Feed in seperate container?

[Argentra]

Too true, too true. Ball pythons are rather secretive and touchy little snakes.

I agree with all that... but I will add, just in case you are one of those (like me) who can't just go get a new enclosure and such, that you can keep your little one in that 20L tank as long as the tank is secure and "busy" with two identical tight hides and not much open space. Good hides can be as simple, and cheap, as plastic flower pots cut down with an opening, or even flower pot saucers for the really little ones.

But, yes. Make sure you have a nice secure enclosure, don't handle until they've eaten for you at least once, and up that prey size to something a bit smaller than the snake is round in the middle.

Good luck!

Oh, and as for the feeding in another enclosure: I do it mostly because it helps the ball pythons know when it's dinner time. That, and the pre-scenting. My snake room is lit in some way all the time, and they like it nice and dark for feeding so I put them in nice dark tubs. The corns don't care, so they get fed in their homes. It really all comes down to individual snake preferences.

[sneakerpro]

I got the best response to the food inside the aquarium, so I think that he will be more apt to feed in there. Is there anyway to pre-scent without actually having a live rat? I'm only feeding F/T and would really like to avoid buying a live rat.

[Argentra]

I'm not sure... but at the zoo we used to thaw the rodents at room temperature for a few hours before feeding time and we placed them in the snake room so the scent could spread. Not the greatest idea if your snakes live in your bedroom, like mine... but it's the only thing that came to mind.

[naba2002]

i agree that it doesnt matter where you feed them as long as they eat

[b8byjenny]

I have read a lot about feeding, and some people insist on a seperate feeding container, and others just toss 'em in the normal environment. I've tried the seperate container, and he always just explores the edges/lid and has no interest in the pinkie. Last night I tried to place the pinkie on a paper plate inside his normal tank, and he pushed it with his nose a couple of times, but never ate. I did notice that the pinkie is only about half as big around as he is, which seems too small to me. Would having too small of prey discourage him from feeding? (I'm using pinkies because the pet store suggested it for the first couple of feedings)

If you offer the f/t and they do not feed is it ok to re-freeze or should you discard and try with a new one?

[rabernet]

I got the best response to the food inside the aquarium, so I think that he will be more apt to feed in there. Is there anyway to pre-scent without actually having a live rat? I'm only feeding F/T and would really like to avoid buying a live rat.

Was this snake eating F/T before you got it? If not - I would continue to feed live until you get some feeds in thim, THEN try to convert him to F/T. A baby can easily take a hopper or small mouse.

[MeMe]

Is there anyway to pre-scent without actually having a live rat?

If you know anyone who keep rats you can just get some of their 'used' bedding and put it in a small tub and just set it in the room for a little while prior to feeding.

If you offer the f/t and they do not feed is it ok to re-freeze or should you discard and try with a new one?

Some people do.

I wouldn't...but that's just me.

[Colin Manning]

These snakes are strike feeders. You should try dangleing the food in. You dont have to use your hands if your worried it might bite you, you can use forceps. In the wild it would expect to just come across a dead mouse to eat so they dont expect it in captivity either. Good luck

[dalvers63]

(I'm sing pinkies because the pet store suggested it for the first couple of feedings)

If you're talking Mouse pinks, they are WAY too small. Even my newly hatched babies take either rat pinks or hopper mice. Whether you feed in the enclosure or outside, i would definitely suggest upping the prey size after you correct the other issues that people have pointed out.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I got the best response to the food inside the aquarium, so I think that he will be more apt to feed in there. Is there anyway to pre-scent without actually having a live rat? I'm only feeding F/T and would really like to avoid buying a live rat.

Yes simply thaw the prey at room temp right above the enclosure!

However since you BP never ate for you and is fairly young I would encourage you to fix your husbandry first, stop handling him, and offer live prey for 4 to 5 feedings before switching to F/T.

Your priority is to get him to eat first.