Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just received a 5 ball pythons yesterday from a breeder and wanted to know how long should I wait to feed them. The breeder told me they last ate on friday (6 days ago), I tried feeding 2 of them but they didn't seem very interested. I got the water as hot as I could get it and I don't have a blow dryer (I have heard that works). I don't know if there not hungry, rat wasn't hot enough or they might be stressed from being shipped. Should I just leave them alone for 4 or 5 days in there racks and just let them get settled in? If anyone can give me some tips, that would be great.

there babies, a little over a month old.

usually you should wait about a week of no handling to let them settle in before you try feeding. Also do you know if they were eating live at the breeders? that might be why they didn't want the frozen ones.

I'd have to agree with what has been said above. When I got my babies in I let them sit for a week. Don't look at them just leave them alone. Or you could every 2 days try and feed. I had real good success with letting them sit as everything ate for me. Some take longer, if you hit the 2 week mark I'd give the breeders a call.

John Light
Pristine Pythons
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
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The breeder told me they were eat f/t rat pups. I know you should wait a little bit of time, but two of them seemed hungry, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. I dangled the rat pup w/ a hemostat, but the bp was more interested in getting out of the feeding enclosure. I didn't try the other 3 females because there in a ball and still seem very shy. What do you guys think is the best way to feed babies, any example would be great.

I have some that eat f/t. Some won't take it off hemo's. Try leaving it overnight usually works! When they settle in they won't be trying to get out anymore!
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
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enclosures and leave them alone for two weeks. It will not hurt them. Some need the "de-stress" time while others feed right out of the bag. I don't worry too much as long as they look healthy.

The biggest concern I have for new arrivals is hydration. I don't know what it is about a trip in a plane and hot truck that does it, but I often see reptiles that are in need of water right after a trip.
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Jay A. Martin

I forgot to add....humidity and water should be available all times! As JM said!
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
ristinePythons@Hotmail.com">Contact Me

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They all have plenty of water and I am doing my best not to handle them. I tried to feed two of them because those two have a little bit of loose skin, not real bad just a little bit. They all seem healthy and all acting normal. I have only had kingsnakes and kings are at the other end of the spectrum when coming to snakes.

you said some loose skin? sounds like a dry shed.i recently received 10 male 04's and some were having dry sheds,before i went to bed i put them in a deli cup with tepid water and placed the cup in the tub on the heated end,by mourning the skin was shed.when i got them i placed a cloth over there rack for a week and then tried feeding a week after that.after hand drying the F/T i place them under my halogen desk lamp until there are just warm (don't cook them),so far i have 9 out of the 10 on F/T and the other on live for now.i think letting them get acculamted for two weeks and allowing them to get hungry works well.have fun!

Thats a good idea for getting the food hot enough, I could only get the water up so hot. And they don't look like there going to be shedding any time soon, I think there just stressed and dehydrated from being shipped. I will leave them alone for about a week and they should be hungry by then. They look very healthy, probably just overwelmed by a new enclosure and a new person handling them. Thanks everyone for your help!!!!

kyle