My baby ball python wont eat.?

Question

i feed her last week Tueday.

had her for 3 weeks already and bought her on a sunday; they said they feed it on a Saturday (day b4 I bought her) so I waited for 2 weeks and I feed her a fuzzy live rat and a couple strokes and she ate it.

Now im trying to feed her a frozen one and she wont eat it.

Is it cause im feeding her to early or she only wants live?

Answer 1

well all i can say feed her unfrozen

Answer 2

you really want to see her eat, I know it is a pain, but there native food source is gerbils, my wouldn't eat for two months, three, I called the vet, he told me try a gerbil, they have a different scent, the snake went crazy, soon as I put dinner in the cage, he perked up, and smacked him from 12'away, don't tell the pet center why you are buying them,

Answer 3

its absulutely because its not alive.....she probably doesnt even know what it is.....the scent and everything would be off. i would stick to live prey and make sure you keep them small enough for her....if shes really little she should still be eating pinkies but for a little larger a fuzzy would be fine. i had one that would ONLY eat live prey, i even went as far as to warm a frozen one in water until is was thawed and body temp.....the snake was waaay to smart for that.....but dont be too worried,,,,,,they also wont eat when they are close to shedding.and make sure the temp in her cage is adequate for her also. good luck,,,,great pets arent they?

ps, they can go months without eating but to grow at an exceptable rate i wouldnt feed any less than once every other week or once a week.

Answer 4

maybe you're killing her and you dont even realise it. do you have a UVA and a UVB bulbs and something that provides heat to her?

Answer 5

ok well frozen is always better. freezing the mouse will kill any bacteria or germs on the mouse and make is safer for you reptile. Also when feeding frozen you want to make sure to thaw the mouse out completely, by putting in in a zip lock bag and floating in a sink full of hot water till completely warmed. Since it has olny been two weeks it could be she is not hungery i would another week and try again with frozen. If still no luck maybe tring different sizes of mice may get her to eat them. But balls are so picky she may just take live.

Answer 6

Balls can be picky eaters. I fostered one that refused to eat for 2 months and then would only eat frozen if it was covered and completely dark. The one we have now eats frozen, but you have to dangle the prey. He has only turned down 2 meals in a year and a half, and both of those were right before a shed. Look at her eyes. If they're a bit milky looking, she's probably ready to shed.

Answer 7

Put her in a separate container, then use tongs or you can just hold it (snakes have good aim) dangle is in front of her (frozen) she should eventually go for it.

Answer 8

NUMBER 1, do not feed your ball python rats... The only reason I say this is because rats have teeth, and even though they will lose, they can still bite and scar your python.

NUMBER 2, If you feel it won't eat a live MOUSE, then just take a hammer and bonk the mouse on the head and drop it in the cage.

But don't feed it a frozen anything.

Answer 9

she might only want live OR she might not be hungry.

It's hard to tell with them when they're still young....

Answer 10

She may not see it as food if it's to cold for her.

You should try blasting the thawed rat pup with a hair dryer to warm it up. they have heat sensing pits on their face to help them hunt. And it works wonders for my burm.

Gerbils are their natural prey but the cost quite a bit for feeders. but you said it ate a rat pup before so you should be fine a frozen one, it's just a little harder to get some snakes to make the switch from live to f/t.

Good luck!

A few links you might like:

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide...

http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html

http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/snake...

-Edit- Don't listen to Ronbo he has no idea what he's talking about.

1.) Rats are better for your snake as long as the are f/t or pre-killed

2.) You could kill what you feed it. or you could buy it frozen for  less money and have it already be dead.

3.) Frozen is the best way to feed any rat/mouse/bunny eating reptile because a live one can cause injury/death to the snake.

If your snake is still a baby, you should be feeding it every 5 to 7 days.

If your snake is an adult you should be feeding it every 2 weeks.

-Edit2- You should also check to see if it's eyes are clouded. if they are your snake may strike at the food but it won't eat. you will need to wait until the snakes eyes clear to try feeding it again.

I hope this has cleared the air a little. you can email me if you have any more question about this, if you want too?