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  1. #1
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    Exclamation Baby ball python not eating

    I bought my first ball python which was a baby male pastel that weighed 122g. Ever since being in my care, he never ate. He was last fed by the previous owner on 9/5 with a live hopper. I'm guessing this baby only takes live mice because I've been trying to feed it frozen thawed hoppers and it never worked. My ball python lost 22g already and I'm getting very worried about him. I can't find live hoppers anywhere, I'm currently on the search for one but I really can't find any right now. Does petco or petsmart sell live hoppers? How can I get to make him eat a frozen thawed hopper? He hasn't ate for more than 2 weeks

    My temps are normally 80f-83f and 88f-92f on the basking spot with a 50%-65% humidity. He lives in a plastic rack.

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member Mephibosheth1's Avatar
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    Where are you located??
    CRYSTAL MEPH



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  3. #3
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    Re: Baby ball python not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1 View Post
    Where are you located??
    Fort Lee, New Jersey (the states)

  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran Doggey75's Avatar
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    There is a petgoods in NJ that sell live mice

    (201) 670-6000
    651 N State Rt 17

    Paramus, NJ07652

  5. #5
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    Re: Baby ball python not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by Doggey75 View Post
    There is a petgoods in NJ that sell live mice

    (201) 670-6000
    651 N State Rt 17

    Paramus, NJ07652
    Live mice (hoppers) as for food? Well it kinda doesn't matter as long as they have hoppers. It's my first time feeding a mice to a snake and I know it sounds cruel, but it is more cruel if I don't get food for my snake (:

    Question: I've been trying to feed my BP frozen thawed but very recently I learned that the mice should be dried and warm, then given to the snake. Can I try that today? Last attempt was less than a week ago.

  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran Doggey75's Avatar
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    Re: Baby ball python not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by junosan View Post
    Live mice (hoppers) as for food? Well it kinda doesn't matter as long as they have hoppers. It's my first time feeding a mice to a snake and I know it sounds cruel, but it is more cruel if I don't get food for my snake (:

    Question: I've been trying to feed my BP frozen thawed but very recently I learned that the mice should be dried and warm, then given to the snake. Can I try that today? Last attempt was less than a week ago.
    I don't use live food. But, I have seen their mice. I have seen every size mouse from pinkies to adults.

    I would normally wait a whole week before trying. But, if your bp is losing weight. You should try it
    Last edited by Doggey75; 09-24-2013 at 09:51 PM.

  7. #7
    Registered User Crazymonkee's Avatar
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    Get the smallest live mouse they have.... unless they advertise that they sell feeder mice... I wouldn't ask for it as a "feeder" just find the smallest one and say... "I want that mouse"

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

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    Re: Baby ball python not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by Doggey75 View Post
    I don't use live food. But, I have seen their mice. I have seen every size mouse from pinkies to adults.

    I would normally wait a whole week before trying. But, if your bp is losing weight. You should try it
    Well the baby did lose 22g. But he isn't super skinny.

  9. #9
    BPnet Veteran Doggey75's Avatar
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    Re: Baby ball python not eating

    Quote Originally Posted by junosan View Post
    Well the baby did lose 22g. But he isn't super skinny.
    Then you should wait till a whole week

  10. #10
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    a few things you can try: do not go into the snake room for at least twenty four hours. get a red light that you can screw into your overhead light, and unscrew your white light.(do this during the day, so when you go in after dark...you don't have to turn on the white light. I like my humidity in my ball enclosures to be about 70% or a touch higher, but 65 should be okay. thaw your feeder out and after it is thawed, put it on a heat pad for at least an hour...get some long feeding tongs. go down after dark, as quietly and as vibration free as possible. easily slide the tub open, pick up the mouse or rat pup with the tongs(the farther your hand is, the better so the python does not pick up on your heat), and slowly 'dance' the mouse or rat hopper around like it is alive....starting far away, then SLOWLY move it closer to the snake once it looks like he notices it. try to simulate a live prey item. take your time, and don't get in a hurry. have patience, ball pythons can be very tricky. but if you have their environment right, and don't be too pushy, you can usually get them to eat. there is a lot of little tricks and techniques that you can try, and they will get it...and eat for ya eventually. try this method and see if it works for you. let us know how it goes. if you can get live for it...you can try that first since the animal seems to be losing a little weight...but you also have to realize that if you weighed your animal with food in him, then he took a big dump...he will weigh less...just an idea. give a try and see if it works. good luck

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