Reptile & Amphibian Forums

here is the story...i got my first ball about 2 months ago.it was calm and docile and nice but nervous and wouldnt eat.i offered thawed mice.after getting some advice and starting to worry i offered live and he took it right away ive since fed him live twice.here is the problem...i was very foolish and fed him inside his enclosure.needless to say i cant go near him when he is hungry he thinks im food!i want to reverse this but i dont know how...i also want him on thawed mice.I really need advice on taming my snake i am new to snakes and not afraid to admit they make me allitle nervous.i have a corn snake who is an angel and eats like a horse.please help.

Craig

First I need to asked the age of the snake? The size food you are feeding? Most important what is the set up you temps? Hides? Size enclosure. All my snakes eat in there enclosures that is not a problem.

i dont know the snakes age but it is roughly 20 inches give or take a few...he has eaten live hoppers and wont eat thawed hoppers,temps are where they are suppose to be...mid 80's on the warm side during the day high 70's at night,undertank heater on the warm side nothing on the cool (my house has an ambient temp of around 77-79 degrees,he has two hides,one on the warm side one on the cool and water on the cool...he uses all of them and is very active.its all in a 20 gallon tank...thanks for responding

I think you need to up the prey side. I would offer a small mouse. Do it live then try to switch to f/t. I think it is striking because it is hungry. Most snakes are only on fuzzy or hoppers as hatchlings, they go to small or med mice pretty quick. I would try the larger size food leave him be for a few days then try and hold him. I always approach from the back, kinda tap them to let them know that it is you and not food.I also at that size offer food every 5 days. Smaller ones digest alot faster than adults. It should calm down then. You set up sounds good. If you need anything else you may send me a email.Good luck and let me know how it is going.

i woke up this morning and the frozen mouse is gone! my snake isnt a heathen killer!...i thought the stubborn bastard had blood lust.

LOL glad he ate it. Make sure it is really gone I have them get buried under the bedding and boy do they stink when left to long. Glad to hear that progress is being made. Sometimes with ft the best is to use tongs and make the mouse move.