New Ball Python/Won't eat?

[Misa601]

I'm sure this question has been asked a thousand times, so I apologize in advance, but all the threads I have read don't directly answer my question.

So first off, I bought an 8 year-old normal male ball python last week, he came with a 30 gallon and all the stuff he needs, the original owner has had him in this tank for awhile so he is accustomed to it. This is my first snake and I spent many hours researching care for bp's. The previous owner told me he had shed about a week prior to me buying him, and that he fed him f/t adult mice 2x a week and fed him a couple days before bringing him to me. Today, I decided was feeding day. Nothing, he just stared at his food like it was a rock. I tried in and out of the enclosure, I warmed it with water and now i'm waiting for it to be darker as a last attempt. He seems healthy, well, actually I think he is over weight, at first I thought he was dehydrated but I've watched him drink, and they look more like rolls than skin. So he's now on a 1 mouse a week diet

Anyways, my question is, why isn't he eating when he is used to being fed more often, and should I be worried? As well as how long do you leave your mice out before they aren't edible?

Thank's

[Slim]

I wouldn't leave a F/T mouse in there more than a couple hours, though some will suggest overnight. Your call on that. As for why he won't eat, could be stress from the move, could be because it's Tuesday. He sounds otherwise healthy, so while this is stressful for you as a new owner, it's just another day for your snake.

If I were you, I'd let him settle for 7 to 10 days, then try again.

If he's been eating two mice a week, I hardly think he's over weight. I'd love to see a pic of him.

[Misa601]

Awesome thanks! I am just worried about him since I am going away for a couple days and don't want him to go without eating but I guess I will just have to be patient! And I have no idea how to add pictures onto a thread, is there another way to send it?

[Slim]

The best way is to host the pictures on PhotoBucket (it's free) then copy and past the code into your posts.

[Misa601]

[/IMG] this is my "little" guy

[Slim]

Looks like a healthy boy to me! Certainly not over weight.

[Misa601]

Ok good! I was worried because he's pretty "squishy"

I tried feeding him in the dark, as well is I left the mouse in the enclosure for about 10 minutes and he just sniffed it so no luck today *sigh*

[MonkeyShuttle]

If you thawed it with water he might not eat it. I had a ball that was feeding regular but when i got her she wouldnt eat for me she did the same thing your boy does. Turns out with some of my pythons i could thaw in water, but she wasnt having it. Now i know she will only eat it if its thawed at room temperature and the head of the mouse has to be heated for about a minute then fed nose first to her and not buy holding the mouse by the tail either lol. Shes a brat but i love her. Give this a try and i hope it helps


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[Misa601]

Thanks! I let it thaw without water and then dipped it in warm water for several seconds just to make it feel warmer and he had nothing to do with it. I waited a couple days and I'm going to try to feed him today and bought some chicken broth to sprinkle over it as a last resort, he was a frequent eater with the previous owner, and I thought maybe the stress of moving and his new surroundings would be a factor to why he wont eat, but he does not seem stressed at all, he explores his cage, he loves coming out to sit with me or explore the bedroom... so I don't know why he's being difficult

[Slim]

he loves coming out to sit with me or explore the bedroom...

Might be your problem right there...

A couple of days ago, I said:

If I were you, I'd let him settle for 7 to 10 days, then try again.

Just incase my advice was too cryptic for you, let me state it another way. It's a generally good idea to let them settle in for at least a week with NO handling when you move them from one place to another. Security is a big thing for snakes when they feed. They are big time vulnerable to pretty much everything while they are eating. I'd let that snake settle for at least a week with no handling except for cage maintenance before I tried introducing food.