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i have a juvi ball python i bought him in march. there was a mix up an i got the wrong snake i was suppost to get a baby but i got him. he was full of ticks an mites, an to add to it he had an ri. i took him to the vet. by this time he hadnt ate for a couple weeks the vet said there was no reason for him not to be eating. well here it is the end of july an he still has not eatin. i pulled him to look at him an he is so weak. he isnt dehydrated cause he still pees. i have tried assist feeding but he isnt having any of that. i have read about force feeding, but what do u use food wise gatorade an what?
First, what size is the tank? what are the temps? what is the humidity? what are you trying to feed him? how big is he? What are you using for substrate?
All these answers can give people here a better idea of some of the issues that may be causing him not to eat.
Here is a link that suggests what food to use. It also shows step by step how to do it, however, I am not sure if that is the best way to do it. The guy seems to care and know what he is doing, but when a snake doesn't eat it can have medical reasons and given that your snake was already not healthy when you got him it is likely. Is your Vet familiar with reptiles?
Again, this link is just to get an idea as to what to feed:
Force feeding is the LAST thing you need to do. We need more info on the snake like spooky asked then we can help you better.
If its a older snakes it might be in a breeding mood, i just got my BP to eat and before that the last time he ate was in Dec. I even seen snakes go a year with out food.
Ball pythons not eating is extremely common. If the snake is not losing weight- you have no problem. If the snake is losing weight you have an issue. Parasites still present, bad husbandry, and season are all reasons for a snake not to eat. Many males coming into breeding age will go onto hunger strikes for a long period of time.
If he is losing weight and still refusing food, and your husbandry lines up- force feed it. I'm looking at having to cull 3 babies today because of non-eating - and I simply will not sell these to the public and have it end in heartbreak when the snake doesn't eat and dies.
Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.
IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.
Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.
IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.
Another "my ball python won't eat" thread, such a surprise. If my ball ever decides to starve itself I'm moving on to a carpet python. It's frustrating to buy a pet that refuses to eat, bringing you nothing but stress and wasted time on failed feedings.
IMO pets that "make great pets" should eat regularly.
There is nothing wrong with not eating if there is a good reason for it, as was previously stated, ball pythons often go off feed during breeding season.
Unless you are worried something may be wrong, its not worth worrying about.
He eats but not well. I've had him eating every six days for a couple weeks until last night when he decided to turn down a live meal (which is a pain for me, waste of money, time, and i had to catch the thing lol). All things are the same since his last meal, it is not winter when they usually go off feed for breeding, nor is he at breeding age! - frustrating!
I've had other snakes, but this is my first ball, and it's already caused me more frustration in a couple weeks than owning 2 corn snakes for years. He's a very pretty ball, and I'm happy to have him and put in the effort, but this will positively be my last ball. From my understanding and personal experience, many other snake species (including carpet pythons) have the survival insticts to not kill themselves over a slight bit of discomfort, or no reason at all...
EDIT: I guess that now that I've explained my own situation, I mine as well ask, how long should I wait till I offer him food again??
Last edited by SkYyaMe1623; 07-25-11 at 12:44 PM..
From my understanding and personal experience, many other snake species (including carpet pythons) have the survival insticts to not kill themselves over a slight bit of discomfort, or no reason at all...
Obviously there is a reason that it isn't eating.....
Obviously there is a reason that it isn't eating.....
Let's see, it's eaten with this exact husbandry, it's been eating on a six day schedule, it's eaten the same prey (as well as similar size and color), not in shed, no visible or audible RI, was'nt even handled days before food was offered, live prey, in cage feeding, the list goes on.
The reason I feel it won't eat? It lacks a consistent feeding responce which ball pythons in the wild rely on seeing as they're completely opportunistic hunters. I've wasted a lot of time and energy on reading up on these snakes and keeping the husbandry as good as I can. The whole thing has been a stressful bad experience and I'm sorry I went with a ball
Last edited by SkYyaMe1623; 07-25-11 at 02:50 PM..
Let's see, it's eaten with this exact husbandry, it's been eating on a six day schedule, it's eaten the same prey (as well as similar size and color), not in shed, no visible or audible RI, was'nt even handled days before food was offered, live prey, in cage feeding, the list goes on.
The reason I feel it won't eat? It lacks a consistent feeding responce which ball pythons in the wild rely on seeing as they're completely opportunistic hunters. I've wasted a lot of time and energy on reading up on these snakes and keeping the husbandry as good as I can. The whole thing as a been a stressful bad experience and I'm sorry I went with a ball
Hmm, you're making me think on my decision for my next snake :P
Glad to hear that! Consider carpet pythons, they are beautiful snakes that aren't a complete nightmare to coarse into taking a meal so you can get on with your life.
Trust me, the last thing you want to do is buy something you hope will be a joyous little hobby, and then need to sink a ton of energy into thinking "hmmmm how do I get this thing to not starve itself?"
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