1 week old BP hatchling

[mykee]

DON'T buy a baby ball python that hasn't eaten yet.
Any breeder who would sell a baby ball python that isn't an established eater is one I would never buy from.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by mykee

DON'T buy a baby ball python that hasn't eaten yet.
Any breeder who would sell a baby ball python that isn't an established eater is one I would never buy from.

Does it take a lot to get little ones feeding or is there another reason why they may not eat? I've volunteered for the Humane Society and bottle-fed lots of wee ones, but never snakes. I assume there is more to it because everyone is so dead set against getting a baby that isn't an established feeder.

[mykee]

Not tough at all, it comes down more to the reputation of the breeder who sold you an animal that isn't established.
The feeding part is simple; toss a 15g live mouse in the bin, watch it eat. If it hasn't eaten in 10 minutes (supervised) take it out and try again in 2 days.
I've established over a thousand baby ball python over my career (NEVER sold a sinle one without at least 5 melas in it) as a ball python breeder, and only ever had 4 that refuse to eat entirely.
Three were assist fed a few times and were fine, one died.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by mykee

Not tough at all, it comes down more to the reputation of the breeder who sold you an animal that isn't established.
The feeding part is simple; toss a 15g live mouse in the bin, watch it eat. If it hasn't eaten in 10 minutes (supervised) take it out and try again in 2 days.
I've established over a thousand baby ball python over my career (NEVER sold a sinle one without at least 5 melas in it) as a ball python breeder, and only ever had 4 that refuse to eat entirely.
Three were assist fed a few times and were fine, one died.

Well, I took everyone's advice and decided to go with a 3 year old Caramel cornsnake which is established, a great feeder, and can easily be handled. I figured that should I make a mistake older snakes are more forgiving then babies.

On a different note, I found a rodent breeder who happen to breed mainly pythons and he had the most beautiful totally white python. I forgot what he called it, but it is the type that lacks all pigments. And the eyes were a marbled blue. She was gorgeous.