Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been breeding and raising Ball Pythons for six years and this is a first for me. One of my baby Pastel girls that I hatched this year has yet to eat. Anytime I offer her live prey, she strikes but will not wrap. If I leave F/K or stunned prey, she ingores it. She also appears to have a balance problem and rolls over after striking. She will not last too much longer wothout a meal and I do not feel comfortable force feeding a animal that will not eat on it's own. Please give me advice!

Blake

I'm assuming you have tried many recommendations found in the Ball Python Manual. If not, do so.

Instead of force feeding, have you tried assist feeding? One food item may be all that it takes.
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Jay A. Martin

How old is she?

I noticed some balance problems with the hatchlings when they strike. I only seen this when they were 1-3 weeks old, and then they seem to get better when they strike.

I had to "assist" feed my Ball hatchling for many feedings.
He was my first ball and a rescue I could not pass up! He was a sweet little guy who just needed a little help feeding. Overall it was easy & I was a newbie not a breader!
Now my little guy is a little over a year old & not so little anymore. I am glad I helped him eat. He would have died!

...yes overly enthusiastic babies often throw their bodies around in feeding attempts, but there is some suggestion that this goes beyond that. It sounds like there may be some neuropathological basis for this snakes behavior, but it's entirely possible for this snake to outgrow it. BUT, she needs nutrition to do so. I strongly recommend assist-feeding a fuzzy mouse. This is a skill that EVERY serious herper needs to learn sooner come later. An appropriate-sized rounded-tip forcep (8", 10", or even 12"; the kind that Midwest Tongs sells) are very useful here. I had one neonate that required 4 such feedings this year before it took off like a bat-out-of-hell. Assist-feeding IS a bit stressful because BP's do NOT like to be restrained behind the head but starving is ALSO stressful. Go for it!!! Scott J. Michaels DVM