Help with feeding new Ball Python!!

Mookyshi91 · 08-18-14, 07:38 PM

Hi there, we just bought our 1st ball python. She is 2 months old and has only been fed mouse hoppers. Where we live, we can't find anyone who sells them, so we have been trying to feed her frozen fuzzies, but she will not eat anything. It's been 3 weeks and we are getting nervous as to why she is not eating anything. We were told to not feed her in her habitat but what about the temperatures if we take her out to feed her in a separate box? We are getting all kinds of suggestions on how to feed her, but so far nothing is working. How do you know when it's time to 'force feed' - we don't even want to have to do that. She doesn't look sick or anything, but we were also told to not handle her as much until she does feed. Is that right? Any other ideas , we would greatly appreciate it. We love her and want her to feel safe and happy. She looks like she loves her home. But perhaps it's about timing too - how late do you try to feed and for how long? We really want her to switch to frozen, but how is the question. Thanks!!

**EL Ziggy** · 08-19-14, 08:33 AM

Welcome to the forum M. I don't have much recent experience with BP's but I know they can be finicky eaters. The general rule of thumb is if your temps, humidity and other husbandry is on point and the snake isn't losing any weight you should be fine. Snakes can go weeks and months without eating and still be healthy. Have you considered feeding live prey? That could be an option and you can switch to f/t later. In the meantime I would keep offering food every 7 days until your snake eats and eventually it will eat. I'm sure one of the experienced BP keepers will chime in soon. Best wishes.

**Tsubaki** · 08-19-14, 11:50 AM

No need to start live feeding so soon, the animal has obviously eaten before. Make sure you double check the temperature and humidity, snakes, especially ball pythons might not eat because of incorrect husbandry.. Make sure the animal has at-least 2 narrow fitting hides, preferably more. Could you perhaps post a picture of the enclosure?

Fuzzy mice are to small for a snake that can eat hoppers, try to get hoppers one way or another. And i would always advise to leave an animal alone until it has eaten in their new home at least 2 times in a row. That means no handling, and no hovering in font of the enclosure. Also, there is nothing wrong with feeding inside their enclosure. It's less stressful for the animal, and it's more likely to start eating inside the enclosure.

There are many things you should try before force feeding an animal, if you made sure your husbandry is all right. You can try leaving (dead)food in the enclosure overnight, if that does not work you could try puncturing the prey animals brain. The scent is very enticing, and there is tons of other things to try before force feeding.

**Aaron_S** · 08-19-14, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mookyshi91

Hi there, we just bought our 1st ball python. She is 2 months old and has only been fed mouse hoppers. Where we live, we can't find anyone who sells them, so we have been trying to feed her frozen fuzzies, but she will not eat anything. It's been 3 weeks and we are getting nervous as to why she is not eating anything. We were told to not feed her in her habitat but what about the temperatures if we take her out to feed her in a separate box? We are getting all kinds of suggestions on how to feed her, but so far nothing is working. How do you know when it's time to 'force feed' - we don't even want to have to do that. She doesn't look sick or anything, but we were also told to not handle her as much until she does feed. Is that right? Any other ideas , we would greatly appreciate it. We love her and want her to feel safe and happy. She looks like she loves her home. But perhaps it's about timing too - how late do you try to feed and for how long? We really want her to switch to frozen, but how is the question. Thanks!!

What has been suggested is good info to start. Post up all the enclosure details, temps, hides, substrate. EVERYTHING you can think of. If you don't think it matters POST IT anyway! We need all the information needed before any help can really be given. Pics would be best as well.

I have raised many ball pythons and I wouldn't worry about it not eating right now. Force feeding should NOT be done by anyone inexperienced or without someone around to really guide them and keep an eye on things.

When it comes to feeding baby ball pythons simplicity is key. We can get more into that when more information is given.