Ball pythons are notorious for not eating well. First of all, relax- a healthy adult python can survive a year or more without food.
If it's shedding, it will not eat immediately before or during the shed, but will probably be hungry afterwards. Wait a few days, and if it sheds, try to feed it again.
Also, check your snake for signs of illness. Put it near your ear- if you hear rasping when it breaths, it could have an upper respiratory infection, and it will need to see a vet. Check it's skin, too- if you see any bugs crawling on it, it could have ticks or mites and need treatment for that. Often, mite-infested snakes will not eat out of weakness, so you'll need to see a vet ASAP.
Is there a thermometer in the cage? With winter coming, your room may have cooled down, and also the snake's cage. Make sure he has a basking spot in the 90's, and that the ambient temperature is about 80-85 degrees. Snakes will not eat if they are cold.
Also, make sure your cage has all these things:
-Heat light- place the light all the way to one end of the cage to create a 'hot' zone.
-Water bowl
-Hiding places
-Comfortable bedding (aspen shavings, bark, reptile carpet, etc.)
-2 thermometers- one near the heat light, and one on the 'cold' side. Again, cold side should be 80-85, hot size should be at least 90.
Also, try not to poke at your snake too much- if you just got him, he's probably very stressed. Check him once for the mites and breathing, if he seems okay, put him away and DO NOT TOUCH HIM for the next 3-5 days. He needs time to settle in to his new environment. Give him some time, let him shed his skin, and try feeding again in about 1 week (or longer if he doesn't shed right away).
Last but not least, make sure you are feeding him the same thing he was fed before- was he eating live mice, or frozen/thawed? What size was he eating? Snakes should be fed food items that are the same width as the widest spot on the snake's body, so it may be that the mouse you gave him was too big or too small.
Good luck! I'm sure your new baby will be fine.
2006-11-14 01:35:32
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answer #1
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answered by Dreamer 7
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It's OK don't worry if you snake is not eating I have one wild caught ball python that goes all winter without eating... But this is not normal but now for your python. Shedding this is a very stressful time but some other questions must be answered before you can worry too much What are you feeding the snake?? How old is it? do you have the correct temperatures? I believe a basking around 88-90 and a ambient of about 83-84.
If its very young you may want to get it force fed by a professional if your feeding frozen thawed then remember to make sure the mouse/rat is very warm I place mine in a few zip lock baggies and then dunk under very hot tap water for about 30 minutes remember if its wet the snake will probably refuse. If your feeding live just try to make sure the mouse/rat doesn't bother the snake you may want to give the snake a few days between feeding attempts. You can also try braining the mouse or rat by cutting its head wide open with a razor blade.. there are many other ways to try ot feed your ball python the first time my stubborn ball python ate is when I gave it a black gerbil I don't suggest feeding yours gerbils though the snake can get hooked and it will be very expensive that's all mine eats still...
2006-11-14 01:32:16
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answer #2
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answered by Tanner H 2
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Eating while in the process of shedding is dangerous for a snake. Don't force him to eat. Extra humidity or a soak in warm water should help. Try to give the snake some privacy for the next week or two. If he's wild caught, he will be very finicky about eating anyway. The captive bred snakes tend to be more apt to eating. Although, in general ball pythons are more finicky in feeding than some other snakes.
The snake will be fine. Next time try to do a little research about reptiles before purchasing. I'm glad you got a ball python instead of a more demanding type of snake.
2006-11-14 15:52:11
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answer #3
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answered by Jenn 3
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Sounds like your snake is shedding.
For the people below, three weeks is nothing for a healthy snake. They can easily go months without food. Also, ball pythons are notorious for being hard to feed.
First of all, don't feed your snake until it's finished shedding.
Here's some things to try when you DO feed it again:
-Cut the mouse down the back. Blood entices the snake.
-Get the mouse on tongs and try and make it seem alive.
-Make sure the mouse is warm; snakes don't like cold prey.
-Make the room completely dark. Ball pythons are shy feeders and like to feel safe from predators while they eat.
If the snake isn't showing interest in the mouse, gently tap it on the neck with the rodent; that works well for my snake.
It's important not to pester the snake all the time or he'll get stressed; try just once a week. Also minimise stress until you've got him to eat; do not handle the snake or disturb him in any way.
Good luck!
EDIT: Snakes don't hibernate in captivity unless you actively simulate hibernation, because if you leave his heat source on all year round, he can't tell when it is winter.
2006-11-14 02:13:06
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answer #4
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answered by Jason 3
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Three weeks isn't very long if the snake is shedding. Also, the snake has a biological calendar - and winter is approaching. Winter is a time for most snakes to be rather dormant - similar to hibernating.
One of my pythons refused to eat pinkies. But offer her an adult mouse and it was as good as gone before my hand was clear of the tank.
I wouldn't worry this time of year. Keep offering food once a day. When she/he is hungry, she'll eat.
2006-11-14 11:42:42
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answer #5
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answered by north79004487 5
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if ur ball python is an adult or sub adult it probably because the breeding season is here and most snake during breeding season will not eat for 5-6 months during this time even baby snakes sometimes will go through the same cycle all our snake are now on the shut off time (breeding season ) but if the eyes r grey most likely it is in a shed give him/her a big bowl of water to soak in leave it in it's en-closer leave him/her alone till s/he sheds.. once the eyes go clear it will take approx. a 4days to a week b4 s/he sheds ... some will even be a little edgy if you stick ur hand in while they are in a shed (they feel varnable during this time)so don't be surprise if u get a good bite .. had many lol ... anyways no worries as long as they r healthy...we own 5 snakes 7 beardies 4 iguana's 2 monitors 2 red-eye tree frogs 3 hermit crabs and have 14 beardie eggs on incubation ...
2006-11-14 11:36:05
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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don't freak out, the greying is a sign of goilg into blue(shedding) A 30 minute soak in the tub will help moisten the skin for an easier shed. it should eat right after shedding, but many pythons will go up to 6 months w/o eating.
2006-11-14 01:24:39
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answer #7
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answered by the shug 3
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If you just got it it won't eat for two to three weeks. You moved it. Any time you move it from one environment to another they have to adjust. Don't freak out. My snake did it to. They will eat when there are ready. That is the great thing about snakes. They are very low maintenance. If it's eyes are cloudy it is shedding in which case it will not eat until it sheds.
2006-11-14 16:01:22
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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ok yes he is getting ready to shed and they will not eat while they are getting ready to shed. ball pythons are known to go almost 2yrs with out eating. that is normal. i have 2 of them and when they are ready to shed they will not take food. one of mine has not eaten for about 1 yr and he is still up and moving and drinking. also with it being winbter they will not eat as much because of the weather. when it is cooler they will not eat because it slows them down, they also go in and out of hibernation, but all you can do is try to offer food to him and maybe he will eat. during the hotter months they eat alot to store up fat for the winter like now. but they will shed no matter what because they are still growing. don't worry about him as long as he is still drinking he will be fine. now that the weather is cooler you need to keep him at about 86-88 in the day and about 74-78 in the evening. you do still need to keep him warm in the winter because they can get sick from it being to cold and won't move around to much when the weather gets warmer.
you should have a heat light on top and an under tank heater for bottom. he needs both top and bottom heats to stay healthy.when you do feed him try something a little bit smaller for him because ball pythons do shy away from food that is to big for them to eat. once he has been able to eat the smaller ones with no problem then you can move up to the next size of mouse or rat. good luck.
2006-11-14 12:57:24
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Although I understand that snakes can go for a long period of time without eating, large snakes like pythons should exhibit a desire to eat regularly unless they're gravid, shedding, or sick. Ask a professional or a veterinarian immediately to be safe if you're not absolutely sure it's shedding.
2006-11-14 00:31:52
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answer #10
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answered by What is a man 1
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