First Time Feeding-A Little Help,Please!

[verymoistcrayon]

So I finally got my new snake-a handsome pastel enichi male ball! His name is Asriel, and I got him at least two weeks ago.He is in a small viv currently-a LOCKING one, so no more escapees- but when he gets bigger I'll be upgrading.

Back at the store he along with the many other ball pythons were being fed small rats and large mice, but when I got him I tried a pinkie on him to see if he was interested. I put him in a separate bin, but he was more interested in trying to get out of the bin, so I tried it out back in his viv.In his viv he was too nervous to eat, so I left the pinkie in the viv and turned off the lights. I came back hours later and he still hadn't eaten, so I tried it out again the next day with the same result.

I decided to try out a small rat this time. This rat was a little bit more...bloodier? Some blood seeped out of the nose, which Asriel was kinda interested in, but like the pinkie he just tried escaping the bin. Currently I have the rat in the viv with him with my room's lights off, but is there anything I am missing?Any tips?

Also, he doesn't seem to be hiding in his hide, should I try something else out or is he just not interested in it?

[DJC Reptiles]

I don't recommend feeding outside of your enclosure. Snakes feel the most comfortable where they know they are safe. Also, there needs to be a calming period or about 1-2 weeks before you even attempt feeding, or handling. Leave him alone in his enclosure for that time before trying again.

[IDvsEGO]

I agree on not using a separate feeding tub. I feed all of mine in their enclosure. I have also read that some snakes have issue transitioning from mice to rats so I would probably stick with whichever they were feeding on before. Pinkies don't have tons of nutritional value, they are just necessary for younger snakes due to size. Most threads I have read on problem eaters sat not to offer multiple times in a short period. Offer the food, wait a week, offer again. It will eat when it gets hungry enough. All of mine eat differently. One baby king snatches it right away, even if I am moving his tub. My bigger snakes wait until the food is in front of their noses. My rainbow baby won't eat until I leave the room.. Proper lady, that one.

As for the hide... Be sure there are a couple of hide options. My kings and even the red tail like to burrow too.

[craigafrechette]

Gotta agree with the other members and say ditch the feeding tub. There is absolutely ZERO benefit to feeding in a separate feeding tub.
Feeding within the enclosure is the much preferred method amongst experienced keepers.

Feeding in a separate tub A) moves and stresses the snake prior to eating, increasing the odds of a refusal.
B) You still need to move the snack BACK to its enclosure which could lead to the snake regurgitating it's meal. And C) Increases the odds of you getting tagged by a snake in feed mode.

Also, wait at least 5 days between offering another APPROPRIATELY sized prey item. Offering too often will stress the snake and lead to more refusals.

Lastly, regarding the hide situation, what are your temps? How are you heating the enclosure? Are your heat sources regulated by a thermostat? How are you measuring temps? Are you offering more than one hide? And are your hides proper sized?

[verymoistcrayon]

Thank you for the input! I'll feed him in the viv for now on. Anywhere I've read said to feed in a different environment, but now I understand. I've had him for 2-3 weeks now. He didn't eat the rat last night, but I have a feeling it may have to do with the heating. I only have a heating lamp on the viv currently, and he's been trying to get as close to it as possible. I do have a small under tank heat pad, but I haven't put it under yet as I am waiting to elevate the viv and put it on a stand, which I'll do today. (Me and my elevated enclosures,lol)
If your snake doesn't eat, what do you typically do the food? Do you throw it away/get rid of it or refreeze it? (I'd imagine it to be the former but I'd like to know)

[craigafrechette]

Ok, sounds to me like you need to do some tweaking of your husbandry. I highly advise getting your husbandry right, making sure ALL heat sources are regulated by a thermostat.
I believe husbandry is why your snake isn't eating. You didn't mention anything about your temps, etc...

There are 2 main reasons why new BPs refuse to eat, husbandry is public enemy number one. Stress is number two.

Get your husbandry dialed in, wait a few days and offer again.

As for what to do with refused food: I've never re-frozen any prey items, but I have heard from some reliable keepers that it can be re-frozen ONE time.
Personally, I just give it to another snake. But for keepers without multiple snakes, that's obviously not an option.

[Aaron_S]

Thank you for the input! I'll feed him in the viv for now on. Anywhere I've read said to feed in a different environment, but now I understand. I've had him for 2-3 weeks now. He didn't eat the rat last night, but I have a feeling it may have to do with the heating. I only have a heating lamp on the viv currently, and he's been trying to get as close to it as possible. I do have a small under tank heat pad, but I haven't put it under yet as I am waiting to elevate the viv and put it on a stand, which I'll do today. (Me and my elevated enclosures,lol)
If your snake doesn't eat, what do you typically do the food? Do you throw it away/get rid of it or refreeze it? (I'd imagine it to be the former but I'd like to know)

What temperatures is the hot spot under the bulb? What size enclosure is it?

I usually re-freeze rats once then use it the next feed. I thaw them by leaving them out. I fill a bin of hot water and dump them in right before feeding to warm them up for the snakes.

[IDvsEGO]

My ball goes straight for the area over his heating pad after eating. He seems to prefer it for warmth. That may help a lot. As other said, on a thermostat. All of mine are on one.

I treat their food like mine. I wouldn't eat meat that had been thawed for a few days. I also wouldn't freeze meat 3 or 4 times and eat it. It gets gross. If you offer and the snake doesn't eat it in a few hours, I would refreeze 1 time. Otherwise, trash. Honestly, buying frozen in bulk, I wouldn't even refreeze once unless we are talking large rats or something on the more expensive spectrum. I can afford to dump a few pinkies or even weaned rats if I am trying to work with a picky eater.

[verymoistcrayon]

I tried again tonight to avail-I tweaked the heating a bit, including adding an UTH which As loves as well as moving the heat lamp out a bit, so hopefully that makes the slightest difference. I tried playing around with the rat for a bit with a slight reaction, but otherwise nothing. I notice he only moves when i'm not around, so I'll leave it out overnight if he decides that in the stillness and darkness he would like to eat. Fingers crossed he does, but if there is any other tips you would like to share feel free.

[verymoistcrayon]

He still has not touched it. I'm getting a bit concerned.

[Aaron_S]

Have you tried live food yet?

[dsnakelady]

Couple different things here, temp need to be correct, not sure what yours are at.. they need the warmth to digest their food. You are better off with a heat emitter then a lamp. Light's can stress a BP out. The enclosure needs lots of clutter to make it feel safe. Humidity could be playing a factor here to. If all husbandry is on point, try a mouse, see if it will take that, or try live but keep watch.have something handy to stick in the rodents mouth if the snake gets a bad grab so it doesn't bite up your snake. You could try tongs and wiggle the frozen thaw rat a bit see if that catches it's attention...