Not eating.

[Wizwise2000]

2/3 of my baby balls haven't eaten yet. I've left a pinky in over night with both of them, they did not eat, I've brained the pinkies and still nothing. Any suggestions to get these two girls to eat?

Thanks
Shane

[Tim_Cranwill]

Ball pythons are WAY too big to eat pinkies. Pinkie rats, maybe... but even they are pretty small for a hatchling bp. Try something with fur.

[m1k3_88]

How long ago did you get them? they might need a little more time to settle in. I'll agree with Tim pinks are way too small for hatchling bps, most should be able to take small adult mice and if not then try hoppers. Good luck with the new bps:)

[sapphire_moon]

You JUST posted a thread on "your new normals" your supposed to let the snake acclimate for atleast 2wks (or atleast 1wk) before attempting to feed.

They are a ball pythons, in a new place, not given time to acclimate. It has been only about 7 hours between posts.

Ball pythons stress easily, give them time.




edit:

what are your temps?
how are you measuring temps?

humidity?
hides?
type of cage?

amount of handling

type of arrival (were they shipped from a breeder, did you pick them up locally?)

[m1k3_88]

another question to add to sapphire's list: are you housing them together?

[elevation24]

I agree that a pinkie mouse is wayyy too small. Either try an adult mouse or a large rat fuzzy.

[sapphire_moon]

And one more question, how much research have you done on ball pythons?

[jfmoore]

Hi Shane –

I guess this is the time for the “farm hatched” imports to be coming in. I don’t know if that is the origin of your animals, but looking at the photos in your other post, I’d say your snakes look to be around 60 grams, maybe even smaller – not something you’d want to throw a full grown adult mouse at.

Let them acclimate for two or three more days. Meanwhile, why don’t you do a search on this forum for tips on feeding hatchlings. You can sift through lots of good information. If you don’t have success with a VERY small thawed mouse for your next attempt at feeding, I would suggest offering a live hopper or crawler mouse to get them over the hump. Of course, I’m assuming you have them set up in separate quarters.

Good luck,
Joan

[Wizwise2000]

Ok. I'm still trying to get the temps to stay in one place, they are jumping around a lot. Not falling below 75 for the cool end and 2 of the 3 are between 88 and 95, there is one I've been paying very close attention too because one time I looked it was around 105, and that was a heat pad on low. So I've gotten a towel underneath the sterilite and it seemed to have fixed the huge heat burst. The humidity is at 70, so I'm going to melt a few holes into the lid to allow some moisture to escape.

I'm not sure of the origin of these animals, but I know the guy had ALOT of them, probably a couple hundred, at least.

I'm measuring the temps with a ZooMed dial thermometre.
They are housed seperately in sterilites, I have not gotten any hides yet.

I've got to buy bigger enclosures, because hides, water dish etc and the animal wouldn't fit comfortably in these ones. So until I get those (hopfully today) they are without hides. I've read that housed in rubbermaids they don't "need" hides. Then, I started reading peoples posts here, and decided I need some.

I've handled quite a bit the first couple of days I got them, I know, that more than likely stressed the heck out of them. I just handle now enough to put some more paper towel down and change water (one seems to knock the water over a lot).

I went and picked them up.

I will now do as everyone suggests and leave them be for another week.

Thanks
Shane

[Auskan]

Shane, you should know from the amount of time you've been on this forum that you've gone about this all wrong. The enclosures need to be set up and the temps stabilized BEFORE you bring them home. You shouldn't be doing this dance with temps, with baby balls already in the enclosures.

Also, you stated that you don't yet have hides, but this is about the most important thing you need in there for them. Balls need to feel secure, especially the babies and its no wonder they are not eating if their temps are all over the place and they have no hides. You don't need a fancy hide. Just give them an empty cardboard box of an appropriate size. And when I say that, I mean one that is small enough that they have to cram themselves in there, with their backs touching the top of the box.

And don't try to feed again until you have all of this done and they've had a chance to acclimate for awhile. You are only stressing them out right now and that will make it harder in the long run, to establish eating.

[sapphire_moon]

also, those round dial things are only good for humidity (IMO only!) I would get digital thermometers for each one, and that one with the towel underneath, get a lamp dimmer or rheostat. Actually get one for all of them if you don't already have one.

As Auskan said, after you get everything right, I would attempt feeding until atleast 1-2 wks of being able to acclimate to proper temps, hides, and humidity.

But that is only my opinon.

[marisa]

I highly suggest AGAINST bigger enclosures.

I would simply find cardboard boxes that fit into your current enclosures. Even if this means taking up half the enclosure or more with it. They need tight fitting security right now, and you can move them up in enclosure size later. Any I have had not eat, go into an enclosure that is actually small enough they fill up 1/4 to 1/2 of it with just themselves. Leaves room for a hide (covering the floor space) and a small water dish) It has been very succesful so please don't feel it needs to be spacious to be "comfortable" Squish 'em!

After all that I suggest nice 90-92 degree hot spots (mine actually go up to 95 and still get used but this is with established enclosures/equiptment and heat gradient), a nice 78-80 cool side and PRIVACY! Do not handle. Do not check on. Leave 100% alone for at least another week, even two maybe. Then try some fresh killed or live hopper mice.

That is what I would do in your situation.

Marisa

[marisa]

I am adding a pic to show you what I kept my new baby balls in this year:

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/Snakes/seven/3seven11-23-03.jpg">
Those are single serving size cereal boxes in a shoebox size rubbermaid with a very young baby ball python inside. These work excellent.

Marisa

[elevation24]

You should very easily be able to fit a hide and a water dish in there. I use those same containers for the 5 females I bought from Alex Hue, and they are still doing just fine in them.

<img src="http://www.jdsnakes.com/photos/hatchling.jpg">

That's what all of mine look like.

[Wizwise2000]

I'll go out and get some hides tonight for them:) Thank you very much.

Hmm, good idea to make a few holes in the lid to allow some moisture to escape? Yes/no?

Thanks again everyone.
Shane

[m1k3_88]

I'd make holes in the side as opposed to the lid, it will help with ventelation so ur lil bp can breathe:)

[Wizwise2000]

I have holes in the sides, about 18 on the sides and about 8 on each front and back. Too much humidity in there so I figured add some to the lid to allow some moisture toescape.

Thanks
Shane