BP won't eat:(

[Jessicalaylay]

So we've had our little guy for almost 2 months now and he has shown zero interest in feeding (we haven't been able to get him to eat at all). We've tried once a week, then once every other week, and he's just not having it. The husbandry is fine to my knowledge- about 90 on the warmest part of the warm side and 78 on the cool side. He has hides on each side and the humidity is kept at about 55%. We've been doing thawed fuzzies. He's still a baby, but it's been difficult getting him adjusted. We initially tried to feed him in a separate container but it seemed like handling him stressed him out so we tried feeding in the enclosure but that hasn't worked yet either. We have hardly handled him at all since we've had him because we want him to settle and not be stressed, but I feel like since he's not eating, there's something wrong. We feed him at night when it's dark and try to be as quiet as possible and dangle the mouse in front of him...and he doesn't even show interest in the mouse, he just tries to climb up the enclosure to get out lol. Any advice? He's not showing any signs of infection or sickness, but when should we start to be concerned/contact a vet? Thanks!

[cletus]

How old? As long as the snake isn't losing too much weight it shouldn't be a problem but he sounds young from your description. I'd try live.

[Yzmasmom]

How are you thawing and warming up he food?

It needs of be the right temp for them to think it's live. Do our wiggle it Ike a live mouse?

You may have to give live and then work on converting.

[AKA Dave]

You may have to give live and then work on converting.

Agree. I've had trouble snakes that just did not want to take f/t. I went with a smaller than normal live prey item followed up with the same size f/t rodent while they are still in hunt mode. 3 weeks of this and then just the f/t prey and conversion done. Couldn't come soon enough. My wife's "too cute to feed off" rat collection was growing.

Dave

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Consideri bg the animal is very you bg (given the prey you are trying to feed) yes you should be concern especially after 8 weeks.

Do this to a T https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

And I mean to a T

Refusal in young new animal is 99% husbandry related and can only be fixed if the owner is willin to make the necessary changes.

A vet will not solve the issue it will likely make it worse as they have very limited experience with getting young BP to eat.

[Mangiapane85]

Are you going to try live today? Please keep us posted.


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[ballpythonluvr]

Do as Deb suggested. I had a young snake that would not feed and I took Deb's advice and the snake started to eat for me no problem.