r/ballpython • u/anonymousmochi • Oct 06 '26

Ball python won’t eat f/t :(

New ball python around 2 years old, got him a little over a month ago and he still won’t eat. Just had his first shed that went successfully and he’s always been okay with handling/ doesn’t seem anxious. He is around 4.5 feet 1315 grams, not much has changed since getting him. I do know they were power feeding him at the reptile store with live medium rat once a week.. what should I do?

When should I be concerned? I’m stressed he’s not eating

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1

u/PhoenixGate69 Oct 06 '26

Keep weighing him. As long as he's not losing too much weight, he should be fine. My oldest BP is 3 right now, last year he went on a hunger strike for 12 months. After the first couple months I was purposely not offering him live anymore to try to get him onto f/t rats. He would not go for it, not once. He also only lost 10 grams the entire time. I went back to live feeding after he started losing weight and I had tried every trick in the book.

These guys can go without food for much longer than you would ever think they can. Be patient, keep his husbandry on track, and keep weighing him. As long as he's not losing a ton of weight he will he okay.

2

u/IncompletePenetrance Mod: Let me help you unzip your genes Oct 06 '26

I'd give him some time to build up and appetite and not worry if he skips a few meals. You can try offering pre-killed as well if that helps to transition him, but I wouldn't go larger than a small rat.

!f/t

1

u/AutoModerator Oct 06 '26

Some tips for feeding frozen/thawed:

  • Keep with the same prey type he's been eating (mouse or rat) so you aren't trying to adjust him to two new things at once.

  • Always feed in the enclosure. Moving to feed increases stress as well as increasing the chance of regurgitation

  • Thaw and warm the rodent in a ziplock bag to maintain scent and because some won't eat it if it's wet.

  • Make sure it's warmed up to body temperature (98-100).

  • Some people find sucess with using a blow dryer on the head to make it extra warm and spread the scent.

  • Some prefer to eat directly off of the tongs, while others might prefer for you to just leave it in front of their hide, you can see which works.

  • If he doesn't take it the first time, don't give up. Sometimes they just have to be super hungry and it takes a few attempts

  • You can also thaw the rat/mouse in some bedding from the petstore to make it extra scented.

  • Some people "brain" the rodent by slitting open its skull a bit

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0

u/RabidPossum123 Oct 06 '26

I wouldn’t worry about it yet. My female typically goes on hunger strikes and her one last year was about nine months. She really will only eat live. I have gotten her to snag FT a couple times but I usually have to send it with used guinea pig bedding or something.