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

[coldbloodaddict]

live hopper mouse. better that than a dead snake!


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[Skiploder]

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"

This is excellent advice. As I was reading through the thread I was mentally cataloguing points and then I read this and this summed them up.

I agree, there is nothing wrong with your set up, as long as all of the husbandry parameters are correct.

Do not handle him more and as Ricky said, try live. If that doesn't work, try a different prey item of the same size.

They key here is to minimize stress. Snakes have individual temperaments. Some settle quickly, some take forever. What you need to keep in mind is that keeping snakes is all about reducing and limiting stress.

That means no changing things around and no weighing him...interaction needs to be at a minimum.

[Smith123]

Well I have handled him again and moved him! As I rang the guy I bought him from and he said I must put him in the 9L rub/tub or he will not eat..... So I told him on the phone about my temp concern in a rub and he said as long as I have the correct hotspot over the mat then the ambient temp in the rest of the tub makes no difference? Which is my room temp around 71f. So that's what I've done. Try to feed again tomoro

[Smith123]

This is his rub


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[calmolly1]

It doesn't have to be his permanent home, just til he settles in and starts eating for you. I suspected this was what he was used to, which is why I mentioned it earlier. I'm sorry if, as a beginner myself, I insulted anyone by giving that advise. I don't like the tiny tub thing either but snakes seem to thrive in them. As my first BP grew I moved her into her current home. In due course we will be converting a couple of rooms to reptile habitats giving each one even more space.

My babies:


My juvenile:




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[Smith123]

Yeah I will happily keep him in a rub if he is happy and eating. I only put him in a small viv as I felt it was the only way of getting the correct temps, since ive been told it's not a must to have the ambient as high as recommended on these forums then I will go with it, difficult for beginners like me as there lots of conflicting advise. Thanks for input

[Skiploder]

Actually the ambient temp is very important.

Ball pythons in the wild don't bask or use hot spots. They den where the ambient temp is suitable. Some keepers keep forego hot spots altogether. You have been given bad advice

You were given good advice by several people in this thread. Leave the animal alone, try a live prey item. Dial in your parameters.

You have ignored it. You have moved him and are now potentially keeping him at too low an ambient temp...

Good luck with that.

[Smith123]

As I stated..... What is a beginner supposed to do!! Why would the breeder I got him from say temps will be fine? Why did I have a reply on this forum and on this thread from a keeper with low 70's ??
how many times do I need to state I will NOT feed live and there should not be a need to.
Hopefully he will feed tomoro or soon or the breeder said I've to take him back to get him eating again ...

[calmolly1]

Can you get a small space heater with a thermostat? I have a radiator style one that keeps the room at 78. The tubs stay at around 80-82 without lights, the viv needs a CHE to keep it at 80. But the heater does the main work. Yes it's a bit warm for us right now cuz they are in our bedroom but we are willing to deal with that for happy snakes.
And looking at his tub you will probably need more holes or the humidity is going to be crazy.
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[Eric Alan]

I will NOT feed live and there should not be a need to...

While I certainly respect this choice, sometimes the need to feed live is in the best interests of the animal. I prefer to feed frozen/thawed myself. However, I also know that not all animals will eat frozen/thawed consistently (or at all). If the decision is to feed live or have an animal that doesn't eat (or force feed), I'm feeding live every time. If you cannot make this same decision, then maybe this animal isn't the right animal for you.

Now, having said all of that, I absolutely wish you the best of luck! Remember, the snakes know what they need best - everyone else will just give you their opinions (based on varying levels of experience).