New bp still won't eat! Not settling in ? Scared/shy ? Pics ...

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Ok, so your setup is fine. There is no need to move him into a small tub. I have had a hatchling (straight from the egg) in a 180 gallon PVC enclosure for a year and he hasn't missed even 1 meal.

You need to make sure that husbandry is correct, and that they have a place to hide, and it sounds like you've provided that.

Often times young Ball Pythons won't eat frozen food, its just the way it is. Eventually you can switch them over to f/t easily, but as young snakes its better to stick to live. I'd offer a live rat pup to your snake. Feed the snake at night, around 10PM, when it's been dark for a few hours. Once you put it in, leave it along till the following morning.

Continue not to handle the snake, that is the correct thing to do. My general rule is, "No handling until the snake has had 3 meals in a row"

[Smith123]

As stated I won't feed live , he hasn't been fed live before for the first six months of his life so I don't see a need for it now but thanks for the advise .

His bedding isn't dirty as he hasn't done anything since I've had him...I did leave the rat to warm up on his viv for a few hours already but he doesn't so much as poke his head out! As I've said I never see him! Next week I will leave the rat in over night, and I won't handle him or move him in the mean time and see what happens next week!
Thanks again

[fLako0aGuiiLaR]

I have a Female Mojave exactly the same size as yours
Miy snake is acting exactly like your snake she seems too scare and when i try to handle her she tries to hide and doesnt move
I got it three weeks ago and she didnt want to eat i tried live pinky and she finally ate last night

I think you should try it
I was feeding her frozen rat pups and she never take it i think it was to big for her im sure is the same problem with your snake

Try this and then let us now

[LittleVixen]

My ball didn't eat for the first month after we brought him home, even though he was only 71g. He is/was in a bigger tank than yours, it just took him a few weeks. It actually got better when I started handling him more, rather than leaving him in his tank all the time. However, Stormy is kind of an odd ball. He sulks if I don't play with him often enough, lol

[Eric Alan]

Make sure the rat pup is thoroughly thawed. Then heat it up with a blow drier and use a temp gun to make sure he's about 100 degrees or warmer on the head.

This. Many times BPs won't recognize f/t prey as food because their person hasn't warmed it up enough. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Leave a rat out to thaw in the snake room for a few hours. I take mine out of the freezer in the morning and feed at night.
2. Once thawed, set a hairdryer on the bathroom counter with the thawed rat in front of it (on a paper towel, head first) like it's staring at the front of the dryer.
3. Turn the dryer on and make sure the towel and the rat don't get blown off the counter.
4. Set a timer for 5 minutes and browse the forum for a bit until your timer goes off. Once it does, your rat will be nice and toasty for your little guy.
5. Do a little zombie dance for your BP and watch in amazement as the rat becomes dinner.
6. After you do a little happy dance, come back and share your results with the group!

[calmolly1]

This. Many times BPs won't recognize f/t prey as food because their person hasn't warmed it up enough. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Leave a rat out to thaw in the snake room for a few hours. I take mine out of the freezer in the morning and feed at night.
2. Once thawed, set a hairdryer on the bathroom counter with the thawed rat in front of it (on a paper towel, head first) like it's staring at the front of the dryer.
3. Turn the dryer on and make sure the towel and the rat don't get blown off the counter.
4. Set a timer for 5 minutes and browse the forum for a bit until your timer goes off. Once it does, your rat will be nice and toasty for your little guy.
5. Do a little zombie dance for your BP and watch in amazement as the rat becomes dinner.
6. After you do a little happy dance, come back and share your results with the group!

This is exactly what finally worked for me changing my picky girl to F/T...but live first to really get that feeding instinct going.


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[michaelt]

I'm so glad I don't have feeding problems with mine.. Brought him home on a Saturday and handled him about 4-5 times before feed day.. And hasn't missed a meal yet but I do feed live mice. I move him to a seperate box and set the box with the mouse in it on the edge of the box to get him interested then drop it in and within a few seconds of dropping it in he has it gripped.. Then I let him eat and move him back 15-20 min after its down. Only reason I use different box is so the mouse isn't peeing or crapping in the enclosure

[Smith123]

Thanks guys , certainly a few things to think about, maybe I didn't get the rat warm enough? I will try the hairdryer trick next time. So leave him where he is maybe? Don't move him to a smaller tub? I would keep him in a tub no problem if it was better for him, although I do worry about ambients in a tub as I think my house would be too cool which is a shame ....

[Smith123]

Thought I'd be productive and weigh the little guy...... Around 60grams? I hope the breeder got his age wrong as that seems very light for 6mths old ? Is that weight possible at 6mths? Going to ring the breeder and double check!

[Smith123]

Now cluttered up the viv some more and changed for lower hides for added security





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