Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two new ball pythons. These are the first pythons I've kept. I'm just looking for some expert advice on two issues: feeding and handling.

I tried feeding them frozen rat fuzzies the other day (after having them for a few days), and they didn't take them. The breeder said that he was feeding fresh killed rat fuzzies. Call me a wuss, but I have no interest in "fresh killing" anything. I know that Balls can go awhile without eating, and mine look quite healthy, so I'm not really concerned right now. What is the best way of getting them to take thawed frozen fuzzies?

Also, I've not handled these snakes at all. I've read in a book that I shouldn't until they've been eating for a few weeks. Is this true?

Any other advice would be appreciated. They're a male and a female, housed together in one 20L. I plan on buying another 20L, and splitting the two up in the near future. Temps are in the "book" range: 80 degree ambient temp, 90 degree daytime hotspot. I have them on paper towels as substrate.

i have three balls i prefer to feed them live i get them at petco and from a private owner but when i feed frozen i like to heat them up in a hot cup of water that i always use for that and nothing else. handling is much easier i dont feed in the cage becasue there is a much better chance of u gettin bit so i have a seperte box. then i handle mine once a week u should hold urs a little more often so they can get ajusted to being handled
thats all i have to say if anyone else wants to add right ahead.

My two cents-

First make sure the rats are warm when you offer them. I switched from live to frozen, and if its not warm its about as appetizing as a rock to her.

Feed them individually outside their enclosure. Use a small Sterilite bin or something, and punch holes in the lid so you can secure it with the snake inside. Place the rat in with the snake, close the lid, and wait a few minutes to see if it takes it voluntarily. If it doesn't, use tongs to wiggle the rat around (dance!)

What really works for me is to just put it right up to her face, about a half inch from her nose, and try to keep it right in front of her.

I think that advice on handling is rather overprotective for a captive bred snake.

Good luck!

Success! I still fed them in the same enclosure (with a divider in place for feeding time), but this time, I pithed the fuzzies and used tongs to make them move. Both pythons struck very quickly. One contricted for about a minute, then wolfed down the rat, and the other stayed tightly curled around the rat for about 10 minutes. He was fed first, and the other had already completely swallowed her rat before he even thought about eating it. He's still in the process of eating it, but I think that this method was pretty successful. I really liked seeing them strike. I even used the tongs to elicit a strike from my corn (who is as good as eater as I'd imagine there being). Cool.