Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I got a male albino ball python (gift from my awesome gf). According to the breeder he was born on 8/24 and has had 4 meals of live hoppers....BUT he's only 41 grams.

Is that possible? Could he just be little bit of a runt? Or could he be younger than the breeder said? I haven't gotten him to eat since he's arrived, which would not stress me out if he weren't supposedly over 2 months old and only 41 grams. He's very active, and appears to be healthy (does look a little skinny). He seems interested in food (always comes out when he smells something) but completely ignores the prey item.

Any advice or information would be awesome. At this point, it seems possible to me that he may not have even shed yet.

What are you offering as food? When my newest balls went through an epic shipping accident they wouldn't touch F/T food, or even rats for that matter. See if you can get some live food, -rat pups or mouse fuzzies- he might be more attracted to the "live" scent. Good luck with him

-Madison

I'm offering live mice that have just opened their eyes. In between pups and hoppers.

I'd try a mouse hopper, they're a little more active and will hopefully trigger a feeding response. You can always work on switching to rats later once you're sure you've got him eating. Also, try feeding in the early evening, between 7 and 9 at night. Make sure he has plenty of hiding spots and is warm enough, that is vital. What are the temps like in his cage? I keep my hatchlings in a rack system with a hot spot between 88-90 degrees (via heat tape under the rack) and have a hidge box in each end, on in the cool area one in the hot spot. Good luck!

He's in a small tub in a rack, 91 at the hot side and the humidity is good. I've been trying with smaller mice, because quite frankly, hoppers look a little big for him. At 41 grams he's smaller than a lot of newly hatched balls. I'm worried that the size may intimidate him.

You would be amazed, try a hopper and let me know how it goes.

When we got our albino male he was really tiny... I was wondering if he was almost too tiny for the breeder to sell.. I think he weighed 50G when I put him on the scale..

He chowed down a hopper first time I put him in it and then threw it up a few days later ( my girlfriend was messing with him the day after ).. Now hes around 120G and strong about a month and a half later, he takes down 2 F/T hopper's a week...

I think he'll be okay for a hopper, he just needs some confidence.
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1.0 Het Albino Burm
1.0 Albino Ball
1.1 Pastel Balls
0.1 Spider Ball
0.2 Het Albino Balls

Seeking bigger cages for the family

maybe a runt but that doesn't seem right to me, he should weigh more after four meals. Either way, dollars for donuts, I bet you get him to eat with a hopper.

I've tried a hopper, rat pup, just weaned mouse...at this point I'm just going to let him be and try again with a hopper.

My bigger concern is the discrepancy between what the breeder said and his size. It just doesn't add up.

If he had four meals then they probably weren't very big meals, or he was a super runt. I would just give him time and try not to worry. And keep an eye on his weight.

I just got a female pastel that also weighed 41g and didn't eat. I left her alone for a couple weeks, then tried feeding but she refused. Then I tried a week later and she ate. It took her 25 days to eat but never lost weight. Now she eats like a fatty.

Good luck!

I hatched out a pastel last year that was 29 grams. He was so small I had to use day old pinks. After 4 meals I doubt he was much more than 50grams. Pinks are good to get the animals started but they should be moved onto bigger prey items. 41 grams is pretty small. Maybe he wasnt feeding ever 4-5 days? Anyhow good luck with your new purchase.
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Dave
Phila, PA

www.DNReptiles.com
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Thanks for the replies. I'm glad to hear that it's not unheard of to have a ball python this size. I'm just going to give him a few days to let him settle in and try again on Friday or Saturday.

leave him alone for a week or so, then get a rat pup and drop it in and leave it over night.

most every time they will take it during the middle of the night with no problems.

don't be afraid to get it's belly that swollen look after a good size meal.

Pitoon