Baby Ball Not Eating

[JasonG]

I personally wouldnt go to the vet yet. Id make the changes we all suggested and wait a week. If she doesnt eat at that time then go to the vet.

[xdeus]

I imagine the vet will look over her, give her a check up, probably run a fecal and decided whether or not he should try assist feeding or force feed her based on her condition. That doesn't cure her, but only a small step in the right direction.

Taking her to a vet doesn't suddenly make her eat, YOU will be doing most of that work. It's a process involving minimizing stress, making her feel secure and safe and encouraging her to eat by herself with proper stimulation and patience.

Actually it could be a large step in the right direction. Young Balls can't go too long without food, at least not like an older Ball with some weight. It's quite possible that they can die without ever taking a bite, so assist or force feeding is definitely necessary in certain situations.

I had to assist feed two baby Balls this year after they refused for several weeks. I'm sure it was very stressful for them, but they received the nutrients that they needed and both of them took meals on their own after that without any problems. I think sometimes baby Balls just have to learn how to eat even if that means being assisted for that first meal.

[scotty99]

Don't know if this is any help at all, but i was given a 9 month old male BP to look after. I didn't know that much about snakes at the time, and was tolD by the owner to give a mouse fuzzy once a week.

Once i did more research I realized he was under weight due to being under fed. I moved him up to F/T mouse crawler/hopper size but he just wasnt eating or showing much interest. With the advice of my local reptile shop, I switched to F/T rat fluffs (abt 10-25g)...big difference in eating habits, he climbs/roams the enclosure when i pre scent now, which he never did with mice, and he's not refused so far (touch wood) and is bulking up on body weight now

I was getting a little(well a lot) stressed with him not eating and being underweight so know how you feel. May be your BP is not into mice that much like mine wasnt..worth a try with a rat size that will be right for your BP???

[Headsy]

Well we took everyones advise and made the changes in her tank. the vet said that she looks healthy and to wait a week before attempting to feed her again. we are monitering her weight now just to be sure that she isnt losing any. we are goin to attempt to feed her a rat fuzzy or hopper which ever the pet store has in at the time. next week sometime. we are waitin on the assist feed until after this feeding i dont want to stress her out anymore that what she already is. and thanks everyone for all the help.

[kc261]

I don't think rats have a size called "hopper" because I don't think they hop around at that age the way mice do. Anyway, I think the equivalent age of a mouse hopper in a rat would be too big for your little one. A mouse fuzzy or mouse hopper would probably be appropriate. If you want to try rats instead, it would probably need to be a pinkie. However, from everything I've read, the movement of a mouse hopper is one of the best ways to stimulate a stubborn BP to eat.

[Headsy]

I forgot the (,) i kno the difference.

feed her rat, fuzzy or hopper

[snakecharmer3638]

Has anyone suggested moving him/her to an even smaller encloser maybe a plastic shoe box. I had two little ones that would not eat. I moved them to the plastic shoe boxes and offered them live. And they both ate on the very next attempt.

[Headsy]

SHE ATE! thank you everyone for your help and support. she finally ate last night for the first time. she did it on her own.

[littleindiangirl]

SHE ATE! thank you everyone for your help and support. she finally ate last night for the first time. she did it on her own.

Great news! Now keep on that.