Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 balls and they eat nothing but live. I've left f/t for a full day and it's still there after 5-7 hours. I drop a live, (stunned), and it's gone in an instant. My other 8 snakes have all been switched, but nothing I've tried seems to work on these 2. The cost of live and the risk is killing me! Does anyone have any tips other than the common ones that have worked on problem feeders? Thanks in advance!

is your ball young? Most ball pythons are stimulated by movement. I have been working on a 2 and a half month old ball since I got him in late July and he just recently took the ft for me. He has never taken one (yet) by just leaving it in the cage but dangle on tongs and he will kill it. How big is the ball nad what are you trying. I hear chick scenting is great as well but I have never had to do it with a ball python. I can tell you green anacondas dont like giving up the chicks and I spent months rubbing dead chicks on rats and mice with some success and just recently got a feeding without scenting from this animal. thawing out in an unsalted chicken broth I hear works well (did not for my green anaconda...rubbing ft chicks on ft rats and mice was the only way i could scent...eventhough the ate chicken parts for a while she never took rodents scented with cleaned chicken parts). Hope this helps some and sorry for long posts again.

One is an adult about 3 years old and the other is about 8 months. The adult takes large rats, alive of course, while the little one takes small rats. I've never tried the scenting, but I really don't want to risk it developing a taste, as you found out, for chicks or chicken. I hold the stupid thing in front for up to 20 minutes and all I get is a startled jump backwards as though I tried to attack it. I guess I'm venting more than anything else. It's really frustrating that my Burm, GTP and Boas will eat anything I place in front of it with gusto while the Balls think I'm the anti-christ!

Thanks for the reply though. I guess I will have to try the chicken stockand see what develops.

I would not worry about taste developing. It can switch if you are persistant. I got the green switched over and I didnt think that possible. Dont tease too close...just dangle like a helpless little weakling and maybe try an adult mouse for the young one..many will disagree but I do not think you will have a problem with the turnaround if it takes to it. Do what it takes because I dont like live feeders at all.