Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a pastel ball python in october. . . I've had to force feed it 4 or 5 times sence I got him. . . Today he took his first live pinkey rat. . . The only problem is he didn't constrict the rat first. . . I heard the rat screach after he got about half way down his throat and I could still see him moving around. . . Should I be worried

No! Try a sub-adult mouse! It sounds like you have a feeding response, but your feeding too small of prey items!

Force feeding is very stressful to balls and should only be done when all other options have been exhausted and the health of the snake is in danger. These guys can go a long time without food with little ill effect, and force feeding a shy snake like balls can actually put them off their feed.

That said, if it is taking food unassisted now, GREAT! I wouldn't force feed again unless you start noticing a significant weight loss.

I wouldn't worry about a rat pinky being live when it goes down. Their teeth are practically nonexistant at that point.

I agree that the food is probably too small. You'll want to find something that is as big around as the widest part of your snake. Hatchlings usually go for rat pinks, or juvenile/hopper mice. In young balls the movement of a hopper mouse can entice a feeding response, but if it's taking rats you may want to try a rat chub/pup one with it's eyes still shut. Though you may have to wiggle it a little to get your ball to strike.

Hope this helps,

Allison

Like the others said - go with a bigger prey items. I prefer to feed rats exclusively and if this is your ultimate goal also then stick with fuzzy rats.

You shouldn't need to assist or force feed your ball anymore. Like they said this is last resort for starving balls only. Since he has taken one meal without assistance you should be able to completely stop the force feedings. Give him plenty of "alone time" (only handle him about once a week at this point and even then for only a short 10-15 duration). Don't worry about attempting to "tame" him at this point. Instead, your focus should be on getting him used to his new home and on a decent feeding schedule. You can attempt to get him to be "handle-able" more when he is settled in more.

As far as being worried about his swallowing a live pinky rat... don't worry about it. Every year I have more than one hatchling that does the same thing. At the pinky stage rats don't have teeth and any nails they may be developing are still very small and weak. Chances are the pinky suffocated before it had a chance to do any real damage. Pinkys don't move much and that is probably why it was consumed before it was actually dead. I wouldn't worry about your snake doing the same thing with a larger prey item - he won't have as much difficulty feeling the heart and lungs stop on a larger prey item as he would with a pinky.

it ate....no matter how...it ate....

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..JY

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by the post ...I have NO idea if it is an 86 gram pastel or a3400 gram pastel......???

......baby balls I may assist feed....big balls I do not force or assist....they got bigger by eating something....

......anyways.....feed the size it needs.......small is ok.....

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..JY

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Thank you for all of your help. . . The ball was 100 grams when I got him and got down to 72 grams. . . . I only force fed him when I could see his ribs and only small pinkys. . . I don't plan on force feeding him unless he gets real skinny again. . . Once again thank you for your help