps just derp like that. Sometimes you just gotta give the mouse an intense shake right when they coil to get them really going. Also turn off all the light and leave the room? And also what do you mean by she stopped? Did she spit the mouse back out?

[jmichael]

I'm just guessing on the age. I got her in July so I know she's at least that old. I got her from a show in St. Louis as a birthday present. I've got her in a 45 gal Home-made viv, which she seems to love. I've got a heat mat and light source (which read 93-95 during the day, and 85 at night) measured on a digital thermometer and she's on Aspen substrate. She's eaten really well for me (she was eating live when i got her but I don't like feeding live because of the risks) and it has happened twice since I've got her. Feed every 7 days. Both times she's tried eating it backwards (tail first). Any help would be appreciated as this is my first ball.

[barbie.dragon]

It's way too hot in that cage. It should be at 86-90 on the hot spot and 80 in the cool area depending on how warm or cold your snake likes her temps. What's the humidity like in the cage? Heat lamps killed the humidity in mine so I have to do a lot to keep the humidity high...when she strikes the f/t rat does she hit the head? She should be hitting somewhere near there and there shouldn't be too much trouble. Also maybe you should heat up the face of the rat more or something to let her know its the face

[captainjack0000]

1. Feed rat fuzzies. The BP should be eating about 10-15% of its weight in prey items. Here is a nice chart. http://www.frozenfeeder.com/sizing.html

2. Ditch the heat lamps.

3. Make sure your UTH is regulated. I have heard/used putting a piece of tile over the glass in the tank to act as a heat buffer, use a lamp dimmer switch to regulate the temp, or use a thermostat.

4. Keep humidty up. Mist the cage, place the water dish over the UTH, place a damp towel over the cage top, use a plastic tub instead of a tank, etc.

Thats my 4 cents.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

In a tank that big I'm afraid the OP may have no choice but to use a heat lamp. That's a huge enclosure for such a tiny ball but if it's eating regularly and weekly, it should be ok. As long as they are able to keep the humidity high enough so that the little one is able to shed properly and in one or two pieces then it should be fine.

I agree that the baby should be fed a rat that is about 15% of its weight. I would also feed it every 5-6 days if it's eating that regularly for you. That little one should really be growing very quickly it's first year. There is no reason for a baby ball to be so tiny unless it isn't being fed and housed properly.