Hi I Have A Problem

[arcangelmarcos]

yesterday i get a ball phyton ! but she dont eat alone ! my friend have it form 2 years an half and she never eat alone he were using force feeding.. can i do something to introduce she to eat alone ????

thx

[frankykeno]

This snake has never eaten independently in over 2 years? It's been force fed for over 2 years?

Okay let's start at the beginning. How much direct experience do you have with ball pythons?

[Abby_The_Python]

The people here know millions more info then i do about bps, but if my memory serves me right one should never force feed their bp unless there is medical issues.

More info may be needed on that specific bp.

[arcangelmarcos]

i have keeping python for mmmm 6 years but i never have to force my pythons !!! but this i get from a friend !! because of that i am asking yours opinions

[casperca]

I would start first by re-examining your husbandry. Just check out the BP caresheet as a starting point.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=59

I forgot to add- Make sure you don't handle it (unless cleaning or emergency situations) until it is acclimated properly and eating again on its own. Also, don't attempt feeding it for one week after you get it home.

[frankykeno]

i have keeping python for mmmm 6 years but i never have to force my pythons !!! but this i get from a friend !! because of that i am asking yours opinions

I cannot think of a good reason why a snake would not ever independently eat for over 2 years and require continual force feeding. Something is wrong. Either the snake is sick or your friend didn't keep the snake correctly but something is just not right about all of this.

Make sure the snake is housed correctly. Make sure you are observing strict quarantine procedures. Have a fecal float done on the snake's feces to rule out internal parasites. If possible have an experienced herp vet have a look over the snake. Once you have ruled out physical reasons why the snake might not be eating by itself, again making sure your housing is perfect, let this snake settle in for awhile without being handled or attempts made to feed it. Over 2 years of force feeding and now a new home - that's got to stress any snake out.

Any idea what weight this snake is and if it is a male or female? What size and type of prey was your friend force feeding it and how often was he doing this?

[TanyaL]

How sad! I wish you the best in getting this poor guy back to a healthy happy bp! Please keep us posted on the progress.

Do you guys think there is a chance of it actually eating on it's own again? Two years is a long time! I know that feeding is a natural response/instinct but as with a lot of animals that say were kept in captivity can't always be released because they lose that natural instinct. Interesting situation! Sad, but interesting!

[frankykeno]

Tanya, I can see the animal losing it's hunting instinct on live prey maybe to some extent. Zoo raised big cats often won't run down prey. Zoo raised primates often won't forage for food because they are used to it being handed to them. I can't see a healthy snake, kept properly that has so completely lost it's instinct to eat anything...live, frozen/thawed, pre-killed to the point that it's never eaten without being forced to in it's whole life. I guess it can happen but I would have thought that it would be more likely in an adult captive snake then in what must have 2 years ago, been a very young or hatchling snake.