i bought a ball python 2 months ago. dosent eat?

Question

try frozen, live , dead, rats and mice. tried feeding it in another tank. in the same tank. it still dosent eat. its temperature is right, it as water. dont know what to do

Answer 1

Ball Pythons are picky eaters,but ideally should eat every week. If they refuse to eat for long periods of time it is usually their origin or habitat. What your BP captive bred? If not this will be dificult for you as it means it probably imprinted on a totally different food. If it is captive bred then it probably is the environment. What are you heating the viv with? A heat mat controlled by a thermostat is best. What are you using to read the temp. and humidity? You need a thermometer with a probe on both sides and a digi hygrometer as the dials are crap and don't work. Is the humidity 50%-60%? Does he have a temp gradiant with a place to hide on both sides? Did you handle him right after you got him? If you handled him right away he probably stressed and you need to leave him alone for a week or two. Is it near stressful vibrations? Is it exposed to stressful 24hr light? Are you hovering over it when it trys to eat? Are you offering the right sized food (should be the same thickness as the thisckest part of the baby of the snake). There are a million things that could stop him from eating. Keep in touch with me if this doesn't help.
Oh, BTW, don't feed in another cointainer, they do just fine eating out of their own viv and you handling it right after it eats to put it away will risk you getting bitten (while it is still in hunting mode) and it regurgitating.

Answer 2

I think you probably bought an adult ball python. But even if you didn't balls are picky eater to begin with. Also just think about the fact that you just took him out of what he considered his home and moved him somewhere new. He's probably not very happy and doesn't feel comfortable eating. You can try exposing some of the brain matter or cutting a frozen thawed rat/mouse so that there is some blood. These things will sometimes stimulate the snake to eat. There is also commercial snake appetite stimulants that you can purchase at pet stores to put on the rat/mouse. Snakes can have very particular tastes, try asking the pet store exactly what he was eating and where it came from, even what colour it was. Only feed frozen, live can harm you snake and make it even more stressed out. My one ball likes F/T (frozen thawed) rats that are dark coloured and my other snake like F/T mice that are lighter coloured. They will differ from this but that is their preferences. Don't let the snake go too long without eating or you'll kill it. Yes snakes can go quite some time but you don't really know the last time he ate. If all else fails resort to force feeding him, try to find someone that knows what they are doing and can help you/show you how.

Answer 3

I suspect you got an adult ball python. It is far too common that they will not eat. They would have been snatched from the wild and never fed in captivity. Baby ball pythons will usually eat but this can be a problem with them too. Ball pythons should not be purchased unless you see it eat first.

You are going to have to work hard to try to get it to eat. Search the net for tricks. In the end you may even have to force feed it. It really sucks to have to do that but it will keep them alive.

Search the net for experienced ball python people and have them give you all the tips they know. Better yet, take it back to the place you got it and tell them you want a ball Python that you can see eat.

Answer 4

A buddy of mine breeds balls and he was saying that male pythons sometimes won't eat for a couple of months in the winter. Also, NEVER feed live gerbils, they are known for hurting snakes. Just keep offering food every 10-14 days. Good luck.

Answer 5

you said it's temps are right, but what EXACTLY are the temps? how are you heating, and what are you using to regulate the heat, and what are you using to READ the heat?

We can't tell you to much here as most people don't come back after they answer, I can tell you this, find a forum, and a GOOD exotic vet. You'll need both eventually.

www.reptilescanada.com is a GREAT place (yes it has canada in it, but there are people from everywhere there), with very VERY knowledgeble people in the forums.....

NEVER ever EVER force feed unless the snake is drasticly losing weight or sick, even THEN it NEEDS to go to a vet FIRST.

Answer 6

I suspect that your snake is wild caught give him four months hell be alright I breed pythons and I have had this problem or have had this question brought to me several times .you said you had his temp. right it should be between 80 and 95 with a humidity level of between 40 and 60%.how is his temprement he should have something to hide in a {cave} or a shoebox will be just as good I have noticed that if a ball is not comfortable he will be upset and will not eat.hope this helps good luck

Answer 7

Most of these answers are great, but I wanted to add, check for parasites. Is he pooping? Has he ever pooped? Was it tarry?
It also seems like ball pythons prefer gerbils. You can either try a small rat scented with a gerbil or a gerbil and see if that's more appetizing.

Answer 8

the first snake i got wouldnt eat either, but i turned out it had a little scar on it's belly and so i brougt him in to a vet and he ended up starving himself to death but u should bring the snake im if he keeps this up or something could happen. depending on how big th e snake is though they can go a while with out eating but be careful going to long may cause death.

Answer 9

Some will only eat a few times a year, What they eat depends on their size, and what they're used to. Hope this link helps.

Answer 10

They will only eat when they are hungry. I would try every 2 weeks. It may take awhile to get used to the new environment.