Baby Ball python feeding problems.?

Question

I got a baby ball python a little over a week ago and the pet shop told me to wait a week to feed her, so I did. I was told that she had eaten 2 times since hatch, and she had eaten live fuzzes. I want to get her on frozen. First I don’t know if I am doing it right.
I am setting the frozen mouse on the a plate for about 20 min. with a paper towel under it to get all the water. Then I am putting Gaia (my python) in a large critter keeper (not her normal tank) then the food in with her. She wont eat it. What do I do, or what am I doing wrong? Also befor you ask...Yes, her tank is kept at a good temps and she has water I even mist 1-2 times a day. She has a half log and a climbing log as well. I can think of anything else to try. I even used some tweezers to wiggle the food around.

Answer 1

I sell reptiles and sometimes it is very difficult to get hatchling snakes to eat, especially Ball Pythons. I really suggest that you establish the snake on live food before trying to get it on frozen. After the snake is eating 2-3 fuzzies a week, then you can start to sneak in one that's defrosted. Always defrost in a plastic bag to maintain the scent. The mouse has to smell like a mouse. We already got 12 hatchling Ball Pythons this Spring that have to be force fed, they are refusing to eat on their own. If the snake goes 3 weeks without eating live food, return it to the pet store and tell them you want one that you can see is going to eat. Unfortunately, lots of times, ( even happens to us) the hatchlings are from wild caught mothers.
Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

you did good raising the temp of the enclosure now wait 1 week don't handle the snake at all make sure it has a secure hide box and is in a room that is quiet and free from commotion , also try to feed at night in a mostly dark room . If the snake still wont eat try to place the enclosure in a closet or some other place that is very quiet and completely dark then put a pinky mouse in the enclosure and leave it over night if that still doesn't work place the snake and a pinky in a paper bag like you use to pack your lunch in then close the bag and put a small amount of tape to make sure the snake doesn't get out and some small air holes and leave them over night place the bag in the enclosure so that if that snake does get out it isn't getting loose . I have had good luck with these techniques I used to get captive hatched baby ball python in by the hundred and using these ideas i got more then 90% started eating pretty quick .

Answer 3

I would agree with the others that the food is likely a bit too cool. Warming it slightly will also improve the scent. I've always had more success using an opaque feeding container rather then a clear one. My favourite thing to use is a brown paper bag, punch an air hole, role down the top and clip it and leave it in the enclosure on the cool side. Balls are also nocturnal hunters so try this overnight for your best chance at success. You have to be patient with baby balls, it can take several attempts to get them onto frozen and can be very frustrating in the process! I would also suggest you refrain from handling her very much until you establish a regular feeding pattern. Good luck.

Answer 4

Firstly, If I were you, I would return to feeding live until you have her established eating, and THEN try to switch her to frozen/thawed. Just changing her environment is enough stress, but trying to change her food (and feeding it unheated) is not going to work.

Secondly....even if your temps are correct, Ball Pythons need TWO secure hides, one on the warm side and one on the cool side. Those "half logs" do little to make them feel secure, as they are open on both ends. If they do not feel safe, they will not eat.

And third......don't bother with moving her out of the only place she might feel even a little secure to feed her. It is a myth that feeding in their home will condition them bite at you or whatever you were told. As long as you are going into her tank daily as you should be to filll water, spot clean, handle her, or whatever needs done, feeding once a week in the tank is just fine. Moving her back and forth is just more stress.

And finally......leave her completely alone for another week. Only go into her enclosure to do what is absolutely necessary....fill water, add the 2 secure hides (lol), spot clean. Then, after that week, drop a hopper mouse in front of whatever hide she is using, and leave her be. If she does not eat within 15 minutes, remove it, and wait again until the next week. If she has eaten twice before, she can go for several weeks before I would begin to worry about her. After she has begun eating regularly, then start handling her again, gradually......and then try making the switch to frozen/thawed (warmed up, of course!) Do NOT attempt to feed more often than weekly, as again, that is just more stress.

If you are totally stressing her out, it is not the pet shop's fault that she is not eating, and getting another one and doing the same thing is not going to solve anything. Give her some time to de-stress, and I'll bet she will begin eating for you shortly.

One last note: force feeding of ANY kind should only be used under extreme circumstances, in a last ditch effort to keep them alive. Assist feeding may be helpful, but I will only attempt this after a baby does not eat at all after hatching for at least a month....and even this should only be done if someone who knows what they are doing shows you the proper way to do it. I have over 50 Ball Pythons myself, and only with TWO babies have I ever had to resort to assist feeding. Give them time and proper circumstances, they will almost invariably eat.

Good luck! : )

Answer 5

Ok whats wrong is the fuzz i probably to cold what u do is put the frozen fuzzy in a zip-lock bag then u get a bowl of hot water and u let it sit in there for a bit and how u know it is done is when u touch the fuzzy threw the bag and its like squashy then its good this should work and ur python should eat

Answer 6

First what you need to do is put the mice in a zip lock bag get a cup of hot water and dip in there until it feels warm. Get your python GAIA and put it in a box. Python have heat sensors so maybe that might help. Wiggle the mice with the twizer and just tease the python. GAIA will eventualy wrap her self around the mice. Python senses the heat of the mice if the mice is cold it wont catch Gaia attention. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

the others are right warm it up a little!!!!! this mite not work if it doesn't then this is going to sound barbaric but it works. you have to split brain it. you cut open its scull the mouse not the snake and then a little bit of brain should come out then dangle it over the snakes head and wiggle it this should help with the feeding instinct.

hope this helps.

Answer 8

ziplock bags have an odor too, i use the basking lamp, and just stick the mouse next to it, it makes my reticulated python search for his frozen mouse before i pop it down to him after about 40 minutes, you want the mouse at 100 degrees, no colder, no hotter than 110, so right up on the basking lamp shield (i use a metal one, with a clip, like they sell for workshops at Lowe's) puts them where you want, without damaging the scent, and it gives the snake time to get hungry before you risk stressing it by opening the cage top, try it, if it doesn't work, i will come water thaw your mice for you (j/j)

Answer 9

The phyton needs warm food,because the phyton`s nose detects the temperature.You can froze the rats but for defroze put the rats into the microwave oven to get warm.