Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently am trying to get my bp on a 5 day schedule but she is not a good eater. Is there a good way to feed live? I have tried in her tank day and night but nothin I tried feeding her in a seperate tub and nothin she doesn't seem interested at all. Any good tips on what will help intice her on the live food?

what is she eating now? Frozen/thawed or pre-killed? or not at all?

I would get her on a 7 to 10 day feeding schedule. 5 is a bit soon unless the prey is not big enough.
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

now she is eating live because that is what the breeder fed her

if you just got her less than 2 weeks ago, then that might be a reason.

make sure temps are right. humidity is right. hide box helps. put her in a low traffic area. do not hold her till she is "settled in".

offer different size prey. ask the breeder what she was eating. try not to be seen too much when your dropping the rat/mouse in. stand at a distance to monitor your ball.

hope this helps
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

she has already eatin times for me tho

She could be not feeding for a variety of reasons including stress or not being hungry. How old is the snake, how are you keeping it, how much do you handle it, how often do you try to feed it, how are you feeding it, how many times has it fed for you before?

Unless it's a hatchling you shouldn't be feeding it on a 5 day schedule. Once a week is plenty.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

ok here is some info on her

she was born 6-20-08 and she had problems eating out of the egg she only ate 10 times in all of 2008 but she has eaten better in 09 and has eaten 5 times so far in 2009(as of 3-1-09) she is 9 months old and weighs 122g as of 3-15-09. the first time she ate for me was 3-18-09 and the second time she ate for me was 3-23-09. so i felt better about her and thought i got her on the right track and was really really happy. i want her on a 5 day feeding schedule because she is really small for her age. i am feeding her live regular sized mice.

thats pretty small for being 9 months old. have you tried african soft fur rats? it may help or it may just be a problem feeder.

Unfortunately ball pythons eat on their own schedule. You may want him to eat every 5 days but don't expect him to actually do so.

Some just are finicky eaters. As long as his home provides all he needs in temperature, security, privacy and humidity, he will eat when he's hungry.

I suggest a feeding schedule of once every 7-10 days till he is eating every time you offer food.. once he is eating regularly get him onto rats. Fuzzy rats are about the same size as adult mice and if their eyes are not open, are not much of a threat to your snake. Once he's onto rats, get him onto pre killed with the hope of getting him eating frozen thawed appropriately sized rats (sm to medium) over time.

I also would limit handling completely, except as needed to clean the cage.
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PHLdyPayne