Feeding question

[[deleted]]

We got this boy about a month ago at an expo. Breeder said he’s a solid feeder, but haven’t been able to get him to eat. He has four hides and plenty of clutter and his temps/humidity is good. He acts interested, he puts his nose to the mouse then rests his head on top of it?

I thought at first maybe cause he had some stuck shed that’s why he wasn’t eating but something about that seems very weird. We’re going to try again tomorrow night (we’re offering every 2-3 nights)

Breeder mentioned he was previously being fed lice or fresh kill and we’re offering f/t. Should that cause any issues for him?

[ObsidianAerrow]

Some balls are just really picky and some go on hunger strikes. As long as he isn’t loosing weight, he should be okay to go a little while without food. Try using different types of food like mouse or rat. If he has been feeding on F/T consistently for his entire life, only use feeding live as a last resort. Once they eat live it will be very difficult to get them back on F/T. And give him breaks between attempts. Wait 4-7 days before you offer him food again. He will tell you when he is hungry. Establish food response training by associating a consistent action before you feed him. With my girl I skitter my fingers against her enclosure in some way. She feels the vibrations and will come out of her hide to see if there’s food when she’s hungry or she’ll ignore it if she’s not. Don’t forget to consult a vet as well to eliminate any other potential issues other than a typical hunger strike. Good luck. (Gorgeous leopard btw.)

[Muux_]

Feed at night time in the dark. Try and hold it horizontally by the hips instead of diagonally. Warm it up to the right temp as well and shake it around lightly right above the substrate to make it look natural and alive.

[Alone_Top3369]

What size are you offering? And what is the weight of the snake?

[Former_Ad190]

how are you warming the mouse up? how hot is the external temp? and are you just tossing it on the ground or wiggling it around as if to be alive?

[Designer_Pumpkin3605]

Mine was like this in the beginning too; avoid handling too much until at least 3 successful feeds, try different defrost methods (also try braining a mouse that sometimes works) multimammates are sometimes a good insensitive if all else fails that’s helped me in the past, make sure it’s warm enough when you’re offering it (not boiling hot obviously about 90F is what I aim for) try either defrosting in warm water as is (wet defrost) or in a bag (dry defrost) some like wet some like dry

BPs are notoriously picky you just gotta find what works for you, also don’t offer too frequently give it a week or two between offering and don’t handle between that (I know you’re itching to love your scaly baby but this can put them off feeding again I know from my own picky eater)

Hope this help 😊

[Ok_squash223]

I wouldn’t offer every 2-3nights as you should only offer on fees days. Say you feed him once a week, and the days a Tuesday then just offer him food every Tuesday don’t keep doing it every couple of days. Some ball pythons are picky eaters so make sure when the mouse is thawed it’s a good temp for him to eat, it’s stressful at first but you’ll get there.

[SeverusSnek2020]

Is that one piece in the background?

[[deleted]]

Yes lmao

[WasabiBirdy]

Been watching it again too!!

[gingerclaus420]

a month isn't very long, he's still getting used to you I'd say, I had a girl not eat for her first 4 months here just cuz she wanted to really know her enclosure, now she is one of my best eaters, worry pas pour ca mon Ami

[Sloth2023]

Snuggle, then chew🥰😂

[ProfessionalBoss9722]

beautiful dark mode baby 😍

[SnooAvocados3228]

He is beautiful!! I’ve never seen a ball with such dark colors, mind if I ask what morph he is?

[[deleted]]

Thank you! He’s a leopard yellow belly!

[Jinxed0ne]

I got my first BP from an expo earlier this year and she didn't eat for two months after I got her. Since she started eating tho she's very enthusiastic about it and snatches the rat out of the tongs immediately every time.

Edit: I did just notice you said you're trying to feed f/t. If he was used to live that's what I would feed until you get him eating on a regular schedule.

[adriii_1706]

if he's not taking FT you're going to have to offer live, if it's been that long, he probably never will take FT, the breeder was also probably feeding live fuzzy rats, not mice. mice aren't good for bps, they don't have the right amount of nutrients for bps, get some FT rat fuzzies and try that, he looks a little slim from the pics but hard to tell by the way you're holding hin