Baby Ball problems eating.

moonsongs · 07-30-07, 06:54 PM

I have had my baby ball, he's about 15 inches, for about a month a half. I have tried to feed him frozen and pre-killed mice, of the appropriate size, but is not interested in them. When I tried to feed him a live mouse, he was definitely interested. The problem is that when he attacks the mouse and coils, he doesn't seem to be strong enough to suffocate the mouse.
So, the mouse gets free and then the snake balls up and that's the last of the interaction. I'm afraid that since he's a baby, he isn't getting the nutrition he needs. Is there anything I can do?

**Aaron_S** · 07-30-07, 10:59 PM

Try live with a bit of a smaller prey item.

Herpkid101x · 07-31-07, 08:11 AM

what kinda mouse is it? and also maybe when its about 20 inches you could try again and if not you could just kill it for him or get a frozen one

The Snake Guru · 07-31-07, 11:14 AM

Like Aaron said I would go with a smaller sized mouse such as a Hopper, he should be able to take that on, no problem....obviously the feeding response is there.

Also have you tried Tease feeding? Warm a F/T mouse up and jiggle it in front of him (with a tongs) to give it the appearance of being alive....they usually fall for the trick.

~B~

moonsongs · 08-01-07, 04:04 PM

I've been trying to feed it a hopper mouse. but he doesn't seem to be able to suffocate it. someone told me the mouse could be too small but that doesn't make sense as to why the mouse is able get away.

i have tried the frozen mouse and prekilled avenue but he is not interested in it at all.

i've checked the humidity, temperature, other tank conditions but that doesn't seem to be the problem. he wants to eat but just can't kill the mouse.

what do you mean by letting the snake get to 20 inches then try again? how fast do snakes grow?

The Snake Guru · 08-01-07, 06:45 PM

Quote:

I've been trying to feed it a hopper mouse. but he doesn't seem to be able to suffocate it. someone told me the mouse could be too small but that doesn't make sense as to why the mouse is able get away.

That is actually possible....BPs have a rather inefficiant coiling system (as far as snakes are concerned) Most of mine do one or 2 loops at most....which actually would allow for a very small rodent to wiggle free and escape if it was quick enough, have you tried larger prey items? Perhaps like a small adult?

I don't think your caging is an issue, the snake obviously wants to feed if it is actively seizing prey when offered....even hatchling balls can take on Weanling and Small Adult mice so you may want to give that a try.

~B~

moonsongs · 08-01-07, 08:02 PM

I've tried a weanling and the same thing happened so I thought it was too strong and got the hopper and still no luck. But I thought you were only supposed to feed the snake food that is as big as the largest part of it's body? The weanling looking like it was way too big for him but it too got away. How would it be able to eat a weanling or an adult? The snake is only 15 inches long so his body isn't that big. He wont eat prekilled so I don't want him to get hurt by a live adult mouse.

Reticsrule · 08-01-07, 08:53 PM

As I'm sure you are aware of, Balls are notorious for being poor feeders. However, as the others have said, in your case the feeding response does seem to be present. You are correct on the prey guidelines. The prey item should be 1-1.5x the size of the snake's largest part. I don't have much experience with Balls myself, but might I suggest trying a weanling/fuzzy RAT? You will eventually need to get it on rats anyway so you might want to try now and see what kind of response you get to that. Good Luck!

The Snake Guru · 08-01-07, 09:37 PM

Well again size can be matter of opinion what one person calls a weanling other call a hopper....but that is neither here nor there.

The feeding guidlines you mentioned are correct and you should be feeding according to that size rule.

Now, something is just not fitting though.....the snake has a feeding response, so I'm going to ask again....have you tried warming the prey and jiggling it in front of him making it look alive? Or have you just been throwing it in the bottom of the cage?

The warming part is very important...if it doesn't give off anough heat you aren't going to ellicite a response....you don't want it burning hot, but it has to get up to that 90 degree range for it to be able to be picked up as a living animal by the python.

Moving the prey item with a long tongs or tweezers is the other important part....if it doesn't look alive he won't go for it.

Rat pinkies would be another option....they should be the size of hopper mice.

~B~

moonsongs · 08-01-07, 09:45 PM

Actually, I was using frozen rat pinkies. I used tongs to kinda move it around him but he just acted so uninterested. I thought I was warming it enough but how would you suggest to do so? Is it likely he just doesn't like frozen? Or is it more likely that I'm just going about this in the wrong way?

The Snake Guru · 08-02-07, 12:06 AM

More likely you are going about the wrong way.

Put the rat in a baggie, then soak in hot water till warm. Then jiggle about 4" away from his nose. back and fourth....but make him come to it....don't bring it to him.

~B~

Herpkid101x · 08-02-07, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonsongs

I've been trying to feed it a hopper mouse. but he doesn't seem to be able to suffocate it. someone told me the mouse could be too small but that doesn't make sense as to why the mouse is able get away.

i have tried the frozen mouse and prekilled avenue but he is not interested in it at all.

i've checked the humidity, temperature, other tank conditions but that doesn't seem to be the problem. he wants to eat but just can't kill the mouse.

what do you mean by letting the snake get to 20 inches then try again? how fast do snakes grow?

what i mean is that if he's about 20 inches he will have a more longer body, stronger coils to grip the mouse and more muscles to squeze it with

mykee · 08-02-07, 02:30 PM

If that ball doesn't eat, there is no way hes ever going to see 20 inches, so your point is moot.
I would do what SG mentioned, but leave out the baggie, and throw the food item right into the hot water. The warmer the food, the better chance that your baby will take it. Good luck.

keg_1981 · 08-02-07, 11:01 PM

I had a baby ball That i was told had already feed but after a month and a half of owning it still would not eat. Snakes do not like food being forced but if its life is on the line like mine was it's worth it. My ball eventually started eating on her own, but i force fed her for 6 months.

sierrabravo · 08-07-07, 12:49 AM

A friend of mine at work has a BP like I do, and he said that he had trouble feeding live mice to him, escaping and all, so he used a pair of needle nose pliers and broke two alternate legs on the mouse so its harder for it to get away... I know; I know it sounds cruel, but it's just a feeder, and personally I would rather have my bp survive than the damn mice.