help!

[rosie617]

I just got my ball python 2 weeks ago, (shes about 16") and heard that it is normal if they dont eat for the first few weeks. I havent handled her so she can get used to her surroundings. The first time i fed her she didnt go near the pinky, but the second and third times i tried she attacked it, had it in her mouth, and then spit it out. Can anyone help me as to why she would do this, if im doing something wrong, or if this is normal because they can be picky eaters. Im feeding her frozen pinkys which i make sure are warm before i give them to her, and she was fed pre-killed prey before, so she is used to it.

[tmlowe5704]

I just got my ball python 2 weeks ago, (shes about 16") and heard that it is normal if they dont eat for the first few weeks. I havent handled her so she can get used to her surroundings. The first time i fed her she didnt go near the pinky, but the second and third times i tried she attacked it, had it in her mouth, and then spit it out. Can anyone help me as to why she would do this, if im doing something wrong, or if this is normal because they can be picky eaters. Im feeding her frozen pinkys which i make sure are warm before i give them to her, and she was fed pre-killed prey before, so she is used to it.

P/k and f/t are two different things. I don't have a single snake that will refuse a p/k but I am having one heck of a time switching them all to f/t. Are you feeding a rat pink or a mouse pink? If it is a mouse pink, it is too small for your snake.

-Tim

[digcolnagos]

If my experience is any guide, I wouldn't sweat it. My snake was in shed when I got it. Long story short, it was almost a month before he first ate for me (FT), and two weeks after he finished shed. It just took him some time to adjust. He's been a pig ever since, switching easily from FT mice to FT rats. If your husbandry is right (82 cold side, 92 warm side, identical hides on each side, humidity between 50 and 60 percent) and he's in a quiet area of the house, I wouldn't freak. Just keep offering once a week.


If he strikes and takes the prey but doesn't eat it, I think that's a good sign. Try leaving the prey with him so he can get back to it at his leisure. I had to do that once. Also, if he's in shed, he might not eat. Mine never eats when he's in shed. That's the only time. Are you offering at night and allowing privacy? I've heard they're more likely to eat at night, so that's what I do. I use a feeding tub (although I've heard that's not necessary) and give him plenty of privacy--as soon as he takes the rat from my hand, I put the top on the tub, turn off the lights and either leave the room or stay quiet for 15 minutes or so.

That's what works for me.

[Bobsean]

I have had my BP for 4 weeks now and i had the same problem as you the first two weeks. The solution to my problem turned out to be upgrading in food size. My BP is about 14" and i tried feeding him frozen pinkyes for the first couple of times. Just like you situation, he would strike but not swallow the food.
After a couple of tries with more fresh pinkies i decided to increase the size of my food. I then put a live hopper in his tank, little fuzzy mouse about 1.5" inches long, and he ate it right up! So far he has eaten twice.

So my suggestion would be trying bigger prey. It might just be as simple as the food your offering is too small.

Good luck

Sean

[frankykeno]

If it's a pinky mouse rather than a pinky rat it's likely far too small for a normal healthy young BP to consider much of a meal. Also remember that when a snake is consuming it's prey it's in a highly vulnerable position and it knows it. With a mouth full of prey and it's jaws unhinged it isn't able to defend itself or flee very effectively. If you disturb some snakes during the first moments of swallowing they can spit the prey back and decide it's just not safe enough to eat at that moment.

[rosie617]

The tank is in a quiet part of the house, also in the warmest. The pinkys are mouse pinkys (thats what the lady who sold her to us said to feed her.) If thats too small, what size do you think we should feed her? I also heard that feeding them 2 small pinkys is ok instead of one larger mouse. (which is what i was going to do) Is this not accurate? Thank you guys, youve made me feel much better!

[TheDude]

Go up to hopper sized mice, My guy is about the same size, he can eat 2 a week ussually. Pinkies are way to small, I'm surprised he struck at it. Maybe thats what the pet store had been feeding him?

[rosie617]

I got her from a reptile store, not a pet store. The one thing i didnt ask when i got her was what size mice to feed her. I then went to pick the mice up at a pet shop near my home who also carry ball pythons. They were about the same size as mine is and the woman at the pet shop said pinkys. Obviously she didnt really know what she was talking about.

[JLC]

I got her from a reptile store, not a pet store. The one thing i didnt ask when i got her was what size mice to feed her. I then went to pick the mice up at a pet shop near my home who also carry ball pythons. They were about the same size as mine is and the woman at the pet shop said pinkys. Obviously she didnt really know what she was talking about.

It's unfortunate, but most "reptile stores" are merely pet stores that specialize. And the employees there tend to be as ignorant as traditional pet store employees. (Not to say there aren't exceptions...just saying that just because a store sells only reptiles, doesn't mean they know how best to care for them.)

Most breeders I know start a newly hatched bp on pink rats or hopper sized mice...and move up to full grown (small) mice within just a few feedings.

[rosie617]

Thank you guys! Should i try just feeding her one hopper a week, or 2?