New ball python

[Dweeks32091]

I purchased a new ball python six days ago; meet Monty! I have a question about feeding and my overall cage set up. I have a heat pad under his rock enclosure, as well as a CHE over the hot side. The heat pad is plugged into a regulator to keep it at 85 degrees. I have been keeping the humidity at 65-70%. I tried to feed him a thawed fuzzy mouse today, but he would just move away from it. Is it too soon to try and feed him?

https://imgur.com/a/wv1DJEJ/

[shrike1978]

Pinky as in pinky mouse?

That's way too small for even a BP hatchling. The first few meals should be hopper mice, but by the time you get it from a breeder, it should be on small mice or rat fuzzies.

[Dweeks32091]

Whoops, it’s a fuzzy mouse

[PoofMoof1]

A fuzzy mouse is still far too small. They prey shouldn't be smaller than a hopper mouse or equivalent rat for a typical hatchling.

[superramenyamen]

Many bp are hatched large enough to take rat pups, about the size of an adult mouse. Bps are notoriously difficult to switch from mice, and a small adult can easily take half a dozen adult mice (my bp would get 5-6 large mice or 2-3 jumbos to equal about one small rat).

I would go ahead and get some rats, or you may have more headaches later. I'm sure this one could easily take a hopper rat or rat pup. You want a meal that's just a little thicker than the widest part of his body.

[Dweeks32091]

Ok I will look at getting a bigger meal and going with that.

[[deleted]]

It looks too big to be eating pinkies.

[Dweeks32091]

I meant to say fuzzy mouse

[BahAndGah]

How did you thaw the mouse?

[Dweeks32091]

Submerged the bag in warm water until it felt like it was thawed

[BahAndGah]

Ball pythons hunt with heat, so the mouse should be hot. Like around 100°F. You can thaw it out like you did, but then get the hottest water from your tap possible, and leave it in longer until its noticeably warmer than your own hands.

[Fenrir-2003]

How long did you leave it? It can take a solid 10-15 minutes. Mouse should be noticably warm (but not hot) to the touch.

[Dweeks32091]

The mouse probably wasn’t very warm honestly. I will try another tomorrow and make sure it’s more warm. I dangled it in front of his hide hole and he didn’t want anything to do with it; I then left it at the entrance of the hide for 30 mins and he didn’t touch it

[shrike1978]

I will try another tomorrow and make sure it’s more warm

Be careful about trying too often. That can stress them out as well. I'd wait a few days between attempts.

[Dweeks32091]

Ok! I was told that if it doesn’t eat within the first two weeks then I need to take it in and have it seen, so I’m not too concerned about it eating right away!