Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,
I have just become a first time Ball and snake owner, and I am hoping to find some feeding help from the Ball Forum. I got my new snake less than a week ago. He is extremely young, in fact he had his first molt about a week ago or so. Therefore he has not had his first feeding yet. I tried on Sunday, but was not able to get him to eat. I tried a frozen hopper, but Peanut (his name) seemed more scared than interested.
Can anyone give me any pointers to feed my new and extremely young Ball?
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

My suggestion, based on personal experience, is this: stimulate the feeding response of the snake by GENTLY warming the mouse - don't microwave it or pour boiling water over it (I can tell you that both of these methods can have unpleasant consequences!). Try to find a relatively modest heat source (shouldn't be too hot for you to touch) where you leave the mouse, in a mug or something, to warm up. I use the hood of my fish tank, which gets hot where the transformer unit is.

I find that the heat, PLUS the extra mouse aroma released as a result, is enough to get the snake's interest. Place the mouse with it's nose towards the snake's hide (if you have a bark substrate or similar place it on a piece of kitchen towel). Stand back and see what happens.

I have also found that feeding in the evening seems to raise chances of success, and you might try turning out the lights on your snake's house - they don't really hunt by sight anyway.

Just some things that have worked for me, others may have better suggestions.

Simon
Simon's Snake Stuff

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0.1.0 normal corn - "Slinky" | 0.0.1 normal ball python - "Humbug"

You can also try warming it up with a hair dryer. If he still won't take it, just give him a few more days. Make sure he feels secure (provide a hide, etc).

For their first few meals, I use live "crawler" mice. These are large fuzzies that have started to get out and about, with their eyes just opening or still closed. After that, its usually a breeze to get them over on frozen thawed hoppers. Interestingly, I've found my baby IJ carpets to be the opposite, prefering to feed on frozen thawed starit away. Good luck!
Joe Pociask Pythons

I agree. We get 200 balls a year and it seems to be much easier to get them excited about eating when you have a small hopper jumping around the cage. I've had better luck with that than a fuzzy that doesn't move around alot. They like to see the movement it seems to excite them!

Jason

Very good advice people have given ... I just want to add:

Make sure temps are good.

Make sure that your BP has many hides, in various locations along your thermal gradient. Lack of hides leads to stress and stress will lead to a non-feeder.

I have found that the best thing to do with a new snake is leave her alone. Don't do anything except clean waste and change water for the first few weeks. Offer a meal every 5-7 days, but don't handle or bother the snake at all. Let him acclimate and start feeding regularly.

I know its an exciting pet, but they are best ignored at first. He'll live for many, many years so leaving him alone for the first month or 2 won't affect your relationship with him.

Joel
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2.5 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos