HELP!! First ball python what do i do!!

[garrett0922]

Ok guy and gals, I finally got my wife and I a beautiful male ball python offline. My main concern now is we went to petsmart and they were feeding the snakes well she watched amd all the sudden doesnt want to feed while im gone. The snake is 6 months old and is 200 grams he will be here in two weeks when i get home i work a 14 days on x14 days off schedule she will water it and clean its cage etc except feed. So he will be getting fed every 14 days on the dot. Will he be ok? He is on rat pups f/t. So should i feed two rat pups the day i come home and the day before i leave? Or just the tuesday when i come home feed then 5 days later feed again and then feed before i leave? Are how would yall go about this?!? Im very concerned about it and please dont tell me just dont get one thats not an option because a buddy feeds his once a month... its odd to me but his b/p is perfectly fine and around 1500 grams. I dont plan on breeding and want him to grow slow but dont want him to have health issues. I have a 28 gallon tall tank. Temps have been staying for a month consistent cold side day time stays 80 at night gets to 76.8 at the lowest. Then basking is 92 all times and ambient stays around 86 with 58 % humidity. I been testing the waters to make sure nothing fails while im gone besides a mechanical failure i want everything to be perfect so when im gone my wife does the essentials and he would be fine. Also should i be concerned for a little more aggresion when i come home since itll be 14 days since he ate last? I mean they say feed his size every 8 to 12 days so whats an extra two? I dont know if im over thinking it are what?!?

[Crowfingers]

At that size, I would try and make sure he eats every 5-7 days. Growing snakes need more food than adults to stay healthy. I can understand your wife not wanting to feed as it can be gruesome to some people. If she is not willing to make the rat "zombie dance" would she at least be willing to warm it up in some warm water (in a baggie so it stays dry) and just dump it into the cage? Mine will eat rats that are just left on top of his hide (which is what I have my pet-sitter do when I'm out of town. I have the rats pre-baggied, the IR temp gun beside the cage, and the glass bowl out for heating the water. All she has to do is heat the water, soak the rat until it reaches ~102*F, then open his cage and dump it in. If he does not eat it, I have feeding tongs that she can use to remove it the next day. That way she does not have to touch it or 'make it dance'.).

I kept mine on the 5-7 day schedule until he was 500-600 grams. Everyone has different suggestions, but 14 days seems long for a young snake.

As far as feeding two rats the same day, I would avoid that. Over-feeding can make the vomit, which can make them stop eating all together. When I was first doing research people on this site were a great resource and it was suggested that I not to feed any more than every 3 days at the most, 5 is better.

If he does go 14 days without eating he could become more nippy since his mind will be on food and he may strike at anything that moves. Make sure he has 2 hides, one on each side of the cage, and maybe cover three sides with dark paper to make him more secure. Young snakes can be more skittish than adults and many refuse to eat if they don't feel secure.

Another tip, try and weigh him and his food. Most people agree that they should eat 10-15% of their body weight every 5-7 days as a youngster or prey that is the same width as the widest part of the snake. Once they reach "adult" status (somewhere between 500-800 grams depending on who you ask) then you back off the percentage rule. Mine is over a year old and right around 850 grams, but does not get rats that weigh more than 65 grams for example.

Hope any of this helps. Good luck with the little guy

[Regius_049]

It would be better to feed once a week, but I doubt any harm will come to your snake feeding once every two weeks. Ball pythons can go a pretty long time without eating, even at a young age. I would recommend however feeding a bit larger meals. For example, if your snake usually eats fuzzy rats, try giving him a fuzzy rat and then something slightly smaller on top of that. I've fed babies BPs double mouse hoppers once every ~10 days and I have noticed they go a little longer without being hungry.

[KMG]

On your 14 days home you could probably get three feeding in. Wouldn't be that bad if you could and then left the snake for 14 days. It may be your best option if your wife wont feed. Mine wont either.

My thought here is feed when you get home, 5-7 days later, and then again the day before you leave.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Every 14 days is fine they can go weeks even month without food, they are generally overfed in captivity anyway.

[daniel1983]

A healthy python can handle a few weeks without food. I agree that going 14 days between feedings wouldn't be bad.....If you feed the snake 3 times when you are home. If the snake is in shed while you are home, still try to feed. If a missed feeding happens while you are home....I wouldn't worry as long as it doesn't happen every time. Best to keep a weight record, if you start seeing a lack of weight increase or weightloss....then something needs to change.

[melcvt00]

Do you have a friend or neighbor that would be willing to come feed while you are working?

[garrett0922]

Well shoot, this is the issue with asking so many people you get so many answers haha. No she wont do the zombie dance. maybe when he gets alil older and she gets use to him. I mean I have tongs but she doesn't care. I cant wait to get him i honestly think he will be fine i will try to feed him a meal when i get home i get home on a tuesday, the following monday ill try to feed again, then the following sunday are monday feed again. Or should i skip the middle feeding and just feed twice. The monday i come home and the sunday mondayish before i leave that after noon?!??! i think i may do that and weigh him when i come home and see what the results are.... The breeder said he is on F/T rat pups, i may see if i can go up to a weaned rat..... after a couple feedings of the rat pups that way its a little bigger meal.... SOrry i over think things and ramble on but i always always want the best for my animals!!!! Im at work now i dont get wifi till 4pm stupid oil prices... but ill be able to poist a picture of my setup once i get wifi and a picture of him also!!

No, no neighbors available either...

[Mangiapane85]

Well shoot, this is the issue with asking so many people you get so many answers haha. No she wont do the zombie dance. maybe when he gets alil older and she gets use to him. I mean I have tongs but she doesn't care. I cant wait to get him i honestly think he will be fine i will try to feed him a meal when i get home i get home on a tuesday, the following monday ill try to feed again, then the following sunday are monday feed again. Or should i skip the middle feeding and just feed twice. The monday i come home and the sunday mondayish before i leave that after noon?!??! i think i may do that and weigh him when i come home and see what the results are.... The breeder said he is on F/T rat pups, i may see if i can go up to a weaned rat..... after a couple feedings of the rat pups that way its a little bigger meal.... SOrry i over think things and ramble on but i always always want the best for my animals!!!! Im at work now i dont get wifi till 4pm stupid oil prices... but ill be able to poist a picture of my setup once i get wifi and a picture of him also!!

No, no neighbors available either...

Go with what Deborah said. ... since you have no breeding plans, every 14 days will be fine. If you are feeding a proper sized meal, you will still have a slow and steady growth with your animal. Heck, he might even live longer than most.

I feed mine every 5 days because mine will be breeders, so I want to get their sizes going. But one they hit 500-600 grams, I will back off to once every 7 days.


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[garrett0922]

@Mangiapane85
OK, thank you!!