why all the problems

[varanus69]

just a quik question here. I am wondering why every one has problems with balls?i have bought adults from petstores and captive hatched aswell from stores and i have never had a problem with them eating. I feed my snakes mice, hamsters, rats, and gerbils all the time none of my snakes have been on a strictly rat or mice diet, all of them get a varied diet and they all do just fine from the start. None of my snakes have gone off food for more than a meal or 2 ever and i have had many over the years. In fact i just treaded a litter of dragons for a nice female ball python on monday in calgary, i brought her home ( 2.5 hr car drive in a snake bag) put her in her tank and she ate 2 mice and a large hamster within 30 minutes with no reservations about me watching so why is every one else always so frustrated that theres wont eat? Just curious!!!!here's a pic of her!
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3161ball_01-med.JPG

[mykee]

Pray to whomever it is that you pray to, and thank Him/Her/It. You're truly blessed. How many, and how long have you owned ball pythons?

[Tim_Cranwill]

You must have the magic touch when it comes to balls. You could offer your services to go to people's houses with your magic hands and touch their... oh, never mind... :p j/k lol

Like Mykee said, consider yourself blessed. :)

[varanus69]

i have owned balls for most of the last 9 years or so and have had roughly 25-30 of them over the years, and i had many of them for years not just 1 month here 2 months there type thing. IMO it makes for a healthier animal to vary there food if you can because if we ate the same thing every meal of our lives we wouldn't want to eat either. vary there food and you will/should have a better healthier/happier animal. In the wild they don't just eat 1 type of food and pass up the rest they eat what comes along within reason....your opinions here? lord knows i am not an expert so your coments are appreciated

[Bartman]

Well ive heard that if you feed gerbils or hamsters that they will become addicted to these meals and wont even think about touching mice or rats. Ive been trying to get mine onto rats for a while now...

I was recently told to try scenting the rat with gerbal litter and id get a strike forsure...what are your guys thoughts on this? Should i try it, and if it works, will i need to do this everytime?

[jfmoore]

Originally posted by varanus69
None of my snakes have gone off food for more than a meal or 2 ever and i have had many over the years.



Same here! Of course that’s if you count “a meal or 2” as last meal in October and next meal in April or May!

Mine seem to do just fine on a diet of all rats and mice, all the time. The oldest ball python I have right now I got 25 years ago as an adult. The oldest one I bred myself is now 21 years old.

Mykee – this is in the wrong thread, but I’ve been away and just saw that you got at least one clutch (more, maybe?) of eggs. Way to go! Hope incubation goes uneventfully, or rather, has a GOOD event at the end.

-Joan

[mykee]

Varanus; With all the feeding tips and info that I've read over the years, your method seems the most logical and varied. Hell, with balls, you do what works, and with your success rate, stick with it.
Joan; Thanks, I have a few clutches in the incubator right now, but the most recent one makes me a little nervous.

[HeatherRose]

I haven't had problems with my ball python either. He feeds great. Maybe thats because I got him from Matt_K? :D ;)

I think its really interesting that you feed them a varied diet...I've heard that snakes can get 'addicted' to gerbils/hamsters, like Bartman said. Otherwise, if its going well for you, thats awesome :)

[RepTylE]

I not only chose a ball as a first snake but I scored a good feeder too. He eats like a trooper, mice rats no problem.
I am adopting another ball that is in care right now and I hope that he is as good a feeder. One can always hope.

[nita]

Other than briseas so far my Balls will eat pretty much anything. Although I only have one that has eaten a rabbit. Mine arent' that picky other than at the beginning I had to give Osiris, Isis and Demetae live but they would eat gerbils, or mice. Tonight we try them with rats and they are finally onto FT!! Switching foods I've really had no problem it is switching from live to dead that was the problem.

[Jeff_Favelle]

why all the problems

While you are certainly lucky, and have a GREAT snake, the reason for MOST (nay all?) of the problems is because people don't read, people don't think, people think they know what's going on (but don't), people take bad advice, people give bad advice, people have never owned a snake often buy a WC cheapie Ball, peoplehouse them wrong, people are dumb, etc etc etc.........

99% of ALL the problems with ANY snake are the fault of the keeper. No question.

Varied diet theory is interesting. Not necessarily something that anyone in the snake business would agree with, but hey, good on you to have a theory.

[varanus69]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
[B]While you are certainly lucky, and have a GREAT snake, the reason for MOST (nay all?) of the problems is because people don't read, people don't think, people think they know what's going on (but don't), people take bad advice, people give bad advice, people have never owned a snake often buy a WC cheapie Ball, peoplehouse them wrong, people are dumb, etc etc etc.........

99% of ALL the problems with ANY snake are the fault of the keeper. No question.

I could not have said it better myself! While i am not trying to promote my theories it is just what works for me,if one goes off rats than they are used to takeing something else aswell. Also if the store is out of one thing as usuall (the wife won't let me have a frezzer full of rodents beside the ice cream) than i can get a hamster and wavk it know problem.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Keep doin' what works bro! Keep the Ball Pythons fat and eating and they will be the best snakes in the world! Sooooo simple to keep when they are fat and happy. My hat's off to ya. If they are fat and happy, then you are in the minority of people who are doing it right. Keep it up! :D