Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some help. I bought a CB female Ball from Kingsnake ads about 2 weeks ago. The Ball came in weighing in at about 70 grams. I have tried feeding her fuzzies, hoppers, live and fresh killed and nothing is working. She almost seems afraid of the mice. I have also tried frozen rat pups with no luck.

I have e-mailed the seller with my problem and he told me to try frozen and that did not work. I have then contacted him for furthur help with no luck, seems he reads my mail but does not answer.

Any help of idea would be great. I do not want this Ball to die. Also, how long before i should start to worry about her not eating? Thanks a bunch everyone...

John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

Leave her alone, stop stressing her out, give her a small hide, offer food every 3-4 days. If she doesn't take it, leave her alone.

Try dropping a live hopper mouse in there at NIGHT.

That's all I can manage to pull out of my brain...sounds to me like you're stressing her out though with throwing 50 million dead/live/thumped rodents in her face.
-----
- Joel Smith

Email Me!

_____

Removed advertising slogan.

Edited on June 14, 2004 at 22:47:36 by phwyvern.

Yes, i have tried to feed her every day since when i got her. I got her and did not bother her for 3 days then started to try and feed her ever since.

I will not bother her for the next 3 days then try at night. Thanks... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

most people say to wait at least a week before feeding or handling a ball python when they move into a new home. You might wait longer than 3 days to give the snake time to calm down. As long as the snake isn't losing weight you can wait a few days. My 03 CH didn't eat for 3 weeks when I first got him and he weighed 73 grams the first day, now he is 1000 grams a year later. good luck and keep us posted.

Hi, i will leave her for 4 or 5 days. I just am worried since i have had her close to 2 weeks so far. I too have gotten Balls that were under 100 grams and have not lost any of them, some are over 1600 grams now.

Just that all the others i got feeding with in 1 week from getting them. I just got a CH Orange Ghost 4 days after i got this girl and the Orange Ghost has eaten 3 times for me so far.

I will cool out on her for a while giving her time to relax. Then in 4 or 5 days i will try a hopper at night when my lights go off. Thanks... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

Dont even worry. Shell be fine Its known for balls to fast the longest recorded is up to a year so dont trip. Its probly just stress. Baby balls are known for being hard to sart feeding. Shell eat when ready. But I do not like the idea of throwing a hopper in there at night not good that hopper could injure or kill your snake with a bite. But I do recomend live food. Just make sure you stun it a little before feeding it to her. Hope I was any help.

Stevo

I guess you got a point. I should be a little careful. Thanks... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

I know they can go a long time without eating, i had a female i got on Kingsnake and she came in weighing 1400 grams and did not eat for 9 months for me. She dropped to 950 grams and then 1 day she started eating and now is up to 1300 grams.

But, a 70 gram snake can not go 9 months without eating(does not have 400 grams to loose). So that is kinda what i am worried about more than anything.

I will leave her be for 4 to 5 days and try again. Thanks... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

>>I know they can go a long time without eating, i had a female i got on Kingsnake and she came in weighing 1400 grams and did not eat for 9 months for me. She dropped to 950 grams and then 1 day she started eating and now is up to 1300 grams.
>>
>>But, a 70 gram snake can not go 9 months without eating(does not have 400 grams to loose). So that is kinda what i am worried about more than anything.
>>
>>I will leave her be for 4 to 5 days and try again. Thanks... John

I had two hatchlings last year 70 and 75 grams respectively at hatching. They each went nearly 3 months before eating anything.They didn't really drop much weight. I assist fed them for several months. On and off they would take on their own and rapidly into the process they got so they would take it the second I opened their mouths with the mouses nose. Now, (they were August hatchlings) they are both taking prekilled mice left in front of them.
One thing too, several people mentioned putting them in a mid 90's to nearly 100 temp. It did seem to kick them into eating mode. Obviously watching that they don't cook or dehydrate. Mine sat on the 97* heat and sucked it up.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron