Feeding Problem-Help!

[AlextheBallPython]

After a few weeks of feeding weekly without any problems, this weekend my BP (Alex) didn't seem interested in the live mouse I got him. So my first thought was "Uh Oh"...feeding problem.

Thoughts?

[joepythons]

After a few weeks of feeding weekly without any problems, this weekend my BP (Alex) didn't seem interested in the live mouse I got him. So my first thought was "Uh Oh"...feeding problem.

Thoughts?

First off Welcome to the group.How often are you feeding him? Are your temps correct? Then again if you are feeding him sooner then 7 days he might just be full

[AlextheBallPython]

First off Welcome to the group.How often are you feeding him? Are your temps correct? Then again if you are feeding him sooner then 7 days he might just be full

Thanks for the welcome. Glad I found you guys. You have all been a great help & source of knowledge.

Temps are good. I have not changed the temp in his tank since I got him. He has been eating every 7 days without a problem. However, I did notice the weekend before last, when I was feeding him, that it took him a strange 3 times to kill this mouse. The first 2 times he seemed to get scared as this mouse obviously didn't like getting bitten.

So this weekend, I dropped the mouse in another tank/ box & then put my BP in with him. He got a little exited for a few moments & when the mouse sniffed him, he jumped. Then seemed to get intimidated and lost interest.

[joepythons]

Thanks for the welcome. Glad I found you guys. You have all been a great help & source of knowledge.

Temps are good. I have not changed the temp in his tank since I got him. He has been eating every 7 days without a problem. However, I did notice the weekend before last, when I was feeding him, that it took him a strange 3 times to kill this mouse. The first 2 times he seemed to get scared as this mouse obviously didn't like getting bitten.

So this weekend, I dropped the mouse in another tank/ box & then put my BP in with him. He got a little exited for a few moments & when the mouse sniffed him, he jumped. Then seemed to get intimidated and lost interest.

Well when you take him out of his home the safe feeling left and he felt unsafe.My guess is thats why he did not eat for you .I would give him a couple days then try feeding him inside his enclosure just like before .If you change anything your ball python will react in a negative way to it

[AlextheBallPython]

Well when you take him out of his home the safe feeling left and he felt unsafe.My guess is thats why he did not eat for you .I would give him a couple days then try feeding him inside his enclosure just like before .If you change anything your ball python will react in a negative way to it

Ok, I left out some info...I had been taking him out of his tank before when he was eating well and putting him in another location. So I hadn't changed anything. BUT...Maybe he would do better if I left him in his own enclosure instead of on some newspaper in close quarters with this mouse?

[joepythons]

Ok, I left out some info...I had been taking him out of his tank before when he was eating well and putting him in another location. So I hadn't changed anything. BUT...Maybe he would do better if I left him in his own enclosure instead of on some newspaper in close quarters with this mouse?

OK but give him a couple days to calm down first before you try again.

[AlextheBallPython]

OK but give him a couple days to calm down first before you try again.

Great, thanks!

[Cam]

I do not have a BP I am here to learn before I get one...

Could you stunn the mouse prior to the feeding if the snake seems reluctant with a 'fully live' prey item???

[AlextheBallPython]

I do not have a BP I am here to learn before I get one...

Could you stunn the mouse prior to the feeding if the snake seems reluctant with a 'fully live' prey item???

I tried that and it didn't seem to help. He paid even less attention to it. I think it may be a comfort issue, so I will try leaving him in his tank to feed.

[rabernet]

I do not have a BP I am here to learn before I get one...

Could you stunn the mouse prior to the feeding if the snake seems reluctant with a 'fully live' prey item???

No - there is no need to stun if you are feeding appropriately sized feeders. I feed live, and never stun. I also feed slighly smaller than the girth of my snake for the younger ones, and no larger than small/small rats for yearlings and adults.

I feed all in their own enclosures as well.

I wouldn't be too concerned over a one week skipped meal.