4 month old Ball python not eating

[funtimebritt]

My husband and I are new albino ball python owners. He is about 4.5 months old at 85 grams (3oz) We are having a bit of trouble feeding and I wanted to make sure we were doing everything correctly. I know they are difficult at times/fast but wanted to know if anyone could give me your thoughts to see if conditions are okay. Yes, I have looked around the boards, just want a personal opinion.

We have him in a 20 gallon tank as this is what was told to us when we purchased him. We realized this may have actually been too big so we cramped it for him He has two hides - one on the cool side (temp ranges from 78-80) and one on the hot side (ranges 88-91 degrees Fahrenheit) Water dish. Humidity is between 55-60 degrees

Lots of plants. He does hide quite a bit and is active at random times but mostly at night. We do not handle him at least 1-2 days before we try feeding and did leave him alone for a week to a week and a half for the past two times we tried to feed him

He is just showing no interest. We feed frozen thawed, which is what he was eating before, wiggle it in front of him a bit, he smells it but goes away afterwards and will just circle around it showing no interest. We do not take him out of his hide to feed. Just want to make sure this looks okay or if something is off that as new owners we don’t see. Thanks for any help! Also don’t know if we should leave the mouse in there for a bit or just wiggle it and take it away if he doesn’t take it.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If he is 85 grams and not eating a 20 gallons than is just not gonna cut it even cramped, do this to a T https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

[Bogertophis]

I also wonder how much handling you are doing with this snake? All new snakes should not be handled until they've fed easily & reliably for 3 times
at regular intervals, at least, & for best results. Remember that just because a snake is docile when handled does not mean it isn't stressed: anything
that picks up a snake in the wild is normally a predator that's about to eat it! Most of our snakes do learn in time that they are safe with us, but that
is going against their instincts. So if you've been handling this snake, you need to back off while he does some more growing & feeds consistently.

You should be feeding him at night, if you aren't already doing so. That's his natural time to hunt. Many snakes are put off by too much light or by us
"hovering" during the feeding process also...just offering possible suggestions here, in case. What kind of hides are you using? (some are too "open"-
like those half-round hollowed tree bark things; some are just too big & don't offer "back pressure".)

[WhompingWillow]

A few questions: How long have you had him? Has he ever eaten for you? How are you heating up the F/T mouse? We've had good luck placing the feeder in a Ziploc, thawing in warm water, heating it up a bit once thawed under a heat lamp in the room with the snakes, then blasting the nose of the mouse with a hair dryer before offering on tongs.

Different snakes have different personalities when it comes to feeding. Most of ours are eager eaters, but we do have one that will sometimes take off tongs, sometimes requires us to leave in cage and he'll come eat it. Make sure to feed at night. You can always leave the mouse in the cage overnight and remove in the morning if not eaten. Good luck!

[Craiga 01453]

If he is 85 grams and not eating a 20 gallons than is just not gonna cut it even cramped, do this to a T https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101

I also wonder how much handling you are doing with this snake? All new snakes should not be handled until they've fed easily & reliably for 3 times
at regular intervals, at least, & for best results. Remember that just because a snake is docile when handled does not mean it isn't stressed: anything
that picks up a snake in the wild is normally a predator that's about to eat it! Most of our snakes do learn in time that they are safe with us, but that
is going against their instincts. So if you've been handling this snake, you need to back off while he does some more growing & feeds consistently.

You should be feeding him at night, if you aren't already doing so. That's his natural time to hunt. Many snakes are put off by too much light or by us
"hovering" during the feeding process also...just offering possible suggestions here, in case. What kind of hides are you using? (some are too "open"-
like those half-round hollowed tree bark things; some are just too big & don't offer "back pressure".)

Both great replies, they summarize everything I would have said very well. There are two typical reasons a young BP will refuse food. Husbandry, addressed by Deborah above, and stress, addressed by Bogertophis above.


Follow Deb's advice, she's awesome and really knows her stuff. If you follow to a T, you'll be in good shape.

Also, what Bogertophis said about handling is spot on. At that size, that snake is thinking "predator" every time it sees you and is likely stressed due to handling. I personally advise new keepers to let their snake get three consecutive meals without refusal before handling. Until the snake has eaten 3 times, without refusal, no handling. I know it's tempting to want to hold your new pet, but getting it eating is most important right now. You'll have 20+ years to handle the snake, so let it settle in.



Good luck, keep us posted and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

[funtimebritt]

Both great replies, they summarize everything I would have said very well. There are two typical reasons a young BP will refuse food. Husbandry, addressed by Deborah above, and stress, addressed by Bogertophis above.


Follow Deb's advice, she's awesome and really knows her stuff. If you follow to a T, you'll be in good shape.

Also, what Bogertophis said about handling is spot on. At that size, that snake is thinking "predator" every time it sees you and is likely stressed due to handling. I personally advise new keepers to let their snake get three consecutive meals without refusal before handling. Until the snake has eaten 3 times, without refusal, no handling. I know it's tempting to want to hold your new pet, but getting it eating is most important right now. You'll have 20+ years to handle the snake, so let it settle in.



Good luck, keep us posted and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Thank you all so much! We did handle him a bit at first but quickly learned this is a no, so we have only handled him briefly to move him to a temporary tub to clean his enclosure. I messaged Deborah for additional info because I think it will boil down to his enclosure. The person we bought him from recommended a 20 gallon tank which seems to be clearly too big as he is only 4 months at this point.

As a side note - approx what weight would we move him to a 20 gallon tank?

[Craiga 01453]

Thank you all so much! We did handle him a bit at first but quickly learned this is a no, so we have only handled him briefly to move him to a temporary tub to clean his enclosure. I messaged Deborah for additional info because I think it will boil down to his enclosure. The person we bought him from recommended a 20 gallon tank which seems to be clearly too big as he is only 4 months at this point.

As a side note - approx what weight would we move him to a 20 gallon tank?

Sounds good!! You're in great hands with Deb.

As for moving him, don't rush it. There's no set weight either. It'll come down to when the snake is eating regularly. I'd say put that on the back burner, get him situated per Deb's advice and go from there. Revisit the question of moving him a bit down the road.