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07-17-03, 03:11 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov-2002
Location: Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
Age: 37
Posts: 381
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Ball python feeding difficulties poll
I know many people say that ball pythons are horrible feeders and therefore are not good beginner snakes. I would like to see if this is true, so the question is: Have you ever had difficulties getting your ball python to eat?
Thanks,
Adam
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07-17-03, 03:14 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Nov-2002
Location: Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
Age: 37
Posts: 381
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Hmm, I thought I attached a poll, oh well 
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07-17-03, 03:15 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb-2002
Location: Ontario
Age: 45
Posts: 1,659
Country: 
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yes,
balls are notorious for difficulties in feeding...one reason they probably arent the most ideal begginer snake.
__________________
Matt Rudisi
~Reptiles Canada~
www.reptilescanada.ca
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07-17-03, 06:55 PM
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#4
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Former Moderator no longer active
Join Date: Feb-2002
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 10,251
Country: 
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I have had one baby that was a very difficult feeder. She finally took her meal nearly 3 months after she hatched My other two, both captive bred babies, have fast this year. My male has been off feed for almost 9 months, my female just came off a 3 month fast two months ago, and eats most of the time, but not always. My male became a sporadic feeder in the months leading to his fast. I'm not worried about him as he is still in great shape, but things like this can be frustrating to first time keepers.
I have worked with many balls in the past as well, and have found them to be sensitive feeders overall. Some feed great, but eventually they experience some sort of fast or feeding difficulty. They develop preferences fairly easily as well. I agree with Matt. This is why I never recommend them as a first snake 
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07-17-03, 07:47 PM
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#5
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Forum Moderator
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: London
Posts: 3,332
Country:
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Not me. Mine always eats and gives me signs when it wants food. I only fed it when it shows these signs (once a week roughly) and she never refuses.
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07-17-03, 08:28 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2003
Location: Sacramento, California
Age: 46
Posts: 191
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Mine hasn't rejected a meal yet. I have fed 2 mice at some times and he just gobbles them down. It made me nervous to hear that these snakes are finiky eaters, but was pleasantly surprised when mine took his first meal...
__________________
The Village just called, they are missing their idiot
Never underestimate the
predictibility of stupidity
Current: Ball Python- Monty, Previous : Garter Snake- Laura, Alligator lizards, Fence Lizards, Ribbon Snake, Rubber Boa, Box Turtle, Bull Frog, Cockatiel, and a rat...
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07-17-03, 08:31 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Posts: 4,768
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Read the chapter in the ball python manual on feeding strategies if you need convincing.
Cheers,
Trevor
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07-17-03, 09:32 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2002
Location: Wisconsin
Age: 43
Posts: 204
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Well i just got my first ball and it has eaten its first two f/t mice without a problem
Dan
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07-17-03, 09:40 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2002
Location: Ottawa
Age: 39
Posts: 3,285
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Nope! The one I worked with was my best eater (except my boa)!
Zoe
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07-17-03, 10:29 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2003
Location: Kansas
Age: 41
Posts: 3,427
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Well so far with my female bp She hasn't refused a meal yet. But the new one (don't have a name yet, I'm getting him* sexed monday) I tried to feed him a f/t but refused! I am going to wait atleast a week then try again. Just leave him alone (until monday) change his water and keep him warm. Then try it again, maybe on tuesday or wendsday.
__________________
The Mischief:
Neptune, Zion, Enigma,
Mischief~ Hamster
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07-18-03, 02:16 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2002
Location: BC
Posts: 9,740
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....
No not at all. They are the easiest snake in the world to feed. They eat EXACTLY when they want to, and they don't eat EXACTLY when they don't want to.
For some reason, people want their Ball Pythons to eat when THEY want them to. All wrong. Ball Pythons don't work that way.
And that's why they are mislabelled as problem feeders.
But they're not. Not at all.
Easiest snake in the world to keep. I can't believe how forgiving of mistakes these things are. Its crazy.
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07-18-03, 06:09 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2003
Location: Halifax
Age: 58
Posts: 53
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My royal did not eat when I first got her but after 3 months she started and now she eats like a pig.
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07-18-03, 06:24 AM
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#13
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Former Moderator no longer active
Join Date: Feb-2002
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 10,251
Country:
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Re: ....
Quote:
Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
No not at all. They are the easiest snake in the world to feed. They eat EXACTLY when they want to, and they don't eat EXACTLY when they don't want to.
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Easy or not, how many posts do your read "My ball won't eat?". They sure eat when they want, but that is frustrating for first timers when they have a snake fasting itself, even though they have read about it a hundred times over. I don't sweat it, its not as though my balls are skinny and emaciated, they know what they are doing, but guaranteed if they were in the hands of a beginner they would be forcefeeding by now, especially my male has been without food for over 9 months now Beginner keepers do exactly what you said, they want their snakes to eat when they want them to and often have trouble with the concept that the snake may not be hungry.
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07-18-03, 06:39 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jul-2002
Posts: 4,768
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I've got 4 now and it's 50/50 the males eat when they want and the females eat when I want. To echo what Jeff said they are easy to keep and if you know that they fast and the snake is healthy then it's nothing to be concered about. The first ball I had would stop eating in during the first week of September and not eat again until June. Cheapest snake I ever kept.
Cheers,
Trevor
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07-18-03, 10:12 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2002
Location: BC
Posts: 9,740
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...
Quote:
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Easy or not, how many posts do your read "My ball won't eat?
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Well, I put it into context because these same people also post "can I put a Burm in a 20 gallon, or can I house my Ball, Boa and Corn together with multiple hides, or where's the best and hottest hot rock I can buy, or, and my personal favorite, can I feed my corn CHUNKS OF MEAT"??!
These are the types of questions I hve read over the last few days here! I am not joking. So when I think something is easy, I am not counting these people. They are in a different world. Its not even a matter of not being informed. Its a matter of having no common sense.
If a person would just take the time to read a TINY bit about Ball Pythons, they would have no troubles at all (buying CB, heat gradients, thigmorphic hides, etc etc). We cannot help ignorance. We try, but does it really make a difference?
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