it was eating before and now it doesnt want to.
2007-10-10 14:03:28 · 8 answers · asked by punkie 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Could it be shedding? They tend to stop eating during this..
The Ball Python will typically eat mice when small, and mice, rats or gerbils when full grown. One feeding per week is sufficient
PRE-KILLED prey items only
If your ball python refuses to eat, these are a few tricks that have worked for other ball python owners:
- The pillowcase: Try putting the snake, with the mouse into a pillowcase and leaving it undisturbed. With less distrations, the snake is more likely to eat. Check in half an hour, and see if the mouse if gone.
- The wet mouse trick: Remove the water from the terrarium, and wait a day. Soak the mouse in water, and then when the snake licks the drops of water from the mouse, it may be encouraged to eat.
- Washing: Sometimes, it is the scent of the mouse that disturbs the snake. Wash the mouse several times with soap and water, and make sure it is well rinsed. This removed the strong scent, and your snake may then eat.
- Attractant: There are a few products on the market that can enhance the scent of the mouse. Just put a couple of drops onto the mouse, and then leave it in the cage. Make sure you don't get any on your fingers!
- Live Food: This should be a last resort. Some experts feel that feeding live prey to your snake will tend to make it more aggressive. In addition, the mouse or rat can injure your pet. Furthermore, once you have fed it live food, it is very difficult to get it back on to pre-killed meals.
When should you worry?
If your snake has been eating, and starts refusing, it is not immediate cause for alarm. The ball python can go months without eating. They typically stop eating during the winter, so if the humidity or temperature in their terrarium has changed, this may result.
As long as your python is not obviously loosing weight, don't rush to force feed it. If you are in doubt, bring the snake to a vet and get a professional opinion.
Hope this helps
Goldie
2007-10-10 17:18:03 · answer #1 · answered by AnimalManiac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ball pythons are notorious for not eating, so there is probably no cause for alarm. As long as it's maintaining its weight and not showing any other symptoms of illness, I wouldn't get too worried right away. Just try feeding it at the regular time. If it won't eat, try again the next regular feeding time. You can try tricks like dipping the food in egg yolk or chicken broth if you want, but both of my ball pythons were the same way. In fact, my male only ate once about every eight months and was perfectly healthy.
2007-10-11 11:27:13 · answer #2 · answered by AliDawn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many factors possible here:
Heating and humidity are off, but I'm guessing this isn't the case.
It's going to shed soon; they often won't eat right before a shed.
Also, you must remember that pythons have one of the slowest metabolisms of any snake. They can go months, even up to a year without eating. As long as the snake isn't losing weight, you shouldn't be alarmed if it refuses food.
Also, are you using live or f/t prey? If you use f/t, I've got some excellent tactics to convince them to eat. Just email me if you want more info on that. ^.~
2007-10-11 02:56:25 · answer #3 · answered by ferrisulf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check (a) the temperature of the tank and (b) to see if your snake is going into shed (the eyes become opaque and their bellies turn pinkish). If the tank isn't warm enough, they won't eat. Balls like it hot (95 degrees), but I kept one end of the tank a bit cooler (85) so she could cool herself down if she wanted. I kept the tank about 10 degrees cooler at night.
2007-10-10 16:40:14 · answer #4 · answered by magichorselover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have it on a regular feeding habit and your feeding too often it will not eat till it's ready. If it has been a while get it to a veterinarian. Could be a blockage. Slowed eating while shedding is usually not a problem with mine.
2007-10-10 14:14:17 · answer #5 · answered by Teacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He might be sick, or he could be going through a low activity stage, if he doesn't atart again soon take him to an animal doctor!
2007-10-10 14:38:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have given absolutely no information regarding how you're keeping it or feeding it, you're not going to get answers, you're going to get GUESSES.
2007-10-10 14:16:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have heard that they do not eat or have poor appetite when they are starting to shed
2007-10-10 14:11:20 · answer #8 · answered by hermitofnorthdome 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋