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View Full Version : i know people ask this all the time but i have come across a feeding issue


elvirak
07-15-15, 09:38 AM
Some background I am new to this. I have a female pinstripe bp who is great she eats great sheds great except for one shedding which was when I first got her and it was a nightmare otherwise she is now shedding well is in a 40 gallon with good temperatures never had a problem with her ever. So then I decided to go out and get the bp I always wanted a spider banana I found at a reptile expo over a month ago and his sunset look made me fall in love. The breeder told me he is an amazing eater will eat anything previously on live mice. So I get this guy home I set him up in a 20 gallon in a closet to have him in a low traffic area. 2 hide spots not too big perfect for him a water dish , heating pad , acurite temp reader , terra bedding on side of water dish and aspine rest of the cage some plants and a log to climb on. temps 90 hot 85-78 cold and hum ranges 50-70 % I left this guy alone for about a week tried to feed him for first time outside his tank in a plastic tub I gave him xs rat f/t since that's what I use for my other one heated it up offered it ...nothing. so I put him back kept handling to a minimum 2 times a week 10-15 min a time and no handling 2-3 days before feeding since hes a bit more timid then my other one who literally pushes her nose into the tank when she smells the rat being heated up. So I tried again after the first weeks failure and now I put it in his tank left it by the hide for a few hours, he came out looked at it went back in wanted nothing to do with it, left it there for a couple more hours he didn't bat an eye came out of his hide was doing all kinds of acrobatic movements paying no attention to the rat went back in his hide so later on I took it out. attempt 3 I then tried a mouse... I went out bought a mouse tried giving it to him outside his tank( 1 week passed by) nothing he would turn the other way medium size mouse. attempt 4 I tried the rat again but this time I put him in a shoebox and brained the rat dangled it for a bit left it in there closed the shoebox with holes 3-4 hours later still there. put him back. :( He is about 5 months old when I got him he was 265 grams he looses about 2 grams a week. he is super active in his tank at night, very shy still about handling since I haven't really been doing that to give him time to adjust, only bit once not his fault my friend reached her hand very fast when I was holding him and he freaked, I held him until he relaxed, no incidents still hes not aggressive hes just shy even when I hold him hes in a ball for 5 min out of the 10. He did have a scratch on his face when I got him possibly from live mouse but hard to tell wasn't open or anything it looked healed. I really don't want to do live but I did call about 10-15 stores by my area no one sells live one sells live pinkies but nothing bigger haven't tried that yet would like to avoid it until needed because with his refusal I don't want to buy a pinkie have him not eat it and have it die for no reason... My other one on the other hand is getting fat as anything she went from 211 grams when I first got him to 300 because shes eating all his refusals.. so I made feeding day same day to stop her from pigging out. I know I shouldn't be too worried but I never ran into this issue before and just don't know how to get that trigger back to get him to be the model citizen he needs to be.

lady_bug87
07-20-15, 05:37 AM
Hello! I'm not sure if you're still checking in but if you search this sub forum there is a lot of information on Ball care.

Your hot end temps are a little bit low. I would have it bumped up to 95.

What are you measuring temps and humidity with?

No handling. None until the animal is eating consistently. By consistently i mean 5 times in a row.

Try not to check on him so often. He's curled up because he's nervous. Give him time.

Weight loss isn't as important as dehydration. If he suddenly becomes dehydrated (dry wrinkled skin) that is a bigger issue.

Only offer food 1x per 7 days. Make sure the prey item is very hot (run it under hot water) you can also try braining it (split the head open so it's extra smelly).

It's just going to take time. If he won't eat and it gets worse you may need to assist/ force feed but you aren't there yet

Albert Clark
07-20-15, 10:57 AM
Hi, how old is the spider banana? The hot side I think is ok at 90f, 92f the most. Are you controlling the heat pad with a thermostat? Thermostat is a must when using any heat source bc you have to be able to dial in the correct temperature and know that its going to be constant and not a runaway. The other thing you need is to make sure the hide is a tight fitting one. Tip. Buy a small bag of 100% cypress mulch and spread it under the hide. Just enough to cover the inside of the hide. Don't handle him for seven days and then feed him very late at night in the complete darkness. Hope this helps and I take all donations. Just kidding. :blink: :blink:

Mmrseed
07-20-15, 11:20 AM
As already stated do not keep offering food so often. Also I have had some balls that were initially difficult eaters and found that they would ignore mice or strike in fear or irritation at mice in a feeding tub but when placed in a paper grocery bag with a mouse which blocks a lot of light they would eat quickly

lady_bug87
07-20-15, 11:29 AM
I wouldn't bother moving the snake to eat. Just more work.