At what point do I force Feed?????

[Monty]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

i went to the vet today with the pastel and he said everything internally and externally are fine no parasites hes just under nourished my vet told me to wait a week try a live hopper and if he doesnt eat that week wait another and assist feed

[frankykeno]

You might want to read this.

http://www.ralphdavisreptiles.com/ma..._robyn_pro.asp

Two days out of the egg, no feeding history and they sold this snake to someone with zip experience with hatchlings. Why am I not surprised that they've given you poor customer service when you tried to get back with them over your concerns.

[jkobylka]

tried that thanks justin i got him 2 days out of the egg and he ate the first week but hasnt eaten in 5 now

If he started eating on his own the first time and has now stopped I'd be more inclined to say that he not eating because of stress out. Especially when the vet trip is tacked on.

[Monty]

thanks frankykeno for the website i tried 8balls method it didnt work

yea all he gave me was his genetics info. and im surprised i even got that.

no experiacne in hatchlings well now i know what i did wrong in the beginning now ill be ready for when i breed and know what to do but i am deff still asking questions cuz it deffinatly isnt cool to just let someone go like that with out any info and since it was at a reptile show and i tried to talk to him and all he was worried about was selling.

[Monty]

well i tried to feed him last nite didnt work so this after noon i took him to the vet and now im gonna let him settle back in for a week before i try anything

[Halfdawg]

We Need an update?

Richard

[firehop]

I dont know if you mean update on mine or the other one but Mine still havnt eaten and we are getting close to forcing. They have lost around 10% body mass but are still real active and I am holding out hope they will eat this week.

[Monty]

my pastel ate!!!!!!!!!!


firehop i wish you luck and if yours have eaten everyone one this site gives great advice listen to them and learn.

thanks everyone

[muddoc]

I dont know if you mean update on mine or the other one but Mine still havnt eaten and we are getting close to forcing. They have lost around 10% body mass but are still real active and I am holding out hope they will eat this week.

Rick,
At this stage with your hatchlings, I would try assist feeding (NOT force feeding). By this I mean, take a P/K or F/T mouse hopper, and stick the head of the prey into the mouth of the baby ball python. Allow the nose of the nose to just touch the back of the mouth, and keep the snake's 2 jaws in contact with the mouse. Then GENTLY tug the mouse in an outward direction (as if taking it out of the snakes mouth). This will cause the backward curved teeth of the snake to "latch" the mouse, making it less easy for the snake to release the meal. Set the snake back in to it's enclosure, and leave it alone for an hour. Go back and check on the snake, and my bet is the mouse will be gone. This has had great success for me over the last few years. I think some snakes just need to get the food in their mouth, and their feeding response kicks in.

Note: I had a pinstripe female that I had to do this too this year. After assist feeding her three times, she still would not eat n her own. However, the next 2 assist feedings, she would bite down and wrap around the prey as soon as I got her mouth open. After 5 assist feedings, she tears up the rat pups like she never had a problem.

Good luck with your stubborn feeders,

[firehop]

Tim,

As always your a huge help. I will give this a try this weekend. I will keep you all updated. As always this place rocks.