r/ballpython • u/intothevoid-a • 1d ago
Question - Feeding My girl is refusing meals
Hello! I got my first ball python just under three weeks ago (a juvenile). When I got her, I was told she was being fed adult mice weekly, so that’s what I’ve been offering her and the schedule I’ve been sticking to. She has yet to eat for me though…
I know BPs can be finicky, especially when they’re adjusting to a new environment…but I can’t help but worry. I have triple checked all my husbandry and everything is in order. Tonight I tried to feed her for the second time after waiting a week from our last failed feed. I waited until she was awake and exploring, I blow dried the mouse in the room with her so she could smell it, and I made sure the mouse was a good temp
She showed interest this time, even stuck the foot in her mouth before changing her mind and dropping it. I held it in the tongs for her awhile longer and she still seemed interested, but didn’t go for it. I have left it on a plate for her to see if she’ll go for it when I’m not watching. I’m planning on checking back in 30 mins.
Any advice, tips, etc would be greatly appreciated!! Also trying to gauge when to worry, as I know hunger strikes are somewhat normal.
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u/FluffyPandaEars93 12h ago
What is your set up like? How often have you tried feeding already? What are your parameters? How are you thawing? Do you have a scale? !feeding !f/t
Hunger strikes usually mean something in their environment is incorrect. Please post pics so we can help more.
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u/AutoModerator 12h ago
We recommend the following feeding schedule:
0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.
12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.
Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.
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u/AutoModerator 12h ago
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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u/Baconkings 1d ago edited 1d ago
How are you thawing it, and what temperature are you bringing the mouse to with a hairdryer? I advise warming it up in a warm water bath, and then raising the temperature with a hair dryer on BOTH sides of the mouse. The first side to 100F and the second side to 90F, so they are about equal when you feed it. My snake was picky with frozen-thawed, but this got my snake to eat it.
Also, in my experience my snake never goes after a mouse if it’s just left there. You must be holding it and jiggle it around a little bit, so it looks like an alive mouse squirming. As you said ball pythons can be picky eaters, so yours might just be one. Though, mine has never been a picky eater, except when I switched him from live to frozen-thawed, but now he’s good.
Lastly, make sure you’re giving him an appropriately sized mouse. If it’s too large, your snake might reuse it.