Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased a ball python and it is the first snake I have owned. He is 17" long and the store I bought it from told me he is captive bred and last time he ate was the day before I bought it. The store owner told me to give it a few days then feed him a frozen fuzzy mouse. After two weeks I still can't get him to eat. The snake looks healthy, temp is 95 to 80 in his tank. He doesn't look like he is about to shed and he is often moving about the tank exploring or hiding in his cave. I am concerned because he is not eating. I asked another pet store and they told me he should be eating by now. He said I should return him because if I can get him to eat it may always be a problem getting him to feed. The store I bought him from gave me a 30 day return guaranty and I am thinking about returning him if he still won't eat after three weeks. Is this resonable or will he eventually eat when he gets hungery? Also should I try feeding him a live mouse?

Just to make sure, when you say frozen you mean frozen/ thawed correct? Try jiggling it to get the snake to attack.

Yes, it is thawed. I have jiggled it in front of his face and on the floor of his tank. Also tried leaving it in the tank overnight in different placed including inside his cave. He doesn't have any interst in it.

maby try feeding a live hopper mouse. who knows your bp might be picky.
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2.1.0 ball python (aragorn, frodo, arwen)
2.0.0 columbian boa (wiggles and squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
3.3.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole, camie)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy

When I bought mine, I started her on live rat pinkies. Did the store owner tell you that he had been feeding this snake f/t fuzzy mice or did he simply suggest the fuzzy as what you should try next? How warm was the mouse when you offered it? You might try thawing it in a little warmer water.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

The shop owner said he has been feeding them frozen mice (thawed). I did thaw my mice in warm water but the mice are probably at room temperature when I put them in. The last thing I tried was a live fuzzy mouse with the same result, snake had no interest in eating. I asked someone this weeken and he told me that the snake is probably not eating because it is winter. How long can a you snake go without eating?

I hope someone with more experience will join this thread. I don't know enough to give you very good advice. I know that ball pythons can sometimes go for months without eating, but I'm not sure whether the little ones can go that long. I'd question the store owner in more detail about what he did. You might also try a live rat pinkie, but if the snake was eating f/t mouse fuzzies in the past, he should be willing to take one now. The nice thing about going with a rat pinkie is that you can leave him in the cage for a long time without danger to your snake. The pinkies are supposed to be harmless.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.