Please help with my new BP~

[18parkky]

Hey, I'm very new to handling snakes so I decided to get a B.P. For my first snake.
Anyway, I THINK I got it from a good breeder cause My BP is very calm and docile. I started handling it since the second day and it seemed fine. Today, I tried to feed my snake a thawed frozen pinkie by shaking it in front of the snake. I really messed up... First, the snake DID strike a little but did not eat or even bite. Then She was like searching for a way to escape(Scanning the glass). It seemed she didn't have ANY kind of interest in the mouse. She stroke but missed for 3 times and then I accidentally dropped the mouse. Now she's not even looking at it. So I tool the mouse out.. I contacted a vet and he said it's because she's new to the environment. I'm not trying to doubt him(maybe I am) but is this simply the only reason why she doesn't eat? Oh and accidentally poked her very little bit and she pulled back REAL fast.. Did this make her very stressed? Also I know that I am a very unskilled owner. Any help would be Great~

[sho220]

Hey, I'm very new to handling snakes so I decided to get a B.P. For my first snake.
Anyway, I THINK I got it from a good breeder cause My BP is very calm and docile. I started handling it since the second day and it seemed fine. Today, I tried to feed my snake a thawed frozen pinkie by shaking it in front of the snake. I really messed up... First, the snake DID strike a little but did not eat or even bite. Then She was like searching for a way to escape(Scanning the glass). It seemed she didn't have ANY kind of interest in the mouse. She stroke but missed for 3 times and then I accidentally dropped the mouse. Now she's not even looking at it. So I tool the mouse out.. I contacted a vet and he said it's because she's new to the environment. I'm not trying to doubt him(maybe I am) but is this simply the only reason why she doesn't eat? Oh and accidentally poked her very little bit and she pulled back REAL fast.. Did this make her very stressed? Also I know that I am a very unskilled owner. Any help would be Great~

1. The breeder has nothing to do with how calm and docile your snake is.
2. Let him chill for a bit longer. He may still be stressed out from the move, and change in environment.
3. A mouse pinky is way too small.
4. There's no need to contact a vet.
5. What was the breeder feeding him?

Welcome to the forum!

p.s. Post a pic if you have one.

[sunnyscales2day]

You're messing with it too much. Even a very tame b.p. can only handle so much, and some are just slow eaters.
Mine sometimes lets the mouse lay there all night and then finally decides to go over and consume it in the wee hours of the morning. If you google how long can a f/t mouse stay in tank you will find that this is a common problem. The answer is about 8hrs before decay sets in.
Also what time were you feeding at? Keep in mind that they are nocturnal animals who are most active near dawn. They also do best feeding in a dark room with absolutely no distubance, turn the lights off and sit very still and quiet with a nightlight on if you want to watch.
And yes it might take all night or it it may not eat at all. Dont worry if this happens, its common. Just take the mouse out after 8 hrs.

[Morris Reese]

I disagree with the rule of feeding at night in the dark with no lights on. Use the feeding method that works best with your snake. This will take some experimenting and trial and error. This is only true with a new snake. If you have had one for a while and never had problems I would stick to my usual schedule unless it gets to an unhealthy level, then maybe change it up a bit. If the snake isn't eating, maybe try a different time of day.
I was having trouble with my new BP feeding at night. It was like she was too interested in her new surrounding to worry about feeding. I read an article about BP's in the wild and realized that they will lay in holes in the ground and just wait for their food to come to them. They do not leave a den at night in search of food like you would think. They are very patient and will wait it out. With this in mind I decided to try feeding mine in the late afternoon hours before it got dark. I will thaw the rat, open the enclosure and dance the rat near the opening of her hide for a few seconds. She comes out in search of the scent and will strike within a minute or so. I have done this for almost a month now (she is 5 months old) and she has a very strong feeding response and eats very well.
If your snake does not eat, don't offer food everyday. This will do more harm than good. Get on a feeding schedule. Try every 5 days for a juvenile BP and offer food only on that day.
One other thing, I don't handle on feeding day. Not for fear of getting bit, but just to leave her in a more natural state while preparing to feed. I then will leave her to digest for 2 days before handling again. Other than that, I handle her daily. You will learn to read your snake with time.
Lots of great advise on here! Lots of very experienced snake enthusiast here with great advise. Take it in and do what works best for your snake and you!!!!

[supamyk]

There are no set rules remember. I handle before feeding, I watch her eat and so do my kids. In the middle of the day in a separate tub. Try warning the ft more. She nasty have missed because she couldn't get a good " view" on the mouse. They use their smell and hear sensors to find food. Good luck don't stress

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[sunnyscales2day]

I was just making suggestions based on my own experience guys, sheesh.
Also as an after thought, I read somewhere that ball pythons see in infrared. It plays a part in their hunting and perception of surroundings. Things like heat and biochemicals such as amonia and phospherous would be visible to these animals. Not sure if true, but its something to think about.

[18parkky]

To.Sho 220 Thanks for Replying!
1.ok
2.Yes
3.The people who sold the snake gave me the pinkies
4.Ok
5.probagly pinkie
how do you reply with quotes?.. Haha

[18parkky]

Ty for all your help. I realized that I'm missing a LOT of things
and handling too much at the same time..
I need to increase humidity level, get 2 hiding spots, etc
I will keep in mind what everyone said.
But I have another question. Many ppl recommend feeding outside the
cage to avoid the snake eating the dirt(?) or sth. I WILL try this method
when my snake gets better. I have a question tho. If I take my BP to the bathtub and
feed her, I mustn't disturb her for 48 hours? How do I return the snake back?

[kylearmbar]

You gotta calm down first, your over reacting. The fact that it struck is a good sign. Many ball pythons after missing might get frustrated and no longer want to eat. I would just try again next feeding day.

[Morris Reese]

Ty for all your help. I realized that I'm missing a LOT of things
and handling too much at the same time..
I need to increase humidity level, get 2 hiding spots, etc
I will keep in mind what everyone said.
But I have another question. Many ppl recommend feeding outside the
cage to avoid the snake eating the dirt(?) or sth. I WILL try this method
when my snake gets better. I have a question tho. If I take my BP to the bathtub and
feed her, I mustn't disturb her for 48 hours? How do I return the snake back?

I feed in the same enclosure she lives in just for the simple fact of having to move a full snake and risk regurgitation! You don't want that to happen. It STINKS! Not to mention it's rough on the snake.
You said "dirt"? What kind of substrate are you using?