New guy hasn't eaten yet...

[Pareeeee]

So I purchased my little normal male on July 26th. He was 3wks old at the time. Since then he has been offered food twice, but will not take it. Offered once before his shed, then once after. Is it normal for them to go a few weeks without eating at that age? He acts afraid of it...first attempt he just tensed up and went into a ball, trying to avoid it. Second attempted feeding he did a false-strike and hissed at it, then tried to get away. I don't know if maybe he's afraid of the tongs? I've got it good and humid in there, and his temps are about 86 warm side, 75 cool. I don't want the Boaz ordeal all over again...he was a nightmare when I first got him...

[moshirimon]

try to place him in a feeding container and leave a dead rat in there with him. try using a brown or balck rat rather than white.

it's been said that this causes more of a natural feeding response in balls, as they are not used to seeing white mice by nature. not sure if it's true.

If this all fails try buying African Soft fur rats. Balls LOVE them. and if you're living near the GTA I know a breeder that will deliver if you buy more than $50 worth. they are very cheap.

[snake man12]

Those temps are a little low try to put them up a few degrees. Also try putting the food on a plate overnight.

[MoreliAddict]

If we're talking about a Ball Python (you didn't specify) your temps are a bit low. Was it already taking f/t for the breeder?

[Pareeeee]

Those temps are a little low try to put them up a few degrees. Also try putting the food on a plate overnight.

Will do. What should I up the temps to in your opinion? Also, if I leave it on a plate overnight won't it just get cold? I understand BP's need warm food to stimulate them to feed...heat pits 'n's all...

[snake man12]

Yes it was in the regius forum. 88 to 92 warm side cool should be 79 to 82. Good luck

[Pareeeee]

Yes, he is a BP, hence why I posted in the P. regius forum. He was on live, I'm trying to get him on f/t. Should I go back to offering live?

[Pareeeee]

Yes it was in the regius forum. 88 to 92 warm side cool should be 79 to 82. Good luck

Thanks. Gonna go adjust the thermostat right now.

[CK SandBoas]

Yes, he is a BP, hence why I posted in the P. regius forum. He was on live, I'm trying to get him on f/t. Should I go back to offering live?

I would offer live for maybe 4-5 feedings, then offer pre killed, and if he takes that for 4-5 feedings, then you can offer f/t again. If he was 3 weeks old when he was sold to you, at most he probably only had one meal, correct?

[MoreliAddict]

Yes, he is a BP, hence why I posted in the P. regius forum. He was on live, I'm trying to get him on f/t. Should I go back to offering live?
Get that hot side between 90-95 degrees, while keeping the cool side between 75-80 degrees.

I wouldn't give in and offer live just yet. Though if it makes you feel better, that's very likely the reason it won't eat. I only buy snakes that are regularly taking f/t for this reason...

[Pareeeee]

I would offer live for maybe 4-5 feedings, then offer pre killed, and if he takes that for 4-5 feedings, then you can offer f/t again. If he was 3 weeks old when he was sold to you, at most he probably only had one meal, correct?


He had 2 meals at the breeder. When I bought him it was obvious he was fed recently, could see a nice bulge in his midsection.

[Lankyrob]

AS he has eaten previously i would be even less worried, just leave him be and offer food every 7 days, maybe try leaving the FT rat on a plate overnight so that he can eat in complete peace and quiet.

[Terranaut]

AS he has eaten previously i would be even less worried, just leave him be and offer food every 7 days, maybe try leaving the FT rat on a plate overnight so that he can eat in complete peace and quiet.

This is what I would do. No live. No African Soft fur. Just feed him every 7 days and fix the temps. Sometimes adding more cover in the viv can help. Toss in a couple extra small hides. Good luck. He will eat again don't worry.

[Pareeeee]

Thanks everyone. I will try to rig up an extra hide too.

[woahamie]

I haven't fed my snake yet, but the ones that I take care of at work only eat if I just leave him in a feeding tank and a f/t pinkie and a dark towel over it. Works 98% of the time! BP's are special, haha.

[lady_bug87]

I would stick with offering him f/t if it were me or what ever you intend to feed. I wouldn't muck around with offering live at first if you don't intend to feed live permanently it could be tricky to switch them later.

As long as the snake is in good health it's not going to starve itself, at least I don't imagine it would. Also, sometimes a change of environment can make them a little more nervous. When I moved houses a couple of my snakes went off feed and another had a shedding nightmare.

Good luck

[Pareeeee]

Well, tried feeding him again last night. No luck. I raised temps like everyone said. I didn't use the tongs this time, just set it over the heat source in front of his hide and covered his tub with black fabric for security. Stupid snake was still sitting in the same spot this morning, and the mouse was still there. So now its been just over 3wks since he last ate. He should be approximately 6wks old now.

[buffcoat]

I know how stressful it can be Pareeeee. I have a royal that eats every 3 weeks and will not even strike at a brown/black colored rat. Just be patient. Remember these guys can go months without eating. Just try different things every 7-10 days. When he's hungry, he will eat. I wouldn't worry until he starts losing weight.

[mykee]

Ok, lets clear this whole deal up once and for all. If the snake has only eaten three meals and will only take live.....feed live. You don't want to mess with such a young ball python, food is important to their development.

As for colour; myth. Snakes don't care what colour their food is; heat signature and movement is all that they care about. Don't listen to anyone that tells you differently. They're wrong..
Leave the food in there for 10-15 minutes and keep an eye on it. Should be gone in no time.
I've successfully gotten probably over 2000 newborn ball pythons to eat over the last 12 years and not once has a ball python refused to eat what I offered it after it was an established eater on live mice.

[Pareeeee]

Ok so I finally caved in and gave him a live fuzzy mouse, and he ate. Finally.

...and don't laugh at me but I almost cried because the baby mouse was so cute. Ok you can laugh at me.

[iBaman]

Ok so I finally caved in and gave him a live fuzzy mouse, and he ate. Finally.

...and don't laugh at me but I almost cried because the baby mouse was so cute. Ok you can laugh at me.

such is the life of having snakes ;D
I get to feed baby bunnies soon, and piglets too!

[DavethePython]

My ball was about 6 months when I got him and he was impossible to feed. I tried everything. eventually I resorted to holding the prey in the tongs and mimicing live prey by wiggling it. By putting it as far away as possible from him and letting him come to it he got over his "fear" of the prey . A lot of false strikes and misses later he is a great feeder and he likes the hunt. Now he is more of a pig than anything . Best of luck to you , the young ones can be tough.