Help with new ball python and feed methods!

[maausen]

Hello,

I recently just got my first ball python named Jaxx. He is wonderful so far besides getting him to eat.. Last night i thawed a rat pinky and warmed it up with a dryer and got it all ready for him. I went to go give it to him and he struck at it like crazy! except he would not latch on and constrict it.. Whats going on? He is a hatchling and only 75g. Tank temps seem to not be an issue.

[M.P.C]

Try an appropriate sized live prey and see if it that helps, he could just simply not be interested in the f/t and the repeated strikes are defensive if he isnt grabbing on and just striking over and over

[M.P.C]

Also if you werent already doing it you can do a zombie dance with the f/t to try and trick him into thinking its alive

[scalrtn]

Your snake should first have ample time (at least a week or two) to adjust to it's new home before attempting to feed it. That would also include not handling it. It needs to be made to feel secure - and that's helped by wrapping the tank sides with black construction paper. A few other things you can try is 1) leaving the pinkie with the snake (near the mouth of the hide), and walk away/leave it alone with complete privacy 2) gently crack the pinkie's skull with tweezers or pliers before offering it.

I invested in a temp gun (around $12 at Amazon), and always insure my feeders are between 95 - 100 degrees F prior to offering.

[boafa]

Sometimes hatchlings take some time before they start eating... I would start off with a LIVE fuzzy feeder either mouse or rat.....

[adamsky27]

Good advice from scalrtn. What was the animal eating before? Live? F/T? Rats, mice? I'd let it settle in for a week or two and try to feed what it was getting before. As long as it has water it will be fine.

As scalrtn said, don't handle the animal until it eats (even then rarely). As people we always want to hold and bond with our new animals, but they need time to understand where they are. Let it settle in.