Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a month old children's python on saturday. My friend was told that he'd eaten three times so far. I tried to feed him today, and he didn't seem at all interested- it was a small, thawed pinkie mouse that I offered.

Is he just getting used to his surroundings, or is there something smaller, perhaps, that I should be offering?

First wash the pinky in some warm water. Then brain it and offer it on tongs. If you think its really to big (which I doubt) you can try to offer just the head. Just keep it in front of his nose for several minutes. Be patient. I have also had good luck with scenting with lizards and chicks however I wouldn't worry about all that just yet.

They're the pre-killed frozen mice. I let the mouse defrost in warm water, and offered the pinkie for several minutes, and he just didn't seem interested. almost mad that i wouldn't move the snake.

Baby Childrens can be very shy. Make sure the cage has tight hides in multiple places, or else general security for the snake out of your view. They usually feed at some point w/o much fuss. Braining is a good technique for thawed washed pinks. Lizard scenting may help, but I would wait awhile before resorting to scenting.
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Mark

How would I go about lizard scenting? I don't have a lizard. I have no problem with braining the pinkie, my only concern is can it be refrozen after?

In the past when I would lizard-scent, I would buy a house gecko from a pet store and keep it in a really small plastic cage (like Kritter Keeper) overnight. Then I would break off the tail and let the lizard loose in my yard.

I would then thaw and wash a pinkie and rub it in the plastic cage where the lizard had been. That is usually enough to scent it. The cage will work for scenting for a few weeks.

The tail I would freeze. When needed, I'd take it out, cut a little piece off, and put the rest in the freezer. I'd use the piece to rub all over a thawed washed pinkie.
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Mark

I have a friend with a lizard so perhaps I can just scent the pinky that way. It's week two, hasn't eaten, i even brained the pinky. No dice. The breeder SAYS the snakes ate frozen/thawed pinkies three times before we got them, and now I'm on the second week of owning mine and still no interest in food.

My friend, who has the female, is reporting the same.
She tried the chicken stock method... I will ask her to scent the pinky with lizard, I suppose, and I'll see how that goes.

Tried a live pinky, tried chicken stock, tried scenting... still no food.

He's got two hides, half the tank is about 88, the other side reads about 78-80... fresh water, i haven't handled him in a week... i'm getting concerned.

Get your warm end a little hotter. And make sure it has good dark hides.

He's got a little cave under his water dish and a paper towel tube that he uses to climb and to hide in. I was told by another reptile person that he doesn't need a heater light and that the heat level should be ok, so should i get a light?

Several things...

First of all when you are talking about temps there is no absolute right and wrong. No one degree will work for everyone. Humidity, drafts, and diet will all effect the temps that your snake needs. Since he is not eating you obviously need to change something. 88 is what I would consider the bare minimum for success with this species. If you weren't having problems then fine but since you are I would try getting the hot end up around 95 and seeing if that gives him some incentive to get feeding.

Also. A paper towel tube does not count as a hide. Those caves and half logs you see in the pet stores don't count as hides either. For a snake to feel secure a hide area must be totally dark and must be just barely bigger than the snake. When it coils up inside it should be able to feel the hide touching all sides. Flower pot bases are my favorite hide.

Hopefully by now you have him feeding but this advice is still worthwhile.