feeding ball python

prlanes · 07-21-05, 03:17 PM

bp hasn't eat in 3 months
tried everything
it has shed once former owner tried to feed it rats left it alone in cage to long had some bites on it
tried mice dead and alive tried gerbils no luck

used to be in a 25 gal. tank
moved in to a 55 gal. tank to help it out
hasn't worked

bought it at a pet store said it eat at 9 a.m. once a week 2 mice
it was on considement

mykee · 07-21-05, 05:58 PM

Sorry to hear that.
You haven't tried everything.
Probably scared since it was bit.
Try a live fuzzy rat. WATCH IT while it's in the cage.

Put it back in a 25 gallon,
More harm than good.

Pet store animals suck.
Probably (for sure) CH.
Return it for a REFUND.
Don't buy another one from a pet store.

Buy a book on the captive husbandry of ball pythons.
It'll help.
Good luck.

Kathy Shaw · 07-22-05, 01:17 PM

How big is the snake?
25 gal tank seems large.
The larger the snake the longer it can go without eating.
My first BP went 7.5 months without eating ... and she fasts every year from late Sept till late May early June. So if it is not losing a lot of weight it may not be a big deal.
In that big of a tank put several hides in it ... maybe bury some of them in mulch with the hole in the top so it is like going down in a den to get in and out. Leave it alone in a room that does not have much activity. Stay away from the cage other then checking/replacing water once or twice a week. After about a week of no activity put live helpless prey in (gerbil or rat pups or mice fuzzy eyes still closed hardly able to move). Try to disturb the cage as little as possible putting in food and water. Leave the prey in overnight. If it does not eat put the rodents back in with mom and try again next week You probably cannot use the same rodents next week cause they will not be helpless anymore they grow fast.
YOUNG HELPLESS RODENTS ARE THE ONLY LIVE RODENT THAT SHOULD EVER BE LEFT ALONE WITH YOUR SNAKE!!!
Gerbils are BPS natural food and they grow slower so if you can get a pair of gerbils and breed your own you can use the same babies for a few weeks before they grow big enough to bite your snake.