f/t trouble

[knoerr3232]

I recently posted my questions on live prey versus f/t prey. I did try what everyone said...chicken broth, dangling..etc...I read a post that said most snakes will eat dead prey eventually. Is there such a thing as a snake not eating dead prey no matter what? Will picky snakes starve themselves before they will eat something they dont like? My snake is a baby ball and his first meal since I have had him was a fuzzy on the first Sunday, two pinkies last Sunday and nothing since then. I know he needs more, (rat pups)...but Im afraid to feed him anything that could hurt him. Even if he eats pups now, he will need big ones eventually and I want him switched before then. How long should I keep trying the dead prey before I give in and feed him live? Im soooooooo frustrated....help! Does anyone have yahoo messenger or any way to exchange ideas?

[Vengeance]

How long has it been since he last fed?

[knoerr3232]

Last Sunday...Im sure he isnt STARVING...but from what I have read, he should be eating rat pups and his last meal was 2 pinkies last Sunday....5 days ago. Any suggestions?

[Vengeance]

Did you try Braining it?
Did you try Scenting it?
Did you try Pre Killed?
Did you try leaving the rat and your snake in a small container overnight?
Did you try smearing it with mouse blood?

Also don't try all of these metohds all at once, try a diffrent one at every feeding. If you keep trying to shove a rat in your Ball pythons face with all these diffrent technicques you only going to stress him out and he is going to not eat for a longer period of time.

Also limit handleing and entering the cage to a bare minimum. Change the water and spot clean, but don't handle if you don't have too. When my Ball decides not to eat for a week I don't handle him untill the next time he eats to make sure he isn't stressed by the handling.

One of those options might work, might not. But it's up to you if you want to try them. Feeding rats in the long run is allways the better choice. As you ball python gets older if you can't get him on dead prey you still going to have to feed him Live full grown adult mice and then can do just as much damage to your snake as a rat can if the proper saftey precautions arn't taken.

[annieb_mice]

while I've never had a problem with my balls not eating for extended periods of time, I do know others who have or have had this problem. You could try to put the snake and the <pre-killed> prey item in a small pillowcase over night.
Also... have you checked out the humidity and heat and such? If a snake is too cold, it won't eat. Low humidity can also affect their appetite.
There are MANY posts here describing the proper heat and humidity for a ball python.
Good luck!
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[knoerr3232]

Thanks for all the advice, you guys, I appreciate it. Maybe I am being impatient and worrying too much. The humidity and temps are always good. Last night when I dangled it...he noses at it like he wants to take it, but then he just sits there and stares at it....shouldnt he take it within an hour at least? Putting him in a pillowcase overnight will not stress him out? Especially with no heat source? You guys are the experts so I will try it....Im desperate!! OH...and one thing I think Idid wrong was when I heated the prey..I think I cooked it. How do I appropriately thaw it out? Sorry so many questions..Im a rookie..lol

[Vengeance]

The humidity and temps are always good.

How are you measureing your temps? Do you have a digital Thermometer and Hydrometer?

Last night when I dangled it...he noses at it like he wants to take it, but then he just sits there and stares at it....shouldnt he take it within an hour at least?

My ball never strikes when I dangle in front of him, well almost never. 9 times outta 10 I have to dangle the rat so he knows it's there then I drop it on the ground. Sometimes right after the thud he grabs it. Most times he doesn't what I do then is push the head inside his hide (every time I feed he is in one of his hides) and go to bed and hope for the best. Almost every time this works for me. But every Ball is diffrent so you have to find what works for you. He seems to be on a schedule now that he only eats every 2 weeks, but I still offer every week.

Putting him in a pillowcase overnight will not stress him out? Especially with no heat source?

Don't leave him outside his cage. Put him in a pillowcase inside the cage. This way if he escapes the pillow case he is still inside the cage. I would prefer a small rubbermaid with holes on the side for this one, but thats just me and I've never had to use this method.

You guys are the experts so I will try it....Im desperate!!

I'm no expert, just shareing my experiances :D

How do I appropriately thaw it out?

I used to boil some water and then double vacum seal the bag and toss the rat in the water. That sorta worked but I found that the belly would become very bloated and it would sometimes get wet. This is a problem for me because my Ball will not feed out of the cage so I have to feed in the cage and since he will only eat inside his hide I have to feed on the substrate so the prey item has to be completly dry as to make sure the substrate does not get stuck on it. What I do now is take the rat and put it under my heat lamp, turning it on either side about every 10 mins. Keeps it dry and warms it up quite well.

[knoerr3232]

Yes, I have 2 thermometers and a hydrometer...This is my first snake but I did a LOT of research before and after I got him to make sure his living conditions are right...he seems happy and healthy, he is very sweet and seems to have a great temperment. Its just this switching food thing that is giving me a headache. I am going to try tonight what you said....I will dangle in front of his hide box and then leave it. What I usually do is put the mouse on top of his box so it doesnt get bedding stuck to it. I guess my main question is, how many nights do I keep trying before I should give him a live one, if he doesnt take the dead one, or do I stick to my guns and not give him a live one at all? You all have been a huge help...thanks, again.

[Vengeance]

If he doesn't eat one night, don't try again for 5 - 7 days. If you try and feed him every night till he feeds then he isn't going to be feeding for a long time.

If you feed inside the cage like I do, to stop myself from worrying about ingesting some of the substrate I use carefresh now. It is safe to ingest in small quantities so I don't have to worry about my ball accidently eating any because even if he does it will pass through his digestive system.

You should keep track of your Ball's weight. If you find that he is starting to lose weight then feed him what he will eat. But if his weight is staying steady then you should be fine. But defenitly don't try every night, stick to every 5 - 7 days.

How old is your Ball again?

[knoerr3232]

I dont know his exact date of birth...the pet store just said "baby".....he is about 17 inches long.

[sapphire_moon]

Just leave it alone for 2wks.

My female went 8 months without eating, REFUSED everything but live mice, I gave in (I know, don't start!) She had 2 live mice. Guess that wasn't enough, one night I walked by her cage and she struck so hard that her mouth just went flat against the side of the cage (good thing it was plastic!) So I heated up a rat, and guess what, she has ate since then, and hopefully tonight.


If you get a rat pup 12days and under, then it should still be harmless to your snake. I've had 2wk old baby rats CUDDLE with the darned snake, and actually try to nurse (that was a sight to see! lol).

The only time to worry about your snake is if it starts dramaticly loosing weight. (unless it shows signs of being sick like R.I or loose stools, or whatever else you can think of thats not normal). Then you really shouldn't worry.


But you should shave your head now to save you from ripping it all out in frusteration! lol :)

[annieb_mice]

Everyone has their own thoughts on how to properly thaw a rodent. Some people use a microwave, others use boiling water... here's what I suggest to my customers:

Put the rodent in a ziplock bag, then soak them in a bowl of hot tap water. Do not use boiling water as this could cook them. Let the rodent sit in the water for 10 minutes and then check it. Hold the rodent between your fingers for several seconds so you can feel if there are any "cold" spots inside the body. Keep refreshing the water about every 5 - 10 minutes until the prey item is completely thawed and feels "warm" to the touch.
I wouldn't recommend microwaving a rodent as this can cook them and the smell is REALLY nasty!
I wouldn't recommend thawing a rodent out if it is vacuum sealed. As the rodent thaws, the pressure inside the body will "equilize" with the "pressure" outside and this can be VERY messy, especially with pinkies!! :P
Some people leave the frozen rodent out to thaw all day while they are at work, so they can feed it off when they get home. I wouldn't do this because I would worry about the possibility of the "meat" going bad, salmonella, bacteria growth, or a variety of other possibilities. Not to say any of these WILL happen... but I just wouldn't take the risk myself. :)
You can also, as mentioned, put the rodent under a heat lamp for a period of time to thaw and warm it up.
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[knoerr3232]

Well, I think I cooked it already....I will have to get a new one. I know some snakes go a while without eating, but can a baby go that long? If its safe, than Ill wait a couple of weeks. I appreciate everyones help.

[sapphire_moon]

here is what I do

put the rat in a zip lock baggie, put it under HOT running water while I microwave water for about 5 minutes. Leave the rat under the hot running water while the water heats up. When the microwave is done, take a long spoon and the rat-n-baggie and push the rat under the water. It should take about 5 minutes for it to be nice and hot.

Squeeze the rat and feel for cold spots. If it feels to hot for you let it cool. It shouldn't be "cooked" or boiled, but the tail may easily fall off! lol

And that smell when you microwave, smells like liver to me (cow liver, the kind some people actually eat! ECK)

[knoerr3232]

LOL...That is EXACTLY what I thought my rat smelled like..lol...I boiled it on the stove...woops. Ya live and learn.

[ReptiliansDOTca]

I would first try a mouse, if that solves your problems, scent your rats with mice by rubbing the two together.