Ball Python Feeding Question

[cchardwick]

I'd say this behavior is totally normal. Its tough using frozen thawed and having just one snake. If they don't eat it you have to toss the rodent. I'd suggest getting another snake that's not a ball python as a clean up snake LOL. I usually try to feed my picky snakes first and if they don't eat feed the rodents to my king snakes or retics or ball pythons that I know will eat. I also gas live rodents with CO2 and euthanize before feeding, that way they are always the right temp. If you get the rodent temp off that can make them go off of feed. When I was doing frozen thawed I thawed in a small fridge overnight and then put the rodent in an incubator at 90F - 100F for an hour or so, longer at 100F for bigger rodents, shorter for smaller rodents.

Personally I'd try a few adult mice, seems like ball pythons will eat mice more readily than rats. And you can always follow up with a rat after they take the mouse, that usually does the trick.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless your snake is really underweight. You should post a photo here. Snakes can go several months without eating and still keep a decent body condition, as long as they have a little age and weight on them, probably not good for hatchlings. If they still won't eat after months you can try a live rat pup or small rat to try to get them started up again. I try to avoid feeding live because of the risk to the snake, and most will take fresh killed / frozen thawed once they get used to it. I bought an adult snake that only ate live. I offered fresh killed every week for months before she took her first mouse, then slowly moved up to rats. She was so big that you couldn't even tell she wasn't eating for months at a time.

Some of my ball pythons will refuse to eat anything for months and then just suddenly snap out of it and eat like pigs. I don't even worry about it anymore. Once they start eating they put weight on pretty quick.

Also, make sure you feed late in the evening when ball pythons are active. If I fed in the morning almost none of my snakes would eat. You should also have a small light on in the room during the day so at least they know the difference between night and day.

You should also weight your ball python and weigh the rodents. I try not to go over 10% of the snake weight. Ideally you should shoot for 5%, some snakes won't eat rats that are 10% even though physically they are able.

One of the reasons I prefer my King snakes and reticulated pythons over ball pythons is that I know they will always eat no matter what. But I couldn't' imagine not having ball pythons in my collection too!