hi we purchased a ball python for my son in December and have only been able to get her to eat twice. she is looking very skinny and I am getting very worried that she will end up starving. I am not sure what to do I have tried various size defrosted frozen rats and she doesn't even look at them. please help
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anyone with snake experience please help
- Thread starter jrjackson
- Start date
Captive bread ball pythons are very picky! Might want to try a live mouse to so see if that helps, then your only other option is to force feed which I have done and it is not easy!
Might be internal parasites. You should try to force feed to get some food in it.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just like it sounds unfortunately. Open their mouth put the mouse in, and carefully move it down their body. Should be used as a last resort.
DO NOT force feed if you do not know what you are doing as you may cause more harm. Just try a LIVE fuzzy or hopper. If it doesn't take it within a day remove it give it a day or two and try again.
Also what is the temp of the tank? These are tropical snakes so if it's in the 70s it will not eat. Try to raise the temp to the 80s and mist daily to get the humidity up.
Bunch O Snake/Reptile/Exotic Experience.
Side note.
Once you raise the temp and humidity and the snake looks like its blowing bubbles or is weezing it has a upper respitory infection. At that point the most humane thing to do is put it in the freezer. That or spend a bunch of money to take it to a vet who will give you a steroid that is hit and miss, but being your guy hasn't eaten it will probably be a miss.
Also what is the temp of the tank? These are tropical snakes so if it's in the 70s it will not eat. Try to raise the temp to the 80s and mist daily to get the humidity up.
Bunch O Snake/Reptile/Exotic Experience.
Side note.
Once you raise the temp and humidity and the snake looks like its blowing bubbles or is weezing it has a upper respitory infection. At that point the most humane thing to do is put it in the freezer. That or spend a bunch of money to take it to a vet who will give you a steroid that is hit and miss, but being your guy hasn't eaten it will probably be a miss.
yea i agree the live prey might trigger the instinct to eat.
What type of food have you tried? How large is the animal?
Young snakes sometimes require feeding of pinkies, as they can smell the animal easier without the fur, helps they can't really move to escape being eaten either. I have used that in the past and had some snakes eat that for a few weeks then move to a mouse or larger.
I would not leave a live rodent in with the snake. If it doesn't move to eat it within 5 or 10 minutes take the rodent out. They can bite the snake and really injure it.
Young snakes sometimes require feeding of pinkies, as they can smell the animal easier without the fur, helps they can't really move to escape being eaten either. I have used that in the past and had some snakes eat that for a few weeks then move to a mouse or larger.
I would not leave a live rodent in with the snake. If it doesn't move to eat it within 5 or 10 minutes take the rodent out. They can bite the snake and really injure it.
falconut
NJRC Member
I don't have a snake, but do have a basilisk lizard. She requires higher temps around 80-90 in basking areas. When the temps are too low, she doesn't really eat much. This is usually in the winter. She also won't touch frozen mice, pinkies, etc. Her food must be moving to draw her attention. So, as others have said: Make sure the temps are correct (hot side & cooler side) and try live food.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
http://www.ballpythonaddiction.com/?p=205
Snake Crack. Check OGII Ramblings On African Soft Fur Rats aka Natal Rats
Ask for Craig tell them Bryan Duggan sent you.
Snake Crack. Check OGII Ramblings On African Soft Fur Rats aka Natal Rats
Ask for Craig tell them Bryan Duggan sent you.
Dr. Jim one of the sponsors is a vet not sure if he does much with snakes but he maybe worth a shot or the one in Red Bank.
My fraternity had a pair of pythons we always fed live food, bunnies or usually chickens. They were good sized snakes though 12-15 feet and over a hundred pounds....oh and yeah I got bit. Try live food if that doesn't work then I would be worried.
My fraternity had a pair of pythons we always fed live food, bunnies or usually chickens. They were good sized snakes though 12-15 feet and over a hundred pounds....oh and yeah I got bit. Try live food if that doesn't work then I would be worried.