Ball python feeding difficulties poll

[peregrinefalcon]

I know many people say that ball pythons are horrible feeders and therefore are not good beginner snakes. I would like to see if this is true, so the question is: Have you ever had difficulties getting your ball python to eat?
Thanks,
Adam

[peregrinefalcon]

Hmm, I thought I attached a poll, oh well :rolleyes:

[Matt]

yes,

balls are notorious for difficulties in feeding...one reason they probably arent the most ideal begginer snake.

[Linds]

I have had one baby that was a very difficult feeder. She finally took her meal nearly 3 months after she hatched :rolleyes: My other two, both captive bred babies, have fast this year. My male has been off feed for almost 9 months, my female just came off a 3 month fast two months ago, and eats most of the time, but not always. My male became a sporadic feeder in the months leading to his fast. I'm not worried about him as he is still in great shape, but things like this can be frustrating to first time keepers.

I have worked with many balls in the past as well, and have found them to be sensitive feeders overall. Some feed great, but eventually they experience some sort of fast or feeding difficulty. They develop preferences fairly easily as well. I agree with Matt. This is why I never recommend them as a first snake ;)

[Andy_G]

Not me. Mine always eats and gives me signs when it wants food. I only fed it when it shows these signs (once a week roughly) and she never refuses.

[MontyPython]

Mine hasn't rejected a meal yet. I have fed 2 mice at some times and he just gobbles them down. It made me nervous to hear that these snakes are finiky eaters, but was pleasantly surprised when mine took his first meal...

[BoidKeeper]

Read the chapter in the ball python manual on feeding strategies if you need convincing.
Cheers,
Trevor

[dan2492]

Well i just got my first ball and it has eaten its first two f/t mice without a problem
Dan

[Zoe]

Nope! The one I worked with was my best eater (except my boa)!

Zoe

[sapphire_moon]

Well so far with my female bp She hasn't refused a meal yet. But the new one (don't have a name yet, I'm getting him* sexed monday) I tried to feed him a f/t but refused! I am going to wait atleast a week then try again. Just leave him alone (until monday) change his water and keep him warm. Then try it again, maybe on tuesday or wendsday.

[Jeff_Favelle]

No not at all. They are the easiest snake in the world to feed. They eat EXACTLY when they want to, and they don't eat EXACTLY when they don't want to.

For some reason, people want their Ball Pythons to eat when THEY want them to. All wrong. Ball Pythons don't work that way.

And that's why they are mislabelled as problem feeders.

But they're not. Not at all.

Easiest snake in the world to keep. I can't believe how forgiving of mistakes these things are. Its crazy.

[Wraith]

My royal did not eat when I first got her but after 3 months she started and now she eats like a pig.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
No not at all. They are the easiest snake in the world to feed. They eat EXACTLY when they want to, and they don't eat EXACTLY when they don't want to.


Easy or not, how many posts do your read "My ball won't eat?". They sure eat when they want, but that is frustrating for first timers when they have a snake fasting itself, even though they have read about it a hundred times over. I don't sweat it, its not as though my balls are skinny and emaciated, they know what they are doing, but guaranteed if they were in the hands of a beginner they would be forcefeeding by now, especially my male has been without food for over 9 months now :rolleyes: Beginner keepers do exactly what you said, they want their snakes to eat when they want them to and often have trouble with the concept that the snake may not be hungry.

[BoidKeeper]

I've got 4 now and it's 50/50 the males eat when they want and the females eat when I want. To echo what Jeff said they are easy to keep and if you know that they fast and the snake is healthy then it's nothing to be concered about. The first ball I had would stop eating in during the first week of September and not eat again until June. Cheapest snake I ever kept.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Jeff_Favelle]

Easy or not, how many posts do your read "My ball won't eat?

Well, I put it into context because these same people also post "can I put a Burm in a 20 gallon, or can I house my Ball, Boa and Corn together with multiple hides, or where's the best and hottest hot rock I can buy, or, and my personal favorite, can I feed my corn CHUNKS OF MEAT"??!

These are the types of questions I hve read over the last few days here! I am not joking. So when I think something is easy, I am not counting these people. They are in a different world. Its not even a matter of not being informed. Its a matter of having no common sense.

If a person would just take the time to read a TINY bit about Ball Pythons, they would have no troubles at all (buying CB, heat gradients, thigmorphic hides, etc etc). We cannot help ignorance. We try, but does it really make a difference?

[remsin76]

i had difficulties with my ball but realized that it wasnt the balls fault it was me offering him too small of prey. my ball is no CB but never really gave me problems.

[Piebald Guy]

Balls are really easy to take care of. They don't bite very much, docile and very forgiving. I was asking Jeff about my ball that squeezed out of its tank last week through a 3/8" wide slot. This snake is the 1700+gram female I refer to in my "how much do your ball pythons weigh this year" post. Read it if you want to see how some balls feed VERY well. If a 2"+ diameter snake can squeeze through a 3/8" wide slot stuffed full of rats then ball pythons must be very forgiving snakes.

Do I have feeding problems? Oh yes, I have two W/C's that WILL NOT EAT!!! I can get them eating gerbils if I want but I'm still tring to starve them into rats (live). If no sucess by tomorrow I'm going to purchase a dozen gerbils and feed them off. One of the w/c's is starting to look terrible. Now these are bp's that were imported gravid this year (all information discovered AFTER the purchase through a chance encounter with someone, I never would have purchased them if I knew).

Then I have a 100% het Sutherland albino male from Corey Woods sold to me directly from the person who purchased it from him. He is going to be bread this year to 100% het albino females so I am expecting albino balls in about one year. However he is very picky. Ate only once for me (F/T rat) and rejected food on three other occasions.

Vary your feeding patterns. Do not offer food on a regular basis. Try in four days and if no success DO NOT try agian for 10 days. If it still doesn't take, offer again in 5 days, if no success offer again at least 14 days later. Im not saying this works but if the animal realizes that food may or may not be comming it might be more inclined to eat when offered. Try that rack. It works BEYOND GREAT!!!!

Dave

BTW my 544g hatchling refused her first meal last night. But after 5 rat pups in two weeks I'm not worried.

[SerpentLust]

At the pet store I work at, I work with the reptiles and the Ball refuses f/t but eats live in a snap!

Jenn

[eViL_KaRoT]

Yeah, BP's are really bad at going on off feed. Some never do, but most do. Mine JUST came back to eating again. He went on off feed back in October and just started eating again last week, so 9 months on off feed. Kind of stressfull for the owner. I think the reason that they are considered good started snakes is because of the fact that they stay reletively small and seem to be more docile. But you are right, the off feed is not a good thing for first timers, unless they are fully aware of that fact.

[Mark]

Both of mine are great eaters and only refuse food will in shed or a week prior. I had more problems with my male corn snake which just came off a 5 month fast.

[Infectrix]

I guess I could add my experience with my bp..

Out of about 50 or so feedings, 4 were live and the rest f/t.. Her first meal was on the day after I got her.. She's eaten pinky>fuzzy>adult mice and is currently on small rats.. No delay in mouse>rat transition.. She eats whatever my boa constrictor refuses.. With her being my first and only bp I have yet to experience the challenge of problem feeding bp..

[fateamber]

I have, when its cold weather but when its hot i don't seem to have any difficulty feeding him :)

[Linds]

Originally posted by Piebald Guy
If a 2"+ diameter snake can squeeze through a 3/8" wide slot stuffed full of rats then ball pythons must be very forgiving snakes.

All snakes are capable of flattening their heads/bodies to some degree to get through tight spots. Just curious why you say this makes them forgiving?

[RaVeNo888o]

sorry to move off topic but what does the term 'gravid' refer to. I have seen it mentioned a few times, both cases in terms of wc bp's.

[Linds]

RaVeNo888o,
Gravid is a herp term for pregnant. It applies to all reptiles.

[snkmn]

my ball python is a great feeder. i have heard the horror stories about them .but mine eats every week without fail.

[Belegnole]

I have my first ball...23" as of right now and had it for 2 1/2 weeks so far. Having had other snakes in the past I can see where these guys could be considered problem feeders. When I pick the snake up I asked when it had been fed last. I was told the day before and a live mouse was what it ate. One week later I tried f/t.....no luck. Then next day I decided to try a bit of an experiment try a live mouse.....It snapped the mouse right up. This week I tried two mice....No problem....So, next week I am beginning the transition to f/t; first a live, then a stunned in the same feeding. Then week by week switch over to f/t only. Now something that has come to mind concerning the problems feeding balls. I have notice that many feed with fingers or if nothing else with the handler VERY observable by the ball. If you consider how head shy Balls are and combine it with the close proximity of the handler... what do you get?

I know this last isn't the answer to the eating problem, but just a observation. Though for some it may be the answer and if it is great. DON"T let yourself be seen if the snake is acting hesitant to eat. I use a seperate poly container that is almost opaque it works well. If I sit still I can watch . I had a Dumerils that would not eat if it knew I was in the room......had a milk that refused all the time.

[GTPman4]

I've had my 30" female BP for 2 years now and she has only refused food while in a shed. Other than my GTP, she is the best feeder out of my collection of 7 snakes.

[killaclown]

I had homies crying and wining about how there bps wont eat then i feed them live and well lets just say they aint buying frozen. But if you want them to eat froxen www.rodentpro.com is a good place to buy