Hey i got a new ball python last week, a pastel male, great looking snake. I figured i would try to offer food 2 days ago. I offered him a live mice, he showed absolutely no interest in it. I then killed one and offered fresh killed. He was scared out of his skin when i shook it in front of his face. I emailed the guy and asked him how and what he was feeding it. He said small rats. Today i went and got him a small rat. I put him in his cage, again showed no interest or almost scared of it. I know it is not unusual for a ball to eat i have taken care of a few, but this is the first time i actually owned one and they acted scared of it. I have had bloods and a couple of boas and they have ate with a passion. He is bout 2.5 feet and around 250 grams. He did poop so i know he has ate lately. I put him in a dark room with a hidebox, and a water bowl. with a heatin pad under it. Nothin goes on down there i was going to leave him in isolation for a week to week and a half. only to check about water or make sure the temp is about right. Thanks for the help!
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New ball python problem? maybe? Help!
Replies (10)
Any ticks in the vent?
Leave him alone longer. He's acting scared because he's still stressed. For some snakes, a week to adjust isn't enough. Give him another week with no interaction except the daily check and water change, and then try again.
And a side note about the poop - that's no guarantee he ate any sooner than 3 weeks ago. 
They take a while to pass it through.
Just be patient! Chances are he'll eat again in a few weeks, until then you gotta sweat it out.
Good luck!
~jenny
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"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash
"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!
Leave him alone, completely untouched, for 10 days.
First make sure temps are good and that he has plenty of hides (more than 1). Then leave him completely alone. Don't play with him, don't offer food, don't show him to your friends ... just tranquility.
I also wouldn't leave him in a very dim room ... try to put his enclosure somewhere where he gets a "day" and a "night" .
In 10 days, offer him whatever the breeder was feeding him, and if its F/K or F/T and he doesn't take it after about a minute of you shaking it around, he probably won't take it. Leave the prey in the tank (if its F/K or F/T) and check the next day. If its still there, take it out and leave him alone for a week.
Repeat until he starts eating. This assumes the enclosure is properly set up.
Handle for brief interludes only after 4 consecutive meals.
Have fun.
Joel
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0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Corn Snake
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Blood Python
We need a sticky with this basic info for new babies/new additions to a snake collection, cause this kind of question gets asked ALL the time, and the answer is always the same. "Just leave it alone!"
Just my thought.
~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash
"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!
np
-----
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Corn Snake
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Blood Python
Someone typed up a really good infomative last week. It was pulled for whatever reason..
When feeding f/t, I have found it helpful to have the prey item nose around slowly instead of shaking it around the snake's face. This seems to mimic what happens in the wild. Too much shaking can scare the snake, especially if it's either head shy or stressed.
I definitely agree with everyone else...your snake seems stressed!
What you need to do is leave him be for at least a week. No contact at all. If he was feeding on live rats, then offer him a VERY undersized rat.You don`t want him to get spooked at all. If he acts spooked at all then get the rat out right away and try again in a couple weeks.This has worked for me on dozens of balls. When he is ready, he will eat. The size of the rat is VERY important so go small. Good luck.
i agree, leave him alone for another week, no handling nothing. i mean check on him with a glance here n there. but he jus needs to get comfortable with his new home. i had the same with my pastel. one eats like a monster ( 2 monthes w/ me) & the other ate once n showed no interested yesterday. so ill try again in a week. take alil time & patience.
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There is only 2 things u got in this world, Your Word & Your Balls !
Thanks for all the help, Im goin to follow yalls advice, i put him in my spare bedroom downstairs, it get light and day affects, and the temp is good. I look in once a day to make sure everything is alright, but i dont handle him at all! it is nice and dark, quite down there. Il try to feed him next mon. that will be just under two weeks in isolation to get use to his new home.
