Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,
I've never dealt with hatchling BPs before, but I've got a few adults. This particular hatchling is really driving me nuts. She's real small (~120g), and we currently keep her in a 20L w/a screen top. She's got 2 regular hides and one moist hide, aspen, a UTH & light (it's still the dead of winter in WI... the light will go away once it gets warm enough with just the UTH), a water dish and a branch to climb on. She lives in the bedroom, which doesn't see much action during the day, so she gets left alone for the most part.
What's driving me nuts is that she won't eat, and she cruises her cage CONSTANTLY. I got her on 11/25/07 and she has since eaten for me only 6 times (She has shed once in this time period). Part of me wants to believe that she's just not eating because of the season, but the fact that she cruises constantly has me worried that maybe she's just not comfortable/secure in her tank. I'm thinking about covering up all four sides of her cage with black paper and not doing anything more than changing her water for the next week or so, but I wanted to know if anyone more experienced had other advice. The last time she ate was 2/17 (1 Large Mouse... we've offered rat pinks but have had much more success with mice and we just want her to eat), so it's not really URGENT that she eat, it would just give me peace of mind.
I have a rack, but it's for corns and rats so it doesn't really get up to the right temps for a BP, or else I would try to stick her in there.
Any advice?

Thanks a lot.
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-Jaime Palma
Mad-City Constrictors

Balls can be tricky sometimes, it IS that time of year when they don't always eat, but here are some things to double check:
Temps, what exactly are they? Should be 90-92 hot spot, cool end 80-85. (Too cool, cover part of the top with a towel, too warm you should adjust the light or ditch it altogether.)
It sounds like your set up is good, but tweaking it a bit could make the snake feel more secure. I have always covered three sides of my tank for any snake that is not in the rack. This makes the snake feel less exposed. The size of the hides is also important, They should be very snug and should not have large openings. If you are using the half log type, attach a piece of cardboard to the opening and cut a hole just big enough for the snake to enter and exit through. If you are leaving the light on all of the time for heat, try a night bulb.
Another thing that could be bothering the snake it the amount of handling, if you are getting it out a lot, try to cut back.
Also if you are feeding thawed prey be sure it is really warm before offering, 100 degrees or so.
Try these things, they helped me with my first couple of balls that I kept in tanks, but first double check your temps. You didn't say what they were so if they are off this might need to be the only thing you change.
Good luck,

-Bryce

You haven't mentioned temperatures and humidity readings?

But you are right to be concerned a hatchling of that size should be feeding at least once a week even through the winter.

Seems to me like she is trying to tell you something is wrong - without more info on her living environment - I would recommend moving her to a small tub (shoebox size) with a hide, water bowl and heat source and leave her be for a while - check to make sure she has fresh water but don't disturb her. After a week - give her a small live mouse (at night) - monitor her feed so she doesn't get hurt - if she doesn't take it or doesn't appear interested in it after 10 minutes or so then take out the mouse - at that point you can try killing it and leaving it overnight in her tub right outside of her hide - that seems to work a lot of the time.

If the mouse is still there in the morning remove it, check her water and start all over again. Do not play with her until she is established in her feeding and leave her in the shoebox until she is established in her feeding.

Good luck!
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Tosha
JET Pythons