Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a wild caught import in the spring she was around 700 grms. She hasn't been eating well which is no surprise. Often she kills the prey but doesn't eat it. I have gotten her to eat (small mice she won't take rats) but at best she maybe eats every 5-8wks. She keeps losing weight and i'm not sure if I should start force feeding her because I think she might die if I don't. I'm pretty sure she'll regurgitate it anyway. I tried soft fur twice and she didn't eat them and didn't try again because those rats are expensive and they didn't interest her either. I've also tried leaving her alone in a quite dark room for 2wks with out disturbing her and she still does eat. I know it's irresponsible but should I just get rid of her? I bought her so I could breed her but it doesn’t seem like she’s ever going to gain enough to breed.

Did you have her treated for parasites when you bought her? You should really treat all w/c balls for parasites. There is a good chance she will never be a great eater no matter what you do and even if she does start eating well she may not breed. With as cheap as you can get nice CB adult females for now I don't really see the reason for buying W/C adults anymore. W/C always end up costing more in the long run. IMO yes, you should "get rid of her" as long as you can find someone that has dealt with W/C's in the past to take her. Don't just try to dump her off on another person that is not ready to deal with the problems that a W/C ball can have.
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John Vandegrift

Instead of stressing the animal more by forcing food or wormer down its gullet, why not try the good ol' fashioned method of keeping the animal stress free. Ron Billingsly has a really good write up about keeping adult imports. Certain criteria needs to be met, or else the animal will fail miserably. Once you understand what the animal needs, your success is just about guaranteed.

One word: HUSBANDRY

I have never failed to get a WC ball, adult, young, male or female to feed in captivity. It is all about how you set them up.
They do not respond well to a newpaper, water bowl, hide box environmet. At least not at first. They want and need to feel secure. Once that is done, and they settle in, you can slowing move them into set ups like normal adult balls.
I had a group of 9 LTC WC females a gentleman had for 10-12 months, that he just couldn't get going. Within two weeks, I had everyone eating live medium sized rats. They just respond better to the "conditions" that they perfer.
I would say force feeding is the worse thing you could do. Not only does it stress them out more then what they are, it causes the slow process to death for many.
What I preach, Ball Python or Great Plains Garter Snakes.... Learn what the animals "need" and then provide that for them.
Not everything that is tossed in a cage, aqauirum or tub, plain and bare will thrive..... A little work goes a long way.....
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Ron Billingsley
www.ronbillingsleyreptiles.com