Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys. I don't post often but I do read this board frequently. I have a cb ball python that I got as a hatchling July 25th 2004. I have posted on here about "him" before. He has been vet checked originally and was treated for a small parasite prob. Has seemed healthy and was eating great up until May of this year. Before then he was up to 3 mice a week. Then just stopped. He has eaten a mouse or two every 3 weeks since then. When I used to put him in the feeding containered he used to be in strike pose before I ever dropped the mouse in. Now he seems uninterested and even shy - very head shy. Unfortunately I have not switched to FT or FK. I have tried FK a few times but have had no luck. I want to switch to FK (saw some of the posts on here and saw a horrible pic of a ball attacked - that did it) but don't know if it would be better to wait until I get him eating steady again. Is this likely how it will be from now on? I keep wasting mice and it is frustrating. Any suggestions? Should I just hold out at this point until he finally takes FK? Otherwise he seems healthy. His cage conditions are the same and I have not been holding him more. When should I be concerned enough to warrant a vet visit? Unfortunately I go not have a gram scale (probably get one next week) but he has only lost a little size and is still thick. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
2.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!

Hey ya i wouldnt be too worried.. But how are you feeding the FK or FT mice.. I have a bunch of balls that will eat ft or fk right off the floor... But i also have ones where i need a pair of tongs and coax them into eating them.. i have to make the dead rat dance. basically.. I tried the paper bag method and pretty much every other method.. So really its on snake to snake basis.. Also how warm are you heating up the fk or ft some of my snakes wont touch it unless it warm(almost hot)..

Thanks for the reply. I have only tried FK not FT. The freshly killed I put in a bag and smack against the door. I have tried dangling it and I have tried leaving him in his feeding container with it covered for about 3 hrs. No luck there. This last mouse even had a bit of blood coming out his nose. The ball sniffed and nudged it early on then just kept cruisin'. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Is it just normal for a cb ball to go from eating normally (maybe even a bit much) to being picky overnight?

Thanks again for the help. I'll take all the help I can get =)

>>Hey ya i wouldnt be too worried.. But how are you feeding the FK or FT mice.. I have a bunch of balls that will eat ft or fk right off the floor... But i also have ones where i need a pair of tongs and coax them into eating them.. i have to make the dead rat dance. basically.. I tried the paper bag method and pretty much every other method.. So really its on snake to snake basis.. Also how warm are you heating up the fk or ft some of my snakes wont touch it unless it warm(almost hot)..
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
2.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!