ball python wont eat

[cad252]

i have a juvi ball python i bought him in march. there was a mix up an i got the wrong snake i was suppost to get a baby but i got him. he was full of ticks an mites, an to add to it he had an ri. i took him to the vet. by this time he hadnt ate for a couple weeks the vet said there was no reason for him not to be eating. well here it is the end of july an he still has not eatin. i pulled him to look at him an he is so weak. he isnt dehydrated cause he still pees. i have tried assist feeding but he isnt having any of that. i have read about force feeding, but what do u use food wise gatorade an what?

[SpOoKy]

First, what size is the tank? what are the temps? what is the humidity? what are you trying to feed him? how big is he? What are you using for substrate?

All these answers can give people here a better idea of some of the issues that may be causing him not to eat.

[marionsclan]

Here is a link that suggests what food to use. It also shows step by step how to do it, however, I am not sure if that is the best way to do it. The guy seems to care and know what he is doing, but when a snake doesn't eat it can have medical reasons and given that your snake was already not healthy when you got him it is likely. Is your Vet familiar with reptiles?

Again, this link is just to get an idea as to what to feed: pVi404rjxwQ

[Jenn_06]

Force feeding is the LAST thing you need to do. We need more info on the snake like spooky asked then we can help you better.

If its a older snakes it might be in a breeding mood, i just got my BP to eat and before that the last time he ate was in Dec. I even seen snakes go a year with out food.

[totheend]

Are the mites and ticks cleaned up? If he still has mites, chances are he won't eat. Also....ticks? Where did you get that snake! An importer???

[stephanbakir]

Avoid forcefeeding, and if you need to do it, dont watch one video and think you know what to do.

[Dehlida]

Ball pythons not eating is extremely common. If the snake is not losing weight- you have no problem. If the snake is losing weight you have an issue. Parasites still present, bad husbandry, and season are all reasons for a snake not to eat. Many males coming into breeding age will go onto hunger strikes for a long period of time.

If he is losing weight and still refusing food, and your husbandry lines up- force feed it. I'm looking at having to cull 3 babies today because of non-eating - and I simply will not sell these to the public and have it end in heartbreak when the snake doesn't eat and dies.

[SkYyaMe1623]

Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.

IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.

[youngster]

Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.

IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.

Does your bumblebee eat well?

[stephanbakir]

Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.

IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.
There is nothing wrong with not eating if there is a good reason for it, as was previously stated, ball pythons often go off feed during breeding season.
Unless you are worried something may be wrong, its not worth worrying about.

[SkYyaMe1623]

Does your bumblebee eat well?
He eats but not well. I've had him eating every six days for a couple weeks until last night when he decided to turn down a live meal (which is a pain for me, waste of money, time, and i had to catch the thing lol). All things are the same since his last meal, it is not winter when they usually go off feed for breeding, nor is he at breeding age! - frustrating!

I've had other snakes, but this is my first ball, and it's already caused me more frustration in a couple weeks than owning 2 corn snakes for years. He's a very pretty ball, and I'm happy to have him and put in the effort, but this will positively be my last ball. From my understanding and personal experience, many other snake species (including carpet pythons) have the survival insticts to not kill themselves over a slight bit of discomfort, or no reason at all...

EDIT: I guess that now that I've explained my own situation, I mine as well ask, how long should I wait till I offer him food again??

[totheend]

From my understanding and personal experience, many other snake species (including carpet pythons) have the survival insticts to not kill themselves over a slight bit of discomfort, or no reason at all...



Obviously there is a reason that it isn't eating.....

[SkYyaMe1623]

Obviously there is a reason that it isn't eating.....
Let's see, it's eaten with this exact husbandry, it's been eating on a six day schedule, it's eaten the same prey (as well as similar size and color), not in shed, no visible or audible RI, was'nt even handled days before food was offered, live prey, in cage feeding, the list goes on.

The reason I feel it won't eat? It lacks a consistent feeding responce which ball pythons in the wild rely on seeing as they're completely opportunistic hunters. I've wasted a lot of time and energy on reading up on these snakes and keeping the husbandry as good as I can. The whole thing has been a stressful bad experience and I'm sorry I went with a ball :sorry:

[youngster]

Let's see, it's eaten with this exact husbandry, it's been eating on a six day schedule, it's eaten the same prey (as well as similar size and color), not in shed, no visible or audible RI, was'nt even handled days before food was offered, live prey, in cage feeding, the list goes on.

The reason I feel it won't eat? It lacks a consistent feeding responce which ball pythons in the wild rely on seeing as they're completely opportunistic hunters. I've wasted a lot of time and energy on reading up on these snakes and keeping the husbandry as good as I can. The whole thing as a been a stressful bad experience and I'm sorry I went with a ball

Hmm, you're making me think on my decision for my next snake :P

[SkYyaMe1623]

Glad to hear that! Consider carpet pythons, they are beautiful snakes that aren't a complete nightmare to coarse into taking a meal so you can get on with your life.

Trust me, the last thing you want to do is buy something you hope will be a joyous little hobby, and then need to sink a ton of energy into thinking "hmmmm how do I get this thing to not starve itself?"

[youngster]

I would certainly get a carpet python but they're too expensive and too big for me.

[SkYyaMe1623]

Either way I see you have a cornsnake. I'm assuming it's not in the process of starving itself? Don't expect this behavior out of a ball.

[youngster]

Either way I see you have a cornsnake. I'm assuming it's not in the process of starving itself? Don't expect this behavior out of a ball.

Nope he has eaten twice without a fuss

[totheend]

Sorry, what I should have said was they don't just stop eating and die for no reason at all...

[SkYyaMe1623]

Sorry, what I should have said was they don't just stop eating and die for no reason at all...
lol I read this as my ball python is starving itself in the corner for no reason at all

[citysnakes]

Balls dont just starve themselves to death, however they are known to fast, especially mature animals and at around the same time, year after year.

its uncommon for baby balls to fast for breeding season, male or female and i would never use breeding season as a reason for a non-feeding immature animal.

if your bp isn't eating then there is a reason. you may just not know what it is yet because maybe you've only been keeping ball pythons for a total of a few weeks...

NewBs crack me up...

[Jenn_06]

BP will not eating for a lot of reason, breeding season, stress, illness, ect........

if you just got a BP let it be for a week or 2 just change the water and clean out poop, little things can stress out a little snake. my 1st snake was a BP and took about 2 months to get him to eat and he would not eat every time i offered him a rat but it was ok he still had a good weight and looked healthy.

If youe BP will not eat its ok snakes can go with out food for a long time just keep a eye on it and dont mess with it until it starts eating better....watch the weight

[marionsclan]

I suppose I got lucky when I got my first ball at the age of 8 mts. The only problem I've had with her is that she doesn't like f/t so live it is for now. She's only on rat pubs so I have some time to change her to f/k and then f/t. She feeds once a week and is always interested. I suppose Balls are like picky children and as long as they don't lose weight, why worry? Just weigh her regularly and offer her food every two weeks. If you offer f/t you can refreeze so you don't waste it.

But just because you have gotten a pet that didn't turn out the way you hoped, doesn't mean the whole species sux. Also, you can't compare a c/b and c/bb to function completely like a wild snake. You may want to consider giving you Ball to someone who has the patience for its fickleness and get that carpet. :)

[totheend]

From my understanding and personal experience, many other snake species (including carpet pythons) have the survival insticts to not kill themselves over a slight bit of discomfort, or no reason at all...


SkYyaMe....that is what YOU said LOL

[SkYyaMe1623]

But just because you have gotten a pet that didn't turn out the way you hoped, doesn't mean the whole species sux. You may want to consider giving you Ball to someone who has the patience for its fickleness and get that carpet. :)

I never said the "whole species sux" I just implied that the ball python's general lack of feeding response has made it an aggrivating experience for me personally, and this experience has taught me to never buy a ball again, and I was just sharing my thoughts.

Getting rid of him for a carpet is great advice, and if he won't eat in the next couple weeks I'll need to figure out how to ship him out

[Jenn_06]

Skyyame if you want to sell him make sure its to someone that knows about BP i would buy him in a heart beat if i had the money.

[youngster]

How much are you looking for and where do you live?

[brylecc1989]

Your ball python is not gonna starve if it doesn't eat for a week, or even a month or two or three for that matter. If you did research, you'd know balls are finicky eaters. If not, you should have! Either way i feel your attitude about your one ball python not eating for a week is a bit ridiculous. Not all balls do this, not all carpets eat everything. Although a species majority may fit a stereotype, every snakes different. Not tryin to fight, just saying if it doesnt eat, buy a critter keeper and keep a rat for a week or two and try again. Or use frozen. It'll eat when it's hungry.

Youngster-If you really like ball pythons, and you understand skipping meals is a common and non harmful thing for SOME ball pythons, there is no reason not to get one.

[youngster]

Youngster-If you really like ball pythons, and you understand skipping meals is a common and non harmful thing for SOME ball pythons, there is no reason not to get one.

Haha yeah I know, I'm not even getting a snake anytime soon so I have plenty of time to have my mind changed! ;D

BPs are picky eaters that go awhile between meals but snakes are built to endure famines because catching prey when you have no legs is not an easy feat ;D

[acs102]

Your ball python is not gonna starve if it doesn't eat for a week, or even a month or two or three for that matter. If you did research, you'd know balls are finicky eaters. If not, you should have! Either way i feel your attitude about your one ball python not eating for a week is a bit ridiculous. Not all balls do this, not all carpets eat everything. Although a species majority may fit a stereotype, every snakes different. Not tryin to fight, just saying if it doesnt eat, buy a critter keeper and keep a rat for a week or two and try again. Or use frozen. It'll eat when it's hungry.

Youngster-If you really like ball pythons, and you understand skipping meals is a common and non harmful thing for SOME ball pythons, there is no reason not to get one.

I agree. I love my ball, I couldn't imagine even thinking of getting rid of the little guy for any reason. I love his laid back personality and cute little face. I've been lucky so far that he hasn't gone on any hunger strikes, he hasn't refused a meal in the seven months I've had him- he even ate days after I got him, treated him for mites and was going through a bad shed. But he's still a baby, perhaps when he reaches maturity it'll be different. But I knew about them before I took on the responsibility.

Carpets are cool, but they're nippy when they're little. It's my only complaint. It's taken my boyfriend and I since April to get it so his doesn't strike at the glass and we're just now getting to the point of being able to hold him without gloves. I find that more frustrating than anything, having to hook him just to give him fresh water or scoop his poop.

Every snake has it's positives and negatives. Can't judge them all based on one bad experience.