Whats Wrong ??

[summer]

I have a Ball who I have had for about a month and I can't get him to eat , I have tryed everything ,from frozen fuzzy to live, to dipping them in chicken broth and on a weekly basis , I have also noticed he is slow moving around he isnt quick at all or seem alert like my cornsnake , And also his head seems to lean to a side from time to time , Is that a sign of weakness I am new to Ball's ,, I bought him from a pet store a month ago and he hasnt ate with me yet , They say my last resourse is to force feed him but can be harmfull to him , just wanted to move if this is normal for him to be to in active ,And when I call the store they tell me it's normal for them to go long time without eating // ?? Can someone please help me with this ,,, Thanx so much ... Summer

[Nate]

First, why chicken broth? who told you this bit of information?

[_BoidFinatic_]

First, why chicken broth? who told you this bit of information?

Whereas I don't have the links, I do remember reading that from certain yahoo/google articles, back in the day. Does it work? Maybe with a carpet python.

[SarahMB]

I remember reading it as well, and I think I might have even tried it with Emily. Good gosh am I glad I found this forum and had the sense to take the advice given here!

[JLC]

Yeah...I've heard of the chicken broth trick. I don't think it matters where you heard that. What matters is figuring out why your little guy isn't eating.


First...what does his home look like? What size? Type? What are the temps in there? How are you maintaining those temps and how are you measuring them? Does he have any hides? If so, what kind? And is the enclosure in a busy room or a quiet room? (If you can post a picture, that'll help a lot, too)

Second...how often are you handling the little one?

Third....have you taken him to a vet yet?

The most common reason for baby balls to not eat is "environmental." Either the temperatures are way off in their home...or they don't feel secure enough in their home to eat. Eating is a very vulnerable time for them and if they don't feel safe, they won't eat.

The other possibility is that the little guy is sick. If so, you need a vet to determine what he's sick with and help you to treat it. And I would never force feed a snake without a vet's direct recommendation and supervision.

[summer]

Thanx for the advice ...he is in a 10 gall glass tank with everything in it , he has hides and I am using cypress bedding . All his temps are good , my son picked him up a few days ago and was good he is very quite . doesnt move around alot or anything ,he has been in his hide for the past 3 weeks , Only up until 2 days ago he came out of his hide and hasnt gone in yet , seems like he is slow , his color and skin look good , I can put my finger in the cage and seems like he doesnt pay me any mind ,and he leaves his head in the arkward postions, has me wondering now ... now my cornsnake is different hes very alert and will notice when i am in his cage and comes out every night to be nosy ,, ,LOL.... didint think Ball's where this confusing , Do you think he could have been sick when i bought him ????

[summer]

Opps ,,, Sorry wasnt done ,,, He is in a quiet room , where its dark most of the time , and I havent tooken him to the vet yet , Because the store kept telling me its normal for them to not eat alot or often that they are picky eaters and they get calls alot from other owners who have hard time feeding Ball's ,, So thought it was normal and he would come around but he hasnt yet and way he is slow has me wondering ...

[BiG~PUN]

The best way for us to help you is give us specifics.

- How big is your cage, how old/big is your bp?
- How are you heating the cage?
- How are you controlling that heat source? Thermostat, Dimmer, or just plugged into the wall?
- How are you monitoring your temps? Where is your thermometer, on the floor of the encosure, halfway up the wall, or at the very top?
- What are you using for substrate?
- What is in the enclosure? do you have two hides one on the cool side one on the warm side?
- Are the hides snug for your bp? they love to be crammed.
- Is the cage in a high traffic area?
- Pictures are alwasy most helpful. As they say "A pictures worth a thousand words"

Also what are your feeding routines?
- Do you feed in a seperate tub?
- Is your prey item appropriate size?
- What time of day do you feed?
- Is there alot of people around when you do feed?

If you can answer these questions the people here on this forum will be able to help you faster.

[JLC]

He may have been sick when you bought him. He may have gotten sick since you've owned him. If he's keeping his head angled upward, it could be a sign of respiratory infection. (Holding his head up helps him breathe if mucus is building up inside) I really would recommend a trip to the vet...a vet who understands reptiles and has experience treating snakes.


Ball pythons can't really be compared to corn snakes. They're typically a much slower animal, with less tolerance for environmental changes or mistakes. A healthy, thriving BP will usually spend 99% of its time sound asleep, curled up in a hide where you won't see it...and typically only cruise their cages at night when everyone else is asleep.

You say your temps are "good"...but without knowing the actual readings, how they're being achieved and how they're being read....we can't really know how to help. Same with the hides...hard to help tweak without knowing the details. And with ball pythons, it's often all about the "tweaking." There's just a lot of variables with these little guys.

[summer]

Thanx for the advice ,,, I called my vet and I am taking him in to get checked up on and make sure there is nothing wrong with him ,, And nip that in the butt first ,,, hopefully its something easily fixed ... Will post back when I get back from the vet .. Thanx you guys your awesome ,,,,

Summer