Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know if force feeding adult balls is ok? I bought a female ball 3 months ago, she had suposedly just layed a clutch of 6 eggs, anyway she was skinny when i got her, but now she is really skinny, and she wont eat. Temps, humidity evrything is good. Ive tried her in different size cages, i dont handle her very mutch, she has hides. Ive tried different size rats and mice, nothing seems to work with her. I have experiance with force feeding baby snakes, but have never attempted with an adult snake. Any thoughts?

Try leaving her in one size cage for a couple of months. If you've only had her 3 months switching the cages around on her probably just added to her stress.

Don't handle her at all, and don't offer any food for about two weeks (I know, it feels like forever), and then try offering her a small rat. After laying her clutch my female wants to eat like a pig, so maybe your female either didn't lay eggs or is just seriously stressed.

If you're really worried, take her to a vet before you try and forcefeed her. There might be something else wrong.

Anyone with more experience please chime in, I can't imagine it's normal in any way for a female to continue refusing food after she lays eggs.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 neurotic mouse (Cute Girl Mousey)
1.0 escape artist mouse (Jesusmouse)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

The Saddest Mouse

Sounds to me like you received a WC animal - in which case it may take months or even years to get her feeding - did you check with her previous owner about her feeding history? If she is a WC there are ways to set her up and leave her that will help assimilate her into captive life and begin feeding - if you are lucky enough to live in an area where someone has african rats - those might help too - which reminds me have you tried gerbils or hampsters? How reliable is the seller? Maybe the snake is just on winter fast? Anyway - hard to give a specific suggestion with limited information and history on the animal. Give her time and space and try not to worry too much - these animals are built to fast for over a year.
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Tosha

Yes the seller said she was eating rats, and that she was 1400 grams. The seller was some college kid who needed to get rid of his snakes. Obviously not very reliable. Anyway when i got her she was a little over 1100 grams, but she is loosing weight quick. Right now i have her in the garage, in a tank with a hid, under tank heat, and water, it is very quite in there, i have hed her in there for at least 1.5 months now. What seetings should i change to create a more wild enviornment for her? Unfortunatly i live in CA and havent heard of anyone with african rats. I will definatly check though. Thanks for the help.

Unless your garage is heated I would guess your temps are too low. Have you checked temps at night .........Ambient and hot and coolside of cage? I would try to provide a hot side 90-95 and a cool side 80-85 and a ambient of at least 75 but preferably 80. I keep my collection inside the house in a seperate room and still have to heat the room with a radiant heater. Im sure warming his invironment will help!

Gerbils are illegal to own as pets in the state of California, and I'd bet ten bucks African rats are illegal too (we outlaw all the fun stuff). There's probably someone who has them but good luck finding them. Definately try hamster though. Just don't tell the salesperson it's for scenting

Try covering half the cage with a towel. It'll help keep the warm/humid air in, and go even further as to helping her feel secure.

Not sure what part of California you're in but I'm in SoCal and my garage gets FREEZING at night, especially now, so she's probably on the chilly side. Like someone mentioned before - try bringing her in the house and/or adding a heat lamp (preferably with a dimmer) along with the towel over the top.

Good luck!

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 neurotic mouse (Cute Girl Mousey)
1.0 escape artist mouse (Jesusmouse)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

The Saddest Mouse

Hi ! If she needs to feed and is at the point were you are really worried she my die use a restraint tube (if you don’t have one get one from tongs .com ) I have fond it to be the only way to do this alone , if you have two other people to help hold and restrain it that will help. But if it need food get it in it !!!.
David of DS Reptile Rescue.

Gerbils are illegal to own as pets in the state of California, and I'd bet ten bucks African rats are illegal too (we outlaw all the fun stuff).

I've never heard of Gerbils being illegal to own. Is there some reason or is it just because Californians seem to be afraid of everything? As for the feeding, the ideas suggested here make sense; regulate temp, regulate humidity, try different foods. The only thing I feel needs clarification is that you shouldn't feed the Gerbil/Hamster to the snake unless it is absolutely a last option. Try scenting the rat or mouse first. If the snake imprints on the Gerbil/Hamster it most likely will never eat anything else and that can get rather expensive running to the pet store every week or two to grab a food item, not to mention the clerks start to wonder if you are a sicko or something lol...