I'm a new member and a new snake owner!!

[mango]

Hi everyone! I'm a new member and I'm a new snake owner. About 2 weeks ago I bought a new baby ball python. We named her Mango and she's being a little stubborn. She won't eat and we think she is starting a shed cycle but we're not sure. I'm working on getting pics up but till then is there any helpful advice out there for the ignorant?? lol

[Invictus]

Welcome Mango. We have a ball python forum here, and you'll find that every second post in there is about a problem feeder. :) BP's are like that.

[lilyskip]

hey, welcome. did her eyes turn hazy at some point/is her belly pink? That indicates the start of a shed cycle. If not, then there is some other reason why she isn't eating.

1. do you know if it was a wild-caught snake or a captive-bred snake? many wcs have parasites and most experience a lot of feeding problems. Whenever you get a new pet, you should take it to the vet for a checkup, or at least have a fecal sample analyzed. This way, you'll be able to tell if she's got internal parasites.

2. check the temperatures in your tank. The hot side of a bps tank should be around 90-95F during the day, with the cool side at around 80. If it's too cold, your snake won't eat.

3. how often do you offer her food? if you offer every day or every other day, this will stress the snake out and she won't eat. wait until she's really active moving around her cage before you offer, and wait 4-5 days between attempts. DO NOT HANDLE HER UNTIL TWO DAYS AFTER SHE'S EATEN. Snakes won't eat if they're handled too often, either.

4. what kind of food are you offering? mice? if so, try switching to rats. rats? if so, try switching to mice. Are you offering frozen food or fresh killed or live (HOPEFULLY not live, esp. for a first time snake owner)? If you feed frozen, how are you thawing out the food?

5. How do you feed her? I found that when my bp refused its first feeding, the cause was my own improper technique. I touched the rat to its body, which scared it, instead of holding it very still in front of its head. I also moved it from it's home tank, which also freaked it out.

BPs are often very, very picky eaters. Before you worry about techniques to make snakes eat (braining, dipping in chicken broth, scenting), check to make sure you've got the basics covered. :D

[CDN-Cresties]

Hi, welcome to the site and congrats on the ball python! :D Once you have your BP eat his first meal, i would recommend not to handle it until 3 more feedings. I know this may be difficult since you want to hold your new pet :) but it help your BP in the long run. I also recommend buying the Ball Python Manual if you already havent. Good Luck :D

-Steve-

[sapphire_moon]

Yes, do not hold it until after it eats atleast 4 times. (unless you have to clean the cage) I have a baby bp that has not eaten yet either. And you have to try everything.....but then again I have another bp that eats, and has never refused a meal.

[mango]

Hi everyone and thanks so much for the replies! My little girl is a captive bred captive hatched 5 month old. I bought her from a breeder. She had eaten a mouse fuzzie for them and I've had her two weeks. Her humidity stays around 70 or 80 percent and her temp is 85-90 on the hot side of her tank during the day. She has a hide box and the water bowl is on the cool side. Her eyes are milky but only at the top of her eyes and her left eye has a little sunken place like it's dry. I've offered her live mice fuzzies and thawed mice fuzzies for the past 2 fridays and she has refused both times. I haven't handled her much for the past week except for spritzing the cage and spot cleaning. I'm using cypress mulch as her substrate to help regulate humidity. If I left something out let me know. Oh...the closest reptile vet is over 2 hours away and my appointment isn't until next week. It seems it's a very busy place. Thanks again!