I really need help!

Skeet · 12-13-05, 10:58 PM

My ball hasn't eaten in over 2 months. I had her eating live medium rats a month after i got her, but it only lasted for a month. Then I tried a pk which she took and I was extatic, the next time I offered a pk rat she refused to eat it and has refused every week since. I know that they can go a long time, but she's starting to lose some weight. I have even tried offering her a live pup the last time and she even refused that.
She had been in a 30 gallon tank with a warm side around 88 and cool side about 76. this past week I moved her into a reptiles basics rack with pretty much the same temp radiants. I need tip on how to get her to eat. I used to feed her in her tank really quietly at night and let her do her thing, but I can't do that with her in a tub. How can I feed her outside of her tub without her feeling vulnerable, she is a very shy snake?
Thanks in advance, any help would be apreciated.

Jayson · 12-13-05, 11:36 PM

Your temps are way to cold, Up your warm side to 95 cool side 88. Also it is the season for them not to eat.

NocturnalBC · 12-14-05, 01:36 PM

Your temps are too cold! Like what was said, 95 hot - 88 cold is good. Not all Balls go off food so that isn't always the best excuse to use. I always take mine out and feed him in 24flat water box and have never head a problem. If you still have a problem getting it to eat try feeding it a live mouse, sometimes that live little mouse will trigger the hunger.

Skeet · 12-14-05, 01:44 PM

ok, well I can't raise the temps in the rack system that high, so I called the company and I'm gonna try and add another flexwat heat tape to her shelf, hopefuly that'll do the trick w/out getting too hot. Those temps seem really high, but I will try it.
I have tried live mice and live rat pups, she is just scared of everything.

NocturnalBC · 12-14-05, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeet

ok, well I can't raise the temps in the rack system that high, so I called the company and I'm gonna try and add another flexwat heat tape to her shelf, hopefuly that'll do the trick w/out getting too hot. Those temps seem really high, but I will try it.
I have tried live mice and live rat pups, she is just scared of everything.

What do you mean those temps seem high? Do some research and learn how to take care of your pet properly.

...also, make sure you have your heat source pluged into a dimmer or something to control the heat.

gonesnakee · 12-14-05, 02:16 PM

Easy on the bashing for too cold as they are not really off but by a few degrees. 95 is pushing too hot & 88 for the cold side is too hot. Ever been to the African savana? I have, it gets really cold at night, much colder than 88 F. Hotside of just over or 90 F is plenty hot & most all pythons can handle night time drops down to 75 F no problems. Personally I would go for around 80 F coldside & just over 90 hotside. 76 is too low for the coldside but 88 is way too hot for it. Mark

NocturnalBC · 12-14-05, 02:25 PM

yeah that was my bad, I meant to say 80F for cool side. My temps are 95-80

Skeet · 12-14-05, 03:58 PM

Thanks gonesnakee. I have done alot of research and i know they say 95 for a hot spot, but all the live people I have spoken to who keep balls tell me that they only needed like 88-90 for the warm side, so i went w/ experienced people over care sheets. I know 76 is low but in the tank I had her in before it was imposible for me to raise the cool side. The rack has made it much easier to raise the temps, and i will ajust it. I have a dimmer attached, and I ordered a thermostat monday, and should have it tomorrow or the next day.
But they whole point of my post was for tips on how to get her to start feeding in a seperate container.