Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,

Fairly experienced herper here with several ball pythons. I took a chance on a large non-feeding female to try to add as a breeder. Yes, she has been fully treated. No, I haven't tried all the steps.

I've tried f/t rats, live mice of different colors so far, but that's it. I know about braining, gerbils, and other techniques, so I'm still going to try those things...but I guess my questions is more about making her comfortable.

What temps would most accurately simulate her native Africa right now? Humidity? Fed lights on/off?

I guess I pretty much know the answers to my questions, it's more in the procedures of it. Any tips are appreciated.

Also, what are your sucess rates in getting w/c specimens to feed and share any stories of losses.

How about breeding? Has anyone gotten a large w/c female to breed in it's first 2 years of captivity?

Thanks- sorry so long!

May God bless,

Steve

GET 2 FEEDING MICE OR RATS AND PUT THEM IN A SMALL CONTAINER WITH HOLES FOR LIKE AND HOUR OR 2 PUT A LITTLE BIT OF WATER IN THERE WITH THEM AND LET THEM PISS AND $HIT ALL OVER EACHOTHER SOUNDS NASTY BUT IN THE WILD MICE AND RATS DONT SMELL CLEAN AND THIS HAS HELPED ME GET MY (MOST)FINICKY EATERS TO START FEEDING

Well I took a chance once too. Had a high yellow and and orange female, really good price. If they were eaters they would have been ready the next season. I tried mice, rats, gerbils, mice scented with gerbil dung, brain smell, freshly killed, everything I could think of.
The orange had no problem biting ME. After they got to the point where they were getting skinny I took them to the vet whom I have usually found to be very good. She force fed a couple of pinkies. And kept them a few days. They came home vomited the pinkies, stargazed a bit and died within hours of one another. Sorry to give you a bad tale. Ceretainly many have made it with WCs. Good luck

Go to home depot and get some potting soil and either cypress or cedar mulch...which ever one is not poisoness...cant ever remember,sorry! Anyways, mix it 1:2 soil:mulch. Give them a good dark hide. Cover their cage or tub so that they cant see alot of movement. Leave them like this for a few days then drop a rat crawler or weined rat in there over night. Someone posted this a few months back and I have used a method like it myself and it works! I took three wc's from a friend last year that he couldnt get to eat and had them eating within a week. Now they have been hooked up with a male several times! Only time will tell if they are going to be comfortable enough to actually lay. GOOD LUCK!!

I am no expert but I would soak any new w/c snakes of most any kind for at least a few hours. Let them drink and get rehydrated. This may not get them eatting but may save there lives. If they are well hydrated they can safely go without eatting for some time and it should also help lowwer there stress levels. Also I ahve heard of people having good luck using sport drinks or Pedialite. They have electrolites wich help hydrate. I know I have spelled some of this wrong like electrolites. Hopefully some one with more experience will read and correct me where I am wrong. Good luck!
Kevin

I got lucky witht he two SC's I've gotten so far. The first one took dead rats right off the tongs. The second one I ended up trying gerbils with because it was getting pretty skinny and I just wanted it to eat. After taking 3 gerbils I left a dead rat in with a gerbil. The next week I just left a dead rat in and that's worked ever since.

I know some people say once you feed gerbils they'll never eat anything else but I took the chance and now have a good rat feeder.

I have the same feeding problem. I've got three wc's not eating, and gerbils are illegal in California 0_o so I'm a little outta luck. I'll try that soil idea though, maybe with 'bed-a-beast'.

Try this to get them feeding~ worked wonders here. Havn't tried breeding any of them yet~ couple more weeks the weather will cool down (Still hot here!) and we'll start cooling!
Feeding WC Balls

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Cheryl Marchek
AKA JM
Check out my website at:
The Red Dragons Den

Thanks guys (and girls!),

This is a great shot to get started...substrate...wow! Whoda thought?

I betting she eats real soon, but I'll keep you posted. A live white rat is in there now, but I'm not counting on it yet...

Thanks,

Steve