Hi... I got a baby Ball Python, and it wont eat!?

Question

Hello...
I just got a baby Ball Python, and it wont eat. The Ball Python is about 8" long. I tried giving it a live young adult mouse, and it ignored it. Any ideas on how to feed my baby Ball Python?

Answer 1

i would check the set up for the snake see what temperatures are in the cage if its to cold the snake wont eat, if he is stressed out he may not eat either. i wouldnt go with pinky mice for a ball python then can eat small adults mice when they hatch out. make sure the basking temp is around 88 - 90 f and the snake is not handled alot untill it starts eating


pinky mice are to small for a ball python even a hatchling a hatchling could eat an adult mouse, if the prey doesnt leave a lump in the snake then you can feed bigger prey

Answer 2

This could be a number of problems. First, and most obvious, is that an 8" snake can not contend with an adult mouse. The snake was intimidated by it and shyed away.

Another thing to consider is that baby balls can be finicky eaters and difficult to get started. If your measurements are correct you have a very young snake which may or may not have taken a meal in captivity. I would recommend buying a ball at least 15-18" so you know it has been started. But since you have the little guy, let's see what we can do.

Start with pinky mice -- they are small and easy to swallow, and they don't fight back. Also, stress is an issue. Give the little guy at least a week to get used to its new surroundings. I would say two but a neonate like that will need to eat more often. But at least a week. try slowly putting the pinky near his head. You may even dangle it about an inch or so from his face. And be patient. There are many different approaches to getting a snake to eat for the first time. Some snakes are easier than others, and different methods work on different snakes. If feeding in the light fails, you may try feeding at night. Ball pythons are nocturnal and use heat-sensitive pits in their upper lip to find prey. Your snake may be more comfortable hunting under the cover of darkness, when it is more active. If these fail, try slitting the pinky so that it bleeds. The increased "prey" smell may trigger a feeding response.

Once started, feeding should become easier. If your snake has not eaten within a month (hopefully this will not be the case), you should talk to your pet store about an exchange, and look for a snake about twice the size of the one you have. If no results in two weeks, if I were you I would at least notify the pet store of what's going on, so that they do not forget about you. Any reputable pet dealer should be supportive here, as baby balls are notorious for being tough to start feeding.

Good luck. ;)

Answer 3

Dear Robbie N,
My first question is Captive bred or wild caught..... Given that you said it is 8" my guess would be captive bred. Wild caught usually are larger. The next question would be what temp are you keeping the cage? This should be kept at 80 to 85 degrees during the day. Also how long have you had the Ball Python?? If you just got him in the last day or two then he might not have settled into his new home....
Ball Pythons can be picky eaters, but if they don't eat right away don't panic. If you live in a region that gets cold (winter) then they tend not to eat as often, and this is fine. If the snake starts to lose weight and/or doesn't eat over time seek a vet... Also ask the where you got it if they had fed it and how well it ate.
You can also try going to something smaller then an adult mouse try a Fuzzy mouse (this is a mouse that has just started getting fur) it could be the adult mouse is to intimidating.
hope this helps if you have any other questions etc you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

You need to leave the snake alone for a week. Put the snake in its new cage, make sure the temps are good, it has fresh water and put the cage somewhere with very little traffic. Do not touch the snake for 7 full days. The snake has to take the time to adjust to its new environment or it will be stressed out and won't eat.

After the 7 days, place the food item in the cage. (try a hopper, as an adult mouse is usually to large for a baby ball,especially if yours is just 8 inches) Leave the mouse for 15 minutes(stay in the room where you can see, but not right in front of the cage) After 15 minutes if the snake doesn't eat , remove the mouse and do not try feeding again for another 7 days.
Offering food too often is the number 1 mistake when feeding snakes. It will stress the snake out even more and cause an even longer period of time without eating.
Hope that helps. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Ball Pythons are known for being trouble eaters. I have even read that some may even starve themselves to death and must be force fed. When you buy a snake from a store, make sure to see it eat before bringing it home. This way you know if its going to be a trouble feeder. If it hasn't eaten in a few days, just try again the next week. Also some Ball's have been known to stop eating during the winter months. This is natural. Just keep trying until he starts eating again. If you are concerned, I would take it to the vet, but at this point I think that would be unnecessary. Just keep offering once a week.

Answer 6

If your python is a baby, young adult mice are too large for it. Try a live fuzzy mouse. Give the snake privacy to eat--leave the fuzzy in the cage with it overnight and leave the snake alone. A fuzzy won't bite it so it's safe for the snake.

Answer 7

you need to give somemore info on the snake like where did you buy it? is it captive born or a bush baby(wild caught) but sometimes baby balls are not willing to eat even when there hungry also you might have to give it a week or two if it is a new born less than a week only but if this keeps happening just get the cap to a pen an gentally open the snakes mouth and put the mouses head in but only the head the snake should start to eat the baby mouse but if it spits it out try again in a few minutes also wat is the temp of your cage ball pythons come from arrid regions in north western africa and like there temps to be high like 90 degrees in the surrounding air with a baskin spot of about 100-110 degrees also provide a water bowl big enough for it to fit completly in with either news paper or syprice maltch as a substrait make sure the humidity is trpical for easier sheds!!

Answer 8

quite often, when you change a snakes environment, they change eating habits. we have two of them. during this time of year, they wont eat as often. just make sure he has fresh water every day, proper temp., and a place to hide (ball pythons are very timid). you can freeze whatever he wont eat then thaw and try again another day. also keep an eye on his weight. if that doesnt change you have nothing to worry about. ENJOY!!!
OH!! and if the food is too big he wont strike.try smaller mice.
8" snake? try fuzzies. your supplier will know what to get.
(Charlie hasnt eaten in two months, not unusual for him in the winter)

Answer 9

Ok well how long have u had it? sometimes it wont eat right afet you get it. you have to wait a few weeks. but just try and sticking a pre killed fuzzie in once a week like every friday. You may wanna try and not take it our the cage oranything for about a week untill she eats. you can also trydiffernt colors and shapes. it took my boa a baby black gerbil to eat so juts keep trying it wont hurt if they go a few weeks without food. as long as they look healthy.

Answer 10

pinky mice not adults. If he is wild caught try baby gerbils since that is what they eat in the wild. It may be stress, or temp humidity off. He may not be hungry yet. Give it a a few days though before you start worrying.