Ball Python Refuses to Eat!! Any Help???

I got a Ball Python on May 21 and was told that she ate f/t on May 16. I have tried to feed her several times but she has refused. It has been less than a month so I am not overly concerned yet but starting to get there.

She is about 18 inches long (45 cm). I was told she eats hoppers. I was trying to feed her a f/t fuzzy just to make sure that she could eat it and if she had no problem, I was going to move to a f/t hopper next time.

I heard that if a Ball Python does not eat for awhile, you should try to feed it a live mouse. I was wondering if that is a good idea and how long should I wait before trying? Also does that affect them with eating f/t? If there are other suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you!!

It's to be expected with balls really :-p
What size of tank do you keep her in?

Stress is usually the main reason why they wont eat, and open spaces they can easily get them stressed out.

Do you have lots of hides or plants etc?

Have you tried braining, scenting etc?

She is in a twenty gallon long. She has two hides, a branch for climbing, a plant (covers about half the tank) and lots of aspen covering the floor.

I have tried braining.

I heard that ball python are picky eaters, I guess this is true.

Maybe try divinding half the tank so shes in a much more closed in environment... i have seen balls not eat for months and when put into a much smaller tank, calm down and eventually eat.

They are easily strung out little snakes

BP's seem to have issues about eatting.. I have started to use a 5 gallon bucket with lid to feed the BP's.. I have had BP's take 2 to 3 monthes before they ate.. Live or F/t.. Here is something else I have noticed with one of BP's.. It does not like white mice or rats, they need to be brown or black.. Go figure a racist python.. *LOL*

Regards Tim of T and J

BTW Tula, nice lucei BP for your avatar.

Regards Tim of T and J

Who did you get her from (if you remember)? I'd try picking up a live fuzzy at the next show and going from there. They can be very picky (I'm fighting with lots right now) and you might just need to jump start her again. Let me know who you got her from though if you can remember.

~Katie

My suggestion, is to leave the snake alone for a week. Put somethhing around the glass of the viv, like a towel to obstuct view and do not bother it at all. After a week, quietly put a f/t fuzzy in the viv at night and leave it overnight. Quietly check in the morning. I would hesitate to feed live right away. I once had a Ball Python that was doing the nervous anorexia thing, and when I tried to kickstart it's appetite with a live mouse, it was terrified. That snake held out for 3 months and barely lost weight, so you shouldn't worry too much. Another thing to remember, is that even though you are worried, don't attempt to feed too often. Wait 5-7 days between attempts.
Ball Pythons can be (but aren't always) some of the most nervous snakes ever and they stop eating at the drop of a hat. It seems to me that 2 weeks acclimation is not enough for them in alot of cases.

Originally Posted by PtDnsr

Who did you get her from (if you remember)? I'd try picking up a live fuzzy at the next show and going from there. They can be very picky (I'm fighting with lots right now) and you might just need to jump start her again. Let me know who you got her from though if you can remember.

~Katie

I can not remember the guys mane. It was that the Harmar House. He was younger, late twenties/early thirties. His displayed had kings, corns & pythons. I think he is usually along the back wall. The snakes were displayed in the plexiglass tiered display. Will you be at the next show?

Originally Posted by lefty_mussolini

My suggestion, is to leave the snake alone for a week. Put somethhing around the glass of the viv, like a towel to obstuct view and do not bother it at all. After a week, quietly put a f/t fuzzy in the viv at night and leave it overnight. Quietly check in the morning. I would hesitate to feed live right away. I once had a Ball Python that was doing the nervous anorexia thing, and when I tried to kickstart it's appetite with a live mouse, it was terrified. That snake held out for 3 months and barely lost weight, so you shouldn't worry too much. Another thing to remember, is that even though you are worried, don't attempt to feed too often. Wait 5-7 days between attempts.
Ball Pythons can be (but aren't always) some of the most nervous snakes ever and they stop eating at the drop of a hat. It seems to me that 2 weeks acclimation is not enough for them in alot of cases.

Thank you. I will leave her alone for a little while.