Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This was definitely last try to feed my Penelope this way(offering live pray),coz now I saw that she is actually AFRAID of live pray(mice).Three times she slowly approach to it and soon as she smells it,mice turns around,towards her face and she suddenly pulls her head back and mice is doing nothing!Not even near to attack her or to show any kind of aggression towards her.Lights were off,there was no any kind of sound to disturb her,temp,humidity perfect...I will wait for 2-3 days and than try with pre-killed.If that fails also,will try with frozen..Tomorrow I will ask breeder about her brothers and sisters(which he didn't sold yet) if they are maybe behaving like Penelope in these days...That's all I could do...Greetings..Alex.

I know that you want to trust you pet shop person, You have had several poeple other than myself tell you that you need to downsize that tank. I believe that the petshop owner snookered you into buying a large exspensive tank. What you need to do is take that big one back.Listen to everyone on here Fianacially they have nothing to gain. They have years of amswering the same questions. Next your going to have problems with sheds.. Do your snake the favor get her set up properly.
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1.0 Het for pied
0.1 Het for Pied
1.5 normal balls
1.1 bearded dragons
0.1.0 Sulcata tort
1.3 kids
1.0 husband
To many little critters list

Sounds like you may have a very, very stressed ball python.

Did you actually see the pet shop owner feed your snake or any of the other ones?
Is it a really tiny animal at this point? It's possible that it is the offspring of a wild ball python, which may make it harder to feed. But, more than likely it's just a really nervous snake right now. Partially from being in a new place and partially from that giant tank you have.

As hard as it is, you've got to relax about the feeding situation as much as possible.

You should also really switch to a smaller tank. Find something plastic and inexpensive, about the size of a large shoebox with a securely attachable lid. Set your snake up in it, just as you have with the big tank: provide a source of heating underneath such as an electric heating pad, put a hide box inside and some substrate on the bottom. Don't use the spotlight, to prevent the chance of burns or overheating.

Then, and here's the hard part: leave your snake alone for a week or so. No feeding or handling. Just lots of quiet time for the snake to get his/her comfort level back. Keep it warm and dark and secure. I bet you'll see a change in the feeding situation after just a week or so of complete rest and security.

The more you fuss with it in this huge tank, the more stressed it will get. Honestly! You're trying to do your best, but the snake doesn't know that. It needs a break and a cozy place to be for awhile.

in my opinion you would need your ball setup in a 10-20 gallon tank (it works for the few i have). as far as feeding goes change enviroments first...give her about a week, then get something about the size of a shoebox (or if you dont want to change later invest in a large "rubber-made" tote, line the bottom with news paper and feed live in there NEVER LEAVE LIVE PREY UNATTENDED! NEVER THE END. leave it as long as you want to watch it...(i.e. anywhere from 20-60 minutes but usually if your ball doesnt take the mouse within the first 30 mins she wont) if she's not interested take her back to the shop (they may try to sell you gerbils because they are the wild prey of balls but when you get them started on gerbils its hard to get them off) so try asking if they will put a mouse in with the gerbils for a few minutes to get the smell....that usually does the trick, but most balls that wont take live wont take frozen or fresh killed. if she's still scared try flicking the mouse in the head..(not hard enough to kill it just hard enough to stun it) that way it cant make any sudden movement and scare her again. again just my two cents but it seems to work for me.

You should listen to the advice people are giving you. If that snake was eating live food before you got, there`s a VERY strong chance that it wont take pre-killed or frozen meals. You should put it in a smaller cage and don`t touch it or even look at it for 10 days and then throw in a SMALL live food item. Every time you try to feed him before he has settled in you are stressing him out. Hope you take the advice.

We got our snake & gave it 1 week to adjust. It is about 22 inches long & our place told us to put it in a 10 gal tank. We got the fancy hide stuff, & then I also put a paper towel roll in. Wow! Our guy just loves the paper towel roll!!

We got the snake to feed on a mouse after having it for 1 week. The following week, it would not eat. Come to find out, it was going into shed.

Just wanted to throw that option out there in case little Miss Penelope is going into a shed. You never know.

a friend of mine had this same exact problem for awhile. I came online and asked these same people about this issue and they suggested downsizing the tank. He did that left her be for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, she had a smaller enclosure and two hides that were comfortable yet tight for her to hide in, she ate. I would strongly suggest downsizing, leave her completely alone for a week and see what happens. She made feel insecure in that large of an enclosure.

in my opinion if you feed her in her home enclosure rather than an outside source (i.e. sweaterbox, med.-large tote) you have a much better chance of being bitten by her, if she associates you reaching you hand in with feeding time she'll start striking sooner and sooner until she's striking at your hand rather than the would be mouse. also what temps are you keeping her at? she may be too cold to eat.