Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay...I'm back with feeding questions. I was so psyched last week because my rescued ball python (approximately 3feet) ate a f/t mouse (I only had mice at the time...I wasn't expecting to have an adult ball python). I had put him in a brown paper bag with the prey overnight. The next morning...poof! the mouse is gone. Now, my younger snake (18in ball) didn't touch his prey item (fed the same way). I was bummed about that but vowed to keep trying. Well, a week had passed and I tried to feed them again. The younger snake hasn't eaten in two weeks (won't touch the f/t and I just hate to give in with the live prey). Neither touched the mouse. Last week the younger snake constricted the prey to the point of mouse pancake but didn't eat it. Neither even looked touched this time. The temps are good, I tried "dangling" the prey with 16" hemo high on the spine. Nothing seems to be working and I need to know how long to let them go before I need to give in and just give them a live food item?? I am not too worried about the older snake at this point but my younger guy has me a little concerned. I have been buying f/t at a local pet store and wonder if I need better prey items but hate to buy in bulk only to have frozen rodents in my freezer that I can't use.

I even tried a freshly killed rat with no luck. I have tried everything on the link given in one of the previous posts. Both snakes sniff the prey and then move on.....neither even looks remotely ready to strike. I can't even imagine one of them striking me if I feed in the enclosures....I would almost welcome that kind of feeding response. It would be worth getting bitten just to know that there was a response of any kind! Any suggestions would be great! The mouse maker doesn't seem to make any difference either.....starting to get frustrated here!!

2:0:0 ball pythons
0:0:1 ghost corn

If its only been 2 weeks since he has eaten your fine. He may go a month you can never tell about these things. As long has he looks healthy and isn't losing alot of weight he will be alright. To get a feeding response you may want to try a pre-killed gerbil. I have never tried them myself but I have heard of people having good results with them. I have a female BP that won't even look at F/T mice or rats she will only take live. Best of luck hope this post is helpful.

Keeper172

0.1 Ball Python
0.3 Bearded Dragons

i find T-rex mous maker, combined with a bit of 'dancing' on some forceps will get the most reluctant feeder to take F/T

My Smo'ore is the pickiest eater I have ever seen she will not eat anything dead of not moving much. most people tell me to let her go hungry for a few days but I cant do it. If you are not as paranoid as me I will pass on the words and let your BP not eat for a while.

My ball python hasn't eaten for over 2 months. It's lost a little weight but nothing to worry about. They can go a long time without eating with apparently no longterm effects. Remember, you're on ball python time and I've yet to figure out how many minutes make up their day. LOL. I wouldn't worry too much about the younger ball python taking a live mouse. It can, but just make sure the mouse has eaten before putting it in with the snake. Sometimes when a mouse is hungry, it can become very aggressive toward the snake. And absolutely make sure that you observe closely. I'm not advocating feeding live, but if you do, just be careful.