ive had this ball python since she was born shes about a month and a half old but yet i still have to place the defrosted pinkies head in her mouth in order for her to eat...do snakes know how to eat does it come natural to them on how to capture prey??
2007-09-20 03:54:28 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
A pinkie is too small. Balls see a pinkie as a waste of energy. Get a hopper mouse. Thaw it out completely and then warm it up. Not hot, but until it feels warm to the touch. Use a pair of tongs and dangle it in front of the snake. It may take a couple tries, but it should work. By putting the pinkie in the snakes mouth, you are stressing it out.
2007-09-20 14:40:21 · answer #1 · answered by hummi22689 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snakes do this instinctively, however Ball pythons are not the greatest feeders in captivity. The snake will eventually take over on its own. A big question I would pose to you is "Why aren't you feeding this young python full size mice?" A newly hatched Ball python is very capable of consuming adult mice. Defrost adult mice in the same fashion as pinkies making sure they are warm throughout. If feeding live pay close attention to mice and snake interaction, as mice will attack snake if the snake is not interested in eating. NEVER LEAVE MICE WITH SNAKE UNATTENDED AND NEVER LEAVE MICE IN FOR MORE THEN 10 MINUTES.
This snake is ready to eat adult mice this is most likely the reason for this problem. Do not handle snake before or after feeding. Not 1 hour before or for 24 hours after.
Good luck!
2007-09-20 11:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by Lee S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, snakes know how to eat and it does come naturally. You may not be warming the mouse enough. Try feeding the snake live mice and see if she will eat them better than the thawed mice. Yea, some people may disagree with me, but most snakes prefer live mice over dead/thawed ones, and I feed mine live mice and haven't had a problem with him eating at all.
Also, I have to disagree with the first post. You only feed your snake a mouse that is as big as the biggest part of the snake itself, nothing bigger or he/she will not be able to eat it and it will become wasted food.
2007-09-20 17:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by Çåŗőľîņẫ§ħŷġĭ®ł 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually young snakes will be strikey about the head, just b/c it is instinctual to start feeding. A way I get my snakes who are unwilling to feed is to grab the mouse's tail with tongs, and lightly bump the mouse into the snakes face. This usually will get them to strike and take the food. Sometimes they may just strike defensively and try to get away. It can take time, but you can get it on a regular schedule if you try.
Sometimes with young snakes I feed live pinkies the same way, then once they get used to those, I switch to frozen food.
Good luck.
2007-09-20 11:53:19 · answer #4 · answered by hippiewhomper57 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ball pythons are notoriously picky eaters....it's great that she is eating for you at all! Make sure you put her in a small, separate container to feed and give her privacy and quiet. Make sure the pinkie has been fully thawed, then soak it in very hot water for 30 seconds--many snakes like them really warm. Give her time to eat and don't over feed--every 5 days is fine for a hatchling.
Here are a couple of good bp sites, including a great forum you might want to join:
http://www.debscaptivebredballpythons.com/content.asp?cid=8
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/
http://www.ballpythonforum.com/forums/index.php?s=592174d57f067613130a119c5216a9f7&
2007-09-20 11:06:53 · answer #5 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋