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Ball Python Feeding Issues -- Serious!!

Hello all. Unfortunately Sammy still has not eaten. I would like at this point to try to force feed him. Can someone walk me through it? I've watched several videos. Should I start with a much smaller mouse for the first time, or try something more regularly sized?
 
I noticed in one of your pictures you had a dial thermometer, I would get rid of that and get a digital thermometer with a probe if it hasn't been mentioned yet. The dial ones are not accurate.

I also would not force feed him yet if he still looks good. If you really want to force feed him I would take him to your vet to have it done first. I think it's best to see it done in person then have it explained and if you have never done it before it can be stressful for you and him. I have a male BP that goes on hungry strikes from Sept/Oct to sometime in June normally so it is normal for some to go a long time with out feeding. This year my male ate all winter, I think because it was a warm winter here but the last 3 years I've had him he went on a feeding strike all winter and into summer.

Like mentioned earlier I would put him in a tub with cypress bark. My BPs do better in tubs, eating and shedding wise. I don't think I would put him in a 6qt like mentioned though I would use at least a 12qt.
 
I have a digital thermometer and a dial in there. I'm kinda nervous about taking him to the vet bc the closest "real" specialist is almost 2 hours away and that would be incredibly stressful. I'll have to talk to my local and see if he can do it.
 
It's okay to force feed at this point, well let's call it assist feed.

There is a video that I really like, let me dig a little and try to find it.

You want to use a much smaller than normal prey item. A rat pinkie or fuzzy would be ideal, less fur to mess with.

Again, hold off on the vet.
 
Okay, really what you will be doing is assist feeding, not force feeding.



You can also use the blunt side of a ball point pen to open the mouth.

Some times just one assist feed will spark the hunger again. Just try one small prey item and then see how he feels about his normal food. It's not going to hurt a thing to try one assist feed.

If he seems really resistant, go slow, but stop if he starts to thrash or flail.

With larger ball pythons, I get on the floor and put the bulk of their body between my knees.

I wish I lived closer and I would come help you. :(
 
Good news! Sammy finally ate! On his own! I even dug around in the substrate to make sure he wasn't secretly hiding it from me. lol.

I did a few things. 1) I moved his tank to the bedroom, where there is very little noise. 2) I got blackout curtains so the room is always very dark. 3) I covered 2/3 of the lid with a wet wash towel to raise to humidity substantially. 4) I changed the substrate from Carefresh to Aspen Snake Bedding. 5) I removed older eyecaps with some mineral oil.

Sammy fed mid-shed cycle. He is having yet another poor shed... but his eyecaps have come off. The humidity is nearly 80%. I just rubbed him down with mineral oil. Hopefully over the next few days it'll all come off. Tomorrow I'll set him on a wet towel for a short while.
 
TOP SCORE!! I'm so glad he ate! Great news!

The shedding should improve if you keep the humidity up. You can also get a normal plastic squirt bottle and mist him some.
 
Change his bedding to a twice milled cypress mulch. It holds humidity much better than aspen and should help him with those nasty shed cycles! Hope this helps.
 
So, 2 weeks later and I try feeding him again. At some point in the night he eats, then I am woken up by the sounds of him regurgitating it. =/
 
Ok. It turns out the mouse is regurgitated was the one I fed him two weeks ago! The mouse from last night is still where I put it, intact. And then the other one doesn't look digested at all and was spit up on the other side of the tank. What is going on!!??
 
Well, I've certainly seen my other two poop... but hadn't seen Sammy use the bathroom in many, many months. Disturbing! hahaha!

Oh man. I had forgotten about this post of mine. Silly. He just moved up to his first rat in nearly a year so I'm sure that'll be a treat when it comes out the other end. O_O
 
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