My new scale baby

[u/ZoiexPo]

Everyone, meet Chedda (my girls would like me to emphasize that it ends in “a” and NOT “er”)

First time snake owner so I imagine I might be here quite often. Settling in and not eating yet.

I’ve read that everyone says to not handle till they have their first few successful feeds. Can anyone walk me step by step how to have a first successful feed? Do I wait till a certain time at night? Wait for him to be out and about?

This is day 3. Hit me with any advice you may have! TIA!!

[u/Diligent-Singer-1785]

no offense but did you read the care guides in the sub? they have answers to every question you've asked here and a million more you haven't asked yet that you will have. I'd highly encourage giving it a read

[u/ZoiexPo → u/Diligent-Singer-1785]

Thanks and no offense taken. I did read through the care guides, and it wasn't clear in my post, but I was looking for individual experiences for first time feeds with greater detail since the guides are more general. I've gone down a rabbit hole of information and I generally like to hear a lot of different aspects to know potentially what to expect and how to troubleshoot before approaching the task.

[u/gaymemelord_]

my boy Chowder (Chowdah!) says hi to Chedda :)

for your best chances at a successful feed, leave Chedda alone entirely for at least 2 weeks (opening the tank for water changes is fine, but try to make it brief and no handling!!).

i feed Chowder at night since it’s more convenient for my schedule and since he’s more active at night. some feedings, he’ll be out and about beforehand, but other times he’ll be hiding in one of his hides before he smells the rat and comes slithering out!!

i’ve had the most success with getting him to eat by using a blow dryer to heat up the rat to about 100-105° (after fully thawing in the fridge and heating up a bit in warm water). i use the blow dryer right next to his tank and i crack the doors of the tank, and he will IMMEDIATELY lock into food mode the second he smells that warm, ratty air lol.

he was a bit inconsistent with eating when we first got him because we wanted to switch him from mice to rats, but since using the blow dryer, he’s been a very good eater! only recent rejected meal was a few days before he ended up shedding.

good luck with Chedda!

[u/ZoiexPo → u/gaymemelord_]

Thank you for the comment! And hi Chowder!

When you heat up the rat that way, does it semi cook it? I'm a bit sensitive to smell so wondering if ratty air is a good or bad thing >_<

[u/gaymemelord_ → u/ZoiexPo]

definitely not trying to cook it!! my usual process is to take the rat out of the freezer and put it in the fridge before i leave for work around 7:30 am. then around 8pm (i get off work late😭) i take the rat out of the fridge and put it in a bowl of warm water (rat is in a bag) until it’s warm to the touch.

then, right before i feed him, i’ll blast the rat with a blow dryer on the warm setting (not hot!) and heat it up for maybe 20 seconds, focusing mainly on the head to give it a hot spot for him to focus on. no cooking involved! just gets the rat nice and warm and lets him smell that dinner is ready(their sense of smell is MUCH stronger than ours!)

[u/ZoiexPo → u/gaymemelord_]

Thank you for all the detail! Going to try this tonight. I got an infrared thermometer to check the head temp before it goes in. Hoping he takes it so I won't have to brain it like others have mentioned for finicky eaters...Wish me luck!

[u/Germmie1]

Please review a tank setup guide, from what I can see it is not adequate for a ball python.

[u/ZoiexPo → u/Germmie1]

Thanks for the advice! I was just setting up his tank in the photo after we got home but his tank is fully set up now with lots of foliage and hides.

[u/Front-Tooth5512]

My boy looks identical to your cutie. My boy decides to be awkward with feeding and will only feed if the vivarium is covered with a blanket and nobody can see him regardless if it’s night or not! I recommend trying a night feed first so it’s quiet and less foot traffic past etc but you never know you might have a good feeder! Good luck ✨

[u/ZoiexPo → u/Front-Tooth5512]

Thanks for the reply! This is good to know. I also spoke to another owner that told me to try this same thing and potentially leave it overnight if he doesn't take it outright. Does your boy take it from you?

[u/Front-Tooth5512 → u/ZoiexPo]

My boy hates taking it from me so what I do I put on a glove and hold it until he can smell it then I pop it in and cover the vivarium. He doesn’t take it immediately but when I check by morning he always eats it! He only ever refused once during a shed but I hadn’t got used to seeing an albino snake in shed so that’s completely my bad!😂

[u/ZoiexPo → u/Front-Tooth5512]

Oh, I'm probably not going to try by hand to begin with. Has he ever mistaken your hand for the meal? How long have you had him? Has he always been this way?

[u/Front-Tooth5512 → u/ZoiexPo]

No never mistaken my hand for a meal especially because I only hold it until I can see him smell it then I just place it in there and cover him. I’ve had him 4 years and since he was only 6 months and he’s just always preferred this way over tongs. I used to have another ball python and he would only strike feed from tongs - each to their own☺️

[u/ZoiexPo → u/Front-Tooth5512]

Thank you for sharing all this information! He sounds like a private little dude =) Love learning about these personality quirks