this snake is pissing me off...

[bearhart]

go ahead and cover all but one of the sides of the tank.

[bcampos]

hahah no shes not gonna die .maybe she is full. some snakes go 6 months with out eating nothing to worry about if she hasent eatin in 5 months then you have to worry

I'd avoid this advice. It seems to be a bit of advice from someone who does not really understand. She is small and very young. Yes you should worry a little if you can visibly see a change in size/hydration. I'm no expert, but some EXPERT on the forum will help you out. My only advice is to not consider the above referenced quote as reasonable.

Maybe a full grown snake can go 5 months but not a baby. Come on man. Dont give advise if you don't know the answer, the outcome could be tragic.

[rabernet]

Like I said, my baby bp is pissing me off. She hasnt eaten in over 2 weeks and being so small, she seems to have visibly lost weight. Everything that has to do with her husbandry is correct, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have tried f/t, regular adult, live hoppers,small adults... Nothing seems to work! Her first two meals she ate without hesitation, and now for some reason she wont even acknowledge the food I put in front of her. Some people suggested pre scenting the cage: did that, didnt work...others suggested holding the live feeder and letting the snake investigate it: also didnt work.... I'm just really worried that she is gonna die!

All those things you've tried, you tried them all in a two week period of time? My guess is that the little one is extremely stressed out by all your attempts to feed. Do the other recommended changes, leave her alone, don't even touch her for a week, then drop in a live hopper mouse after that full week.

[frankykeno]

Giaach, I've had to deal with non-eating CH babies this year and did end up having to help them or they would simply not have survived.

Having said that it's NOT the first line of defense so to speak. It's a serious decision for a newcomer to either assist or force feed a hatchling (assist isn't the same as force feeding btw). You need to look at other things first...handling, husbandry, stressors on the snake, caging, prey, health of the little snake before you make a serious decision to assist/force feed. Experienced keepers may make this determination and do this much quicker but they know what to do and when the time is to do it.

Before you go to assist feed I'd caution you to step back and really look at your husbandry and every aspect of the care this snake gets. Is there anything else you can adjust first before you rush to assist feed? Adding in newspaper, smaller enclosure, quieter room, feeding at night after dark, leaving in a rat fuzzy overnight perhaps (fuzzy mind you, not a prey with erupted teeth type thing), stopping all but absolutely necessary handling. That would be my first steps before I'd go to assist feeding any snake.

[Thunder Kat]

are you using a uth or light? i was using just a light and my bp started fasting for about 5-6 months off and on. a herpetologists friend told me that she might have had trouble digesting her last meal, and he made me an uth (to boost belly heat). it worked wonders. i waited about a week and a half/two weeks to feed and she constricted in less then one minute and ate in less then three. if there are any other options try them, force feeding should be a last resort. and if you do have to force feed, talk to a herp vet as this method of feeding is obviously very stressful to both animal and owner. all the best, there are a lot of experienced people here who are more than happy to help.

[dsirkle]

All those things you've tried, you tried them all in a two week period of time? My guess is that the little one is extremely stressed out by all your attempts to feed. Do the other recommended changes, leave her alone, don't even touch her for a week, then drop in a live hopper mouse after that full week.

This I suspect is the correct advice for you (see above). And make sure that she has a nice dark hide to be left alone in.

[littleindiangirl]

I also agree with everyone. Handling your BP is the least of your concerns until she is feeding consistently. I had also said that in your last post about this snake. :/

You've only had this animal for a month. I agree that she is a very stressed out little snake!

Everyone here (esp. Deb) has given excellent advice! You should consider the move to a 6 quart just like she said.

[Freakie_frog]

What type of enclosure do you use? 10 gal glass aquarium
How big is your enclosure? standard 10 gal

Many people start out with them in this size no problems here

Is your enclosure in a low traffic area? yes, my bedroom, no one is around to make loud noises, bumps, thuds, ect

Good this is often an over looked area of keeping these animals

What are your temps (cool & warm side)? cool ambient 77-80, warm side 90-93

Cools side is a little cool but you have already addressed that

What is your humidity? 55-65%

Good job there

What type of thermometer/hygrometer do you use (dial,stick,or digital)? Flukers digital

Is this on both sides of the tank or does it have a probe. I am not familiar with these

What kind of hides do you provide (log, homemade, cubbyholes etc) and how many do you have? identical rock caves.

Good

Are your hides tight (all side touching your BP's body) and identical? while not super tight, she likes to curl up against the back corner

AAAA red flag for you right there. The reason she is not using her hides is she doesn't feel secure in them. Try smaller hides... you will be surprised how small a ball python really likes to have. If your animal is spending its time out of its hide and not eating this tells me that it is stressed. Get some smaller cave or even the Terra Cotta flower pot bottoms and make a small tight hide.

Check this out
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...543688#p543688

How often do you offer food? once every 5-7 days

Sounds good

How often do you handle your BP? maybe once every other day

As has already been covered might want to not handle until you get a couple of good meals in your little buddy.

Has you BP had any health problem? no problems in the past

[tjteach14]

I have found luck with dwarf rat pups for troubled eaters. They are a little smaller and the snakes seem to like them better than mouse pinkies.

Good luck.

[doyle033]

just two quick notes,

are you weighing this your self or did the vet give you the 100g weight. if you are not sure that the snake is really visibly loosing weight, i would suggest a small scale, just to make sure. i know that the stress of a non eater can cause the owner to "see" weight loss that really isnt happening. this would give you a true measure of how to plan your next move.
ALSO,
when was the last time this guy shed? if it was going into a shed, perhaps it doesnt want to eat till it finishes. i have a smaller male who gets somewhat darker, but really doesnt "go into blue" as noticeably as my other snakes, and wont eat for about two weeks of the whole process.
relax, dont get pissed, it will all work out
good luck