New Ball Python Owner - First Feeding Questions

[Kevin8998]

Hey everyone,

So I just bought a ball python (my first) on Sunday and he's been doing good in his cage so far. All the temps and humidty have been okay and he isn't showing any signs of stress from what I can tell.

When I bought him, the breeder told me he ate on Tuesday and so that makes today 7 days. So it's time for him to eat but I've only had him two days, do you guys think I should go ahead and attempt a F/T feeding this afternoon? Or should I wait a day or two more so he can become comfortable?

And one more question, I'm seriously debating whether or not I feed him inside his cage or in a different container (which would be a plastic tub)... Which would you guys say is best? I've read conflicting reports online.

Oh and he is 3 months old and the guys told me about 120 grams (I do not have a scale to weigh him myself yet).

Thanks for the help in advance.

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[Brixxart]

Personally I'd wait a week after you got him to feed, he'll be fine not eating for a few extra days and will be even hungrier and more likely to eat.

I personally feed in a seperate container because I don't want to risk substrate consumption, but you can do it in your enclosure it's up to you. The first time I tried to feed in enclosure my idiot boa just got a mouthful of eco earth and missed the mouse entirely, eco earth won't do much damage but it's personal preference and what your snakes will do, some refuse to eat unless it's in their enclosure anyways.

[ckuhn003]

Hey everyone,

So I just bought a ball python (my first) on Sunday and he's been doing good in his cage so far. All the temps and humidty have been okay and he isn't showing any signs of stress from what I can tell.

When I bought him, the breeder told me he ate on Tuesday and so that makes today 7 days. So it's time for him to eat but I've only had him two days, do you guys think I should go ahead and attempt a F/T feeding this afternoon? Or should I wait a day or two more so he can become comfortable?

And one more question, I'm seriously debating whether or not I feed him inside his cage or in a different container (which would be a plastic tub)... Which would you guys say is best? I've read conflicting reports online.

Oh and he is 3 months old and the guys told me about 120 grams (I do not have a scale to weigh him myself yet).

Thanks for the help in advance.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Hey Kevin...

I'm in the same boat as you. Just received my little guy (196 grams) today. He was fed by the breeder last Thurs and it was recommended to feed him in a day or two to help him acclimate. I was told to buy small mice but after going to the store I decided on med mice (12.5 grams) because they seemed more size appropriate according to the feeding guide I found on here. The smalls were 7.5 grams.

I'm not sure about your experience, but I haven't seen the little guy since I put him in the enclosure. I'm hoping i'll get a glimpse of him tonight. Keep us updated on your experiences.

I'm leaning on feeding him in the cage to avoid any additional stress.

Chris

[monks98]

Wait a week to feed generally. It won't do any harm. And feed in tank. Moving is really uneccesary and causes undue stress on the snake.

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[Craiga 01453]

Whether you attempt to feed is up to you. There's no harm in trying, maybe just wasted prey item. There's also no harm in waiting, he'll be fine not eating for few days.

The separate feeding tub is a much debated topic, but I think youllyou'll find the vast majority of experienced keeps will 100% advocate feeding within the enclosure. Transferring to a separate tub can cause stress, regurgitation and highly increase your chances of getting tagged.
My 1000000% advice is feed in the enclosure.

[Sunnieskys]

I would wait. He will only be hungry enough to eat lol. I would also feed in enclosure.

[iddah]

I just got my baby, too, and I fed him last Sunday because that's when it would have been a week since his last feed. He was going into shed when I got him and when I tried feeding him a week later at home after letting him acclimate for a few days, he ended up refusing the rat pinky I offered and wasn't at all interested, I haven't been able to weigh him yet because I don't want to disturb/handle him during shed - - he's in blue right now anyway and more likely to tag me lol. He does look like his midsection is broader than the rat pinky, so I'll probably upgrade to a rat fuzzy and offer him that after his shed, even though I know he'd still be /fine/ with the rat pinkys, since I'm not looking to bulk him up too fast.

Just wait it out, like others have said, a couple of extra days won't hurt the snake. I know it's kinda stressful when you're a new bp owner and you're still figuring things out and getting used to the whole fact that bp's don't always take food when offered and snakes in general eating roughly once a week, etc, lol.

[MmmBanana]

When I got my first BP he was only 4 months old. The breeder just got back from vacation before he shipped the snake. So, when I got him it was 2 weeks since he last ate. So the breeder told me to offer him food right away. He ate the 2nd day I had him. Like other have said, there is no harm in offering food sooner. However, I would feed in his enclosure. He is already in a new place, so moving him around will probably lower the chance of him taking food and increase the chance of a regurgitation if he does take the food.

My opinion on feeding location is always feed in their normal enclosure. I don't believe they develop any tank aggression. When you offer food it is pretty obvious when they snap out of pet rock mode and into feeding mode. If their is no rodent smell, there is no food/"tank aggression". Unless you just have a generally defensive BP. Which a defensive BP wont be cured by feeding in a different enclosure.

[EL-Ziggy]

Congrats on the new BP Kevin. I agree with much of what's already been said. When to feed is totally up to you. I've fed some snakes a day or two after arrival and others I've waited a week to feed. It all depends on how comfortable I think the critter is. I feed all my snakes in their enclosures and since they're primarily nocturnal creatures I always feed them at night. Best wishes with the new addiction. Hope to see pictures soon.

[Craiga 01453]

Best wishes with the new addiction.

Hahahaha, so true!