New BP didn't eat first meal.

[Snakefood]

The breeder I bought him from said he always feeds fresh killed. I feed F/T. I figured dead is dead, but no........

I did the zombie dance and everything, no interest. I left him in the tub with the rat for a couple hours, no luck!!

So I will wait another 7 days before trying to feed him again, but does anyone have any ideas for me.

(BTW, if needed I will have a live rat the right size next week. I could pre-kill it and offer that to see if it is the F/T that he had a problem with???

[theapexgerman]

F/T is different than fresh kill if he was eating fresh kill contiune feeding that way just buy an rat snap its neck an there ya go

[alessia55]

If you want to switch him over to f/t, I'd say keep it up. One failed attempt doesn't mean he'll never eat it. Wait another 7-10 days before offering food again. In the meantime, don't handle him and relax ;)

[Snakefood]

I breed my own rats.

It's just so much easier to know you have the right size for your snakes, when you can cull them and freeze them!!

I have a litter just weaned yesterday, one week from now they will be juvi's, just the right size. I don't mind doing fresh killed, but at some point I would like to get him onto F/T.

[theapexgerman]

Why make him wait if he's eating fresh killed than he should stay on it

[Snakefood]

Don't handle him!!!!!!

I just spent a week NOT HANDLING HIM........ do you know how hard that was???!!!!

[minaa]

I've learned this the hard way--ball pythons don't eat right away at times. Please listen to alessia55, as she has amazing info on BPs.

[Snakefood]

Why make him wait if he's eating fresh killed than he should stay on it

the weanling rats are too small for him. He is a 2 yr old. he needs juvi-sm adult right now and I don't have any grow-outs of that size to cull today, they won't be the right size untill next week.

That's the problem with fresh killed, they grow!!, you can't "stock-up" on the right size!!

[theapexgerman]

Well feed him an fresh killed and wait 2 to three days than ya can hold him

[theapexgerman]

why does everyone beat me at posting lol can't ya go out and buy one

[Snakefood]

I've learned this the hard way--ball pythons don't eat right away at times. Please listen to alessia55, as she has amazing info on BPs.

Don't worry hun, I tend to listen to Allessia, I was just saying how hard that's gonna be!!

[Snakefood]

why does everyone beat me at posting lol can't ya go out and buy one

live rats around here are $15 each, whether they are meant for food or not. That's why I am so successful in the snake-food business, I can beat the stores prices tenfold!!

[theapexgerman]

Really 15 bucks lol I pay 1.50 for any size live rat and 1 buck for any size frozen

[alessia55]

Don't handle him!!!!!!

I just spent a week NOT HANDLING HIM........ do you know how hard that was???!!!!

Yes, yes, it's hard... I know! Lets keep our fingers crossed that he eats for you next week, and then you might get to start handling him! But we both know he needs to eat first ;)

Just spend more time with your other ones in the meantime! :)

[Snakefood]

not here!! it's crazy, but the CHEAPEST I have found in a store here is $15, and have seen them in the stores as high as $22 for a normal hooded rat!! It's crazy!!

So I paid the price to build my first colony, and am building colony 2 with babies from colony and will buy them a new male.

[hellosugaree]

Don't handle him!!!!!!

I just spent a week NOT HANDLING HIM........ do you know how hard that was???!!!!

You are strong. It's so tempting, huh?

On a separate note, did you warm up the F/T one? I know they can still tell the difference, but it's a little closer.

Anecdote: I used to raise hens and we can definitely tell the difference between fresh eggs and old ones that have been in the fridge for a while. If I had been raised on fresh eggs and someone tried to feed me that crap from the grocery store, I would probably refuse it too. Ice cream is probably the only food I can think of that is better coming from a freezer :p. I can see where your snake is coming from. Hopefully he will eventually come around.

Good luck

[Snakefood]

Yes, yes, it's hard... I know! Lets keep our fingers crossed that he eats for you next week, and then you might get to start handling him! But we both know he needs to eat first ;)

Just spend more time with your other ones in the meantime! :)

My other ones... 3 are females that I am afraid to handle because they may be preggers and I don't want to hurt them. one other is a complete and total *******, I mean REALLLY!! Khuno is still just a baby so I don't keep him out for long. So........... I guess it's just Pirwa and I this week:(

[Snakefood]

You are strong. It's so tempting, huh?

On a separate note, did you warm up the F/T one? I know they can still tell the difference, but it's a little closer.

Anecdote: I used to raise hens and we can definitely tell the difference between fresh eggs and old ones that have been in the fridge for a while. If I had been raised on fresh eggs and someone tried to feed me that crap from the grocery store, I would probably refuse it too. Ice cream is probably the only food I can think of that is better coming from a freezer :p. I can see where your snake is coming from. Hopefully he will eventually come around.

Good luck

Yes, I always warm them to about 95-100 (they feel warm to me)

and I get the egg analogy as I raise chickens as well.

Thanks for the vote of confidence!!!!;)

[JustBitten]

Monty was difficult for the first month or so. I think he just needed time to settle in. Patience is a difficult virtue :)

[Snakefood]

hahaha!! Patience!! hahahaha

sorry, but with a special needs son and an obstinate husband, I'm kinda fresh out of that particular virtue at the moment!!!

But that's ok, I still have willpower on my side!!

and as long as you all keep me busy, I won't have time to go bug my new guy!!

[MoreliAddict]

If you want to switch him over to f/t, I'd say keep it up. One failed attempt doesn't mean he'll never eat it. Wait another 7-10 days before offering food again. In the meantime, don't handle him and relax ;)
^^good advice

also keep in mind that it takes a while for some snakes to settle into a new environment, it took months for my granite carpet python to REALLY settle and eat well for me, and carpets are known to be voracious eaters.

try not to bother it, and your work is cut out for you because your snake will only get more comfortable in its new setting, and a bit hungrier ;)

[Skumbo]

use a hair dryer to warm up the F/T really well, most people thaw but dont "heat" up the rat to what its body temp would be if it was freshly killed.

im all for F/T and never killed or live, keep at it. your snake will learn! many snakes dont eat after moving even if theyve never missed a meal ever so give it some time to adjust

[mykee]

There is the odd animal that just won't, no matter how hard you try to, eat f/t. Either they're stuck on live of F/K but won't touch f/t at all.
Seriously, you breed your own feeders, feed this new acquisition what it'll eat, why bother stressing him out?

[Snakefood]

I thought there was some question as to F/K vs F/T regarding bacteria and parasites?? I do feed F/K when I have run out of F/T and haven't gotten around to a cull, but had always though F/T was best.

Remember this is my FIRST BP, I am used to corns who will eat anything you put in front of them, so any helpful advice, I'll listen to!!

[Skits]

I say just give it some time. When I first got my BCI, she didn't eat for almost two months because of all the stress of being in a new home, now she will happily take her rats.

Also I had one of my rat snakes being used to live, I would wiggle a mouse in front of him for a few minutes and if he didn't seem interested, I would just take it away and leave him for a few days. I kept doing that every week or so, and now he'll take one in an instant.

And I'm not sure of the bacterias in F/K and F/T, I know freezing them would kill off bacterias but as long as an animal is healthy before culling, I don't understand why it would have any bacterias on it. But don't take my word on it.

[Snakefood]

well all my mouse and rat colonies are perfectly healthy, so I don't think they would have harmful bacteria or parasites, but........ who knows for sure right??

Like I said, I will have a juvi rat ready for next feeding, we'll fresh kill it and see does Torruk takes it or not.

[UwabamiReptiles]

It took my lesser bp about a month and a half til he settled in and started eating. All you can do is be patient and don't bother them. As long as he's not losing weight, you can keep trying with the f/t. But one refused meal is nothing for bps, I've had ones refuse for months at a time. Nothing to stress about.

[Snakefood]

losing weight as in "visibly" or as in "I should be weighing him"?

[alessia55]

losing weight as in "visibly" or as in "I should be weighing him"?

My BP Kaybe has been in breeding mode and hasn't eaten since mid-January. He's lost maybe...5g? I have no idea really. I don't take him out all that much while he's off feed and I don't bother to weigh him because he looks the same- nice and chunky as always. He's around 1200g I think. So if you want to, you could do a weighing every 2 weeks or so. But since yours is a 2yr old with plenty of weight on him, you have no reason to worry yet. He just moved in with you and is still adjusting to his new home. He'll eat for you soon. ;)

[Ikester1981]

yeah right teddy bear. where you gettin rats that cheap!!?? either you got the wicked hook some where or you pay out the nose for rodent pro shipping fees??? spill the beans will ya??

[Ikester1981]

sorry bout that. yeah the adjusting is key. try a cover such as a dark color towel to cover the hide completely as to provide the most security you can for your bp. you could get a digital scale just to be sure. try pawn shops and stuff before you but brand new as they can be pricey. or try your local post office? they should have a package scale that may be available to the public. but this would involve moving around an already stressed snake.

[alessia55]

sorry bout that. yeah the adjusting is key. try a cover such as a dark color towel to cover the hide completely as to provide the most security you can for your bp. you could get a digital scale just to be sure. try pawn shops and stuff before you but brand new as they can be pricey. or try your local post office? they should have a package scale that may be available to the public. but this would involve moving around an already stressed snake.

You can buy a good (new!) digital scale that weighs in grams for under $30 at most kitchen supply stores, bed bath & beyond, amazon.com, etc.

[KORBIN5895]

yeah right teddy bear. where you gettin rats that cheap!!?? either you got the wicked hook some where or you pay out the nose for rodent pro shipping fees??? spill the beans will ya??

Skumbo gets his rodents dirt cheap too!

Also rodentpro's shipping prices are pretty cheap. I wanted to send a 50# box to Newfoundland and it was $150 for ground service.

[theapexgerman]

yeah right teddy bear. where you gettin rats that cheap!!?? either you got the wicked hook some where or you pay out the nose for rodent pro shipping fees??? spill the beans will ya??
Yea I do and if buy 10 of one feeder I get 3 free other people get one free and pay like 50 cents more than I do but I've been going to this petstore for years and know his family

[alessia55]

Skumbo gets his rodents dirt cheap too!

Also rodentpro's shipping prices are pretty cheap. I wanted to send a 50# box to Newfoundland and it was $150 for ground service.

I wanted to try rodent pro... for $40 of rats they wanted me to pay $44 shipping. No thanks. Haha

[KORBIN5895]

I wanted to try rodent pro... for $40 of rats they wanted me to pay $44 shipping. No thanks. Haha

Then buy $120 worth of rats an pay $48 shipping.

My last order was 307 rodents for $266 dollars.

[Ikester1981]

Yea I do and if buy 10 of one feeder I get 3 free other people get one free and pay like 50 cents more than I do but I've been going to this petstore for years and know his family

lucky!! good for you:blink:

[theapexgerman]

I'm paid up for a few months for mice but next feeding going to be and rat to my boa can't wait to see how it turns out

[Snakefood]

I have a dig scale already, so maybe next week before feeding him I can get a weight too

[theapexgerman]

I'm still waiting for mine order one off ebay a few days ago I wanna see how many grams Dr.Doom is

[Snakefood]

when was he hatched??

Khuno was hatched june 2011, and he weighs 22g right now. (20" long)

[theapexgerman]

Really don't know I belive he's last year hatchling but not to for sure he's bout 22 inches he was 18 or so when I got him

[Snakefood]

then he was most likely a summer 2011 too!! summer is the most common time for hatching. 22" is good for that age. and as long as he doesn't look thin he should be a good weight!! let me know what he weighs when you get your scales!!

[theapexgerman]

Yea he doesn't look skinny kinda looks pretty bigg for his age but dums grow so slow tho balls grows faster

[Snakefood]

so long as you can't see skin between his scales, you don't want him overweight!!

[theapexgerman]

yea I think he has at good weight but my scale want come till next week sometime can't beat the price 12 bucks and free shipping love ebay

[Snakefood]

awsome!! I got mine on sale at wal-mart $9.99

SCOOP!!

[theapexgerman]

Really damm that's good. How does it work?

[Snakefood]

awesome!! I just put a big marg container on before I turn it on and then it zero's with the container on it. Put the snake in and you have your weight.

I also weigh all thier food now too. So I know exactly what type and weight of prey they have eaten, all recorded on my feed/shed sheets.

[theapexgerman]

Yea I need to start keeping more records like I keep when they feed and shed and stuff like that but with this scale ill keep more accurate records

[Snakefood]

ya, I just have an excel spreadsheet. I keep feed/shed and growth records for each of my snakes.

Once it's set up, it's easy peasy to just add the info as it comes in. Just remember to back it up on an external device. I lost everything from November back when my hard drive died.

[theapexgerman]

What my phone for I'm to lazy to get another computer and I got excel and other on my cell so I alway have it on hand love my cell

[Snakefood]

haha, I hated my cell...... had it disconnected!!

[theapexgerman]

This is my cell phone I have now Unsupported Browser (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=LG-DoublePlay)