Feeding problem........or not?

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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I have been trying to get my new ball python to eat......
I was told she was eating pre-killed mice once a week.
We have had her for more than 2 weeks and I have not been
able to get her to eat. I tried last night and all I got was hissed
at:eek:
How long should I wait to try again? And are there any sneaky
tricks I can use to get her to eat?
So, far she looks fine, no noticible external problems that I
can see.

Ideas? :?
 

Bry

Arachnodemon
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Okay, answer a few questions for me, and maybe we can figure out what the problem is.

1) Where did you get the snake from?

2) What are the temperatures in the enclosure during the day and night? How about humidity?

3) What substrate did you decide on? Aspen or newspaper?

4) Does it have a place to hide on both sides of the enclosure?

5) How often do you handle the snake?

6) How often are you offering food? Does it feel warm to the touch when you offer it?

7) Where is the snake's enclosure at? In a quiet room or a high-traffic room?

Bry :)
 

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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1) A dealer at my local show.

2)Day time temp. 86F, Night time 70F

3)Recycled paper, same as the vendor had it in.

4) Just on the "hot," I have to get another one.

5)Every other day.(maybe too much?)

6)We tried to get her to eat about a week after we purchased her. Once last week and again last night. one food item was live
and the others were dead, but warm.

7) My daughter's room, usually a quiet place. Behind a locked door.
 

Phillip

Arachnoprince
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how large is the ball?

I ask because sometimes balls go off feed for a while and adults do this more frequently than young ones. Also if it is a baby a trick that usually gets them to feed is to place the snake and the food together in a paper bag or a small sterilite overnight and check on them the next day. Most of the time the scent will trigger a feeding response when they are that close to it for a while and sometimes a shy snake won't go right after food when it is 1st offered. Even so the good thing is that a non feeding ball isn't that uncommon and they usually come around and start to feed when given time. They can also go quite a while without eating before it causes them any harm so you don't have to get too worried just yet.

Phil
 

atavuss

Arachnoprince
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you might also try different prey items such as white or multicolored appropriatly sized rats........my ball python will not eat from the first rains in the fall until the first warm days of late spring/early summer, it has not eaten since last fall. it still looks in overall good condition as I feed it very heavily when it does eat to put a good layer of fat on it to last it through its fast. my ball python will not eat mice of any color nor will it eat white rats, has to be multicolored weanlings or small to medium rats. it won't eat frozen and thawed either, has to be alive so I stay there until it eats and if it does not eat I take the rats out and try a week later. very finicky but it is worth it for me..........
Ed
 

Bry

Arachnodemon
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Marcie, so far your care sounds okay to me. I don't think the hide thing caused the feeding issue, but I like to eliminate as many possible causes. The only thing is, attempting to feed it every other day is too often. That's probably why your ball python hissed. Don't handle the snake for a week to let it get settled into its home, and offer food once a week instead of every other day. Going without food for 2 weeks is no big deal to a snake. I would also try the tricks that Phillip and Ed recommended, once a week.

The reason I asked where you bought the snake from, is because if it came from a pet store, it was more than likely wild-caught. I think you have already heard that wild-caught is hard to get to eat, usually. But since you bought it from a dealer at a show, it depends on who you bought it from. Buying from breeders usually guarantees a captive-bred baby, but from dealers, it depends on if they breed themselves, or get the snakes elsewhere.

Bry
 

sunnymarcie

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Bry,
She came from a group of eggs that were hatched in captivity.

Thanks for the ideas everyone, I'll wait a while and try something
different.
 

Bry

Arachnodemon
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Okay, that's referred to as 'captive-hatched' or 'farm-raised'. That's pretty much the same as captive-bred, with the exception of the parents actually being there. :) She's probably stressed from being in a new home. Like I said, just give her a week to herself before offering again. Try offering normally for a week or two. If nothing happens, then I'd try the tricks mentioned above. Sometimes they're just picky, and prefer something else.

Bry
 

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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HAPPY DANCE!!

No more problems here, for now:)
I finally got Lucy to eat :}
It was the worst thing I have ever done though..........
I ended up getting a live white mouse and well you guys
that have snakes know what I had to do:( You know, paper
bag, hard surface.....YUCK! But she ate it, and if that's what
it takes for her to be happy, that is what I will do.
Now that she has eaten I feel much better, thanks to everyone
for your tips and tricks:D
 

Bry

Arachnodemon
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Congratulations! :D I wish more non-feeders would come around as easily as yours did. But that's what happens when you have 12 snakes.

Bry
 

sunnymarcie

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12 snakes, are you crazy!!!!
One is plenty for me.:rolleyes: She has a real attitude too.
But I do wish I had more room for critters:D
 

Lasiodora

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Great to hear Marcie. Now you can relax until the next feeding;) .
Mike
 

Bry

Arachnodemon
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attitude?

12 snakes, are you crazy!!!!
One is plenty for me.:rolleyes: She has a real attitude too.
But I do wish I had more room for critters:D
Attitude? On a ball python? By any chance, do you mean 'personality'? I realize that there are ball pythons that have bad attitudes, but these are not common. is this the case with yours?

Bry - 12 snakes and kwaazeeee
 

atavuss

Arachnoprince
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Re: HAPPY DANCE!!

Originally posted by sunnymarcie
No more problems here, for now:)
I finally got Lucy to eat :}
It was the worst thing I have ever done though..........
I ended up getting a live white mouse and well you guys
that have snakes know what I had to do:( You know, paper
bag, hard surface.....YUCK! But she ate it, and if that's what
it takes for her to be happy, that is what I will do.
Now that she has eaten I feel much better, thanks to everyone
for your tips and tricks:D
another tip:
use a zip lock plastic bag.........more than once I put a live prey item in a paper bag to smack it and the bag popped open leading me on a merry chase with a rodent.
Ed
 

sunnymarcie

Celestial Spider
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If a rodent ever got out it would not have a chance in my house.
I have a cat and 2 dogs that hate ANYTHING smaller than them.


Attitude, personality, call it what you want:) She's got one:D
Which ever it is she took a shot at my son the other day. I was holding her and he came in the room to tell me something.
He started to talk and she snapped at him:(
 
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