Attempting first feed tomorrow night...

[Loucifer]

Howdy all. I will be offering my new Ball Python his first supper, since I've had him. He will be here 8 days by then. He still has stage freight and a bit on the skid-dish side. I heard a couple drops of chicken broth on the rodent might entice him to accept it. He hasn't ate since the 5th. of this month. Any comments and/or suggestions? He weighs 110 grams. Thanks. :hmm:

[SpOoKy]

Don't bother with chicken broth. Just make sure the meal is heated up nice and warm and give it to him.

[Loucifer]

Don't bother with chicken broth. Just make sure the meal is heated up nice and warm and give it to him.

Cool, sounds good to me. I met a guy who works at the local pet store, who recommended the chicken broth thing. I'm sure after 10 days my lil dude is probably ready for some grub! Thanks for the response!

[Lankyrob]

No need for any special methods yet, just a nice hot rat. As heis shy if he doesnt take it staight away leave it overnight (FT only). :)

[SnakeyJay]

Not eating since the 5th is like us not eating between breakfast and lunch... No big deal.

[Loucifer]

Awesome. Being a new and first time snake owner, it's a little daunting when it comes to feeding the lil guy. Just want the absolute BEST for him. I'll be offering a 19g f/t white mouse. They are the only thing available around here until the reptile convention on the 27th. Then, I'll be stocking up! According to his breeder's chart, he is approx. 5 1/2 months old.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Awesome. Being a new and first time snake owner, it's a little daunting when it comes to feeding the lil guy. Just want the absolute BEST for him. I'll be offering a 19g f/t white mouse. They are the only thing available around here until the reptile convention on the 27th. Then, I'll be stocking up! According to his breeder's chart, he is approx. 5 1/2 months old.I just fed my girl for the first time last night, and I was freaking out too. I think it's normal...I hope. :)

~Maggot

[Loucifer]

I just fed my girl for the first time last night, and I was freaking out too. I think it's normal...I hope. :)

~Maggot

Haha, right?!! :shocked:

[EmbraceCalamity]

Haha, right?!! :shocked:I knew it wouldn't be instant, but I still couldn't help freaking out as she was getting it down. I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until it was all swallowed and she was looking for more. You don't need to worry. :)

~Maggot

[snake_ghost]

i was the same with mine but now he WOLFS everylittle rodent you put in front of his little nose :)

[Loucifer]

So, say in the event Lou doesn't take his first offering from me, is it completely out of the question to have a couple 5 minute handling sessions through the week? Maybe to re-assure him I'm not going to eat him? I know about the handling-stress thing, we still haven't really had a proper introduction. Sorry for all the questions. Thanks!

[Lankyrob]

Personally no food means no handling in Our house :) I would wait til he eats and then worry about handling, you have twenty odd years of handling time to look forward to, a week or so waiting wont hurt you. :)

[EmbraceCalamity]

Personally no food means no handling in Our house :) I would wait til he eats and then worry about handling, you have twenty odd years of handling time to look forward to, a week or so waiting wont hurt you. :)Okay, so I know you're not supposed to handle for a few days after feeding, but so you're not supposed to handle them before they eat either? Just to clarify.

~Maggot

[Lankyrob]

With a new snake i let them eat before any handling, eating normally means no stress and a settled animal :)

[Loucifer]

Personally no food means no handling in Our house :) I would wait til he eats and then worry about handling, you have twenty odd years of handling time to look forward to, a week or so waiting wont hurt you. :)

I figured as much. Wishful thinking, I guess... :no:

[EmbraceCalamity]

With a new snake i let them eat before any handling, eating normally means no stress and a settled animal :)So do you just mean no food = no handling for new snakes, or for all of them?

~Maggot

[Lankyrob]

We do no food no handling for even our established snakes :)

[EmbraceCalamity]

We do no food no handling for even our established snakes :)So if you can't handle them after they eat, and you can't handle them if they've not eaten, when do you handle them? >.>

~Maggot

[SnakeyJay]

He means if food is offered and refused then they don't get handled till they feed again successfully... In the case of luocifers it's no handling till the first feed..

I'd also like to say that the fact you've not had an "introduction" doesn't matter to the snake at all, in fact he's probably a lot less stressed for it.. They have no comprehension of the fact that you havnt handled it yet.

[EmbraceCalamity]

He means if food is offered and refused then they don't get handled till they feed again successfully... In the case of luocifers it's no handling till the first feed..
Ohhh, okay. That makes more sense.

~Maggot

[Lankyrob]

So if you can't handle them after they eat, and you can't handle them if they've not eaten, when do you handle them? >.>

~Maggot

If they eat i give them 48-72 hours dependant on size of meal, if they dont eat then they get left alone u til they have eaten again (no matter how long that takes) and then get left for 48-72 hours.

:)

[Loucifer]

Well, tonight's the night. Mouse is thawing in the fridge for when I get home from work. Wish us luck. C'mooooon, Lou!!!

[Nina]

Hey sorry to bud into this convo but it helped me alot reading all these messeges :) now about no handling till they eat sounds like a good idea lol i pretty much wasnt trying to handle my 2 new ball pythons until they ate so i know they wont try and go for my fingers or something... But umm same situation here i offered them f/t mice yesterday and nothing :/ do i keep on offering every day? i got them from the animal shelter i work in and dont know how long ago they actually ate

[Lankyrob]

Hey sorry to bud into this convo but it helped me alot reading all these messeges :) now about no handling till they eat sounds like a good idea lol i pretty much wasnt trying to handle my 2 new ball pythons until they ate so i know they wont try and go for my fingers or something... But umm same situation here i offered them f/t mice yesterday and nothing :/ do i keep on offering every day? i got them from the animal shelter i work in and dont know how long ago they actually ate

Dont offer every day or they will be too stressed to eat. Wait at least five days between attempts :)

[Aaron_S]

Hey sorry to bud into this convo but it helped me alot reading all these messeges :) now about no handling till they eat sounds like a good idea lol i pretty much wasnt trying to handle my 2 new ball pythons until they ate so i know they wont try and go for my fingers or something... But umm same situation here i offered them f/t mice yesterday and nothing :/ do i keep on offering every day? i got them from the animal shelter i work in and dont know how long ago they actually ate

How big are they? What did they eat a the shelter or before you acquired them?

Is everything set up properly? Are they kept separate?

[puffinluffin]

Awesome. Being a new and first time snake owner, it's a little daunting when it comes to feeding the lil guy. Just want the absolute BEST for him. I'll be offering a 19g f/t white mouse. They are the only thing available around here until the reptile convention on the 27th. Then, I'll be stocking up! According to his breeder's chart, he is approx. 5 1/2 months old.

What? Only mice... odd.

I tried my dude last night for his first feed and he was not remotely interested. Prepare for it. Now I have to kill a rat.

[Terranaut]

What? Only mice... odd.

I tried my dude last night for his first feed and he was not remotely interested. Prepare for it. Now I have to kill a rat.

The op was banned so this is a dead thread.