Reptile & Amphibian Forums

mine is still not eating, i've had him for 2 and a half weeks now, i just tried again with a fuzzy (frozen). when he coils i can see some wrinkels, and when he's on my hand too ! i don't want to have to force feed him, if it comes to that then i probably will have to find a new home for him, so i want to try everything else first.

anyways my question is, is it ok to leave the mouse in his cage all night, does the mouse scent leave bacteria in the room (which is were i sleep), or anything else ? or should i leave the snake and the mouse in a seperate box (though that seems to be more stressful for the snake) ?

thanks ...

...try a live dark-colored large fuzzy mouse (about 14 days old or so, definitely not weaned yet) in subdued light or overnight. No the odor will not transmitt bacteria. Alternative would be fuzzy rat about 7-10 days old. (assumed hatchling BP here) SJM

might ya be able to help me out with a ball that is about 2 1/2 feet long that i have had for two months now that i cannot get to eat...i have tried different colored mice, pinkys, rats, even got a gerbil...as of now, i am more of a murderer than he is...lol...but seriously, this is starting to worry me...although he is not gettin thin, is active, he does get tempermental at times and is starting to worry me..

First...the 2 1/2 wks is about how long I would have left him totally alone, then started offering. I go a month. No handling, clean cage and fresh water and proper conditions and no bugging. If you have been trying to feed this whole time he is stressed. Now what I would do is leave him totally alone for a couple of weeks. Then I would offer a f/t mouse or rat of appropriate size for your snake, if a bit on the small side. Leave the dead animal in the cage (without ingestable substrate!) overnight, no pestering or peeking. IF it is a no go then wait another whole week. Try again. You could try dozens of different ways and things but if you just keep trying every day or two you are gonna stress the animal further and further from eating ever.
As for wrinkling......I would think dehydration first. A luke warm soak before you leave him alone for til the next offer of food should bring him back to hydration. Just deep enough to sit in, not that he will have to swim, not hot and not cold.
I really recommend the Ball Python Manual by the Barkers.....loads of info on feeding.
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Sonya