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 #1715607


Anolis-Boy
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 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I got my Ball Python Sunday. He a baby male (21 inches) and I am trying to feed him Fuzzy Mice. Is it normal for a new Ball Python to not eat for the first like weak or two? He is drinking fine and is only active at night.



04/24/08  11:32pm

 #1715618


Flameethrower
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1715607


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

If you jsut got the snake sunday and already trying to geed it. BAD IDEA. you msut give the snake and entire week of no touching gawking or feeding till they get used to new smells and surroundings. if you dont follow this your snake will continue to refuse and back away from the mouse.

Keep tank at 80-84 cool side
90-94 warm side
50-60% humidity at all tiems. if theses cant be met rething your setup.
04/24/08  11:46pm

 #1715673


ScyllaCharybdis
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   Message To: Flameethrower   In reference to Message Id: 1715618


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Buy the $10 Book...and then READ the $10 Book!
04/25/08  02:17am

 #1716124


Anolis-Boy
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   Message To: ScyllaCharybdis   In reference to Message Id: 1715673


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Thanks. I haven’t handled him for 2 days now I thought it was 3 days of no handling.
04/25/08  03:48pm

 #1716216


ScyllaCharybdis
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1716124


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Have you ordered the Book yet?

And what size mice are you going to offer for his next meal?
04/25/08  05:19pm

 #1716276


GA_Ball_Pythons
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1715607


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Can you explain your setup in details even better post a picture!

Also 3 days is often not enough 7 days acclimation is the minimum with no handling is the minimum I would recommend a new owner.
04/25/08  06:31pm

 #1716310


Frog_lady15
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   Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons   In reference to Message Id: 1716276


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Also don’t feed him fuzzies.... I learned that the hard way. I had a 2 week old hatchling I bought in September and I was feeding him fuzzys and he hasn’t grown any! I didn’t learn till a couple of days ago that he should have been eating hoppers all along and that I’ve been unknowingly starving him all these months! I felt sooo bad! So I fed him his first hopper on wed and as tiny as he is he ate it no prob! And I’ve been told to feed him hoppers every 4-5 days.

And I know some mentioned already to not handle him for a week, make sure his hides are tight and that he is in a low traffic area of your home. Or he will get stressed..

Good luck with your snake! And know that you are in good hands! Everyone here is super knowlegable and they all have nothing but your snakes best interest at heart. Follow their advice. They have never steered me wrong!

R
04/25/08  07:16pm

 #1716684


SatanicIntention
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   Message To: Frog_lady15   In reference to Message Id: 1716310


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Just related to Frog-Lady’s snake..

After he’s eaten 3-4 hopper-sized meals, bump him up to a small adult mouse. Keep him on the every 5 day schedule until he’s on medium adults(25-30g or so). I have 07 babies who were hatched in August eating large adult mice, so no worries, he can handle it. I know their necks look dinky!
04/26/08  03:41am

 #1719339


Anolis-Boy
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   Message To: SatanicIntention   In reference to Message Id: 1716684


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I have Fred in a 10 gallon Tank with a hide a way cave, a water dish, and a branch for climbing, in the cave i have some moss to hold moisture, i am using Eco-Earth substrate. For heat i am using a heating pad 24/7 and i use a night bulb at night. Sorry but i havn’t had much luck with pics. yet.
04/28/08  06:24pm

 #1719380


ScyllaCharybdis
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1719339


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

So you still only have 1 hide when you need two...

And...

What is the humidity inside of the hide?

The reason I ask is because you said that you have moss in there to "hold moisture".

And...

Have you purchased that Book yet?
04/28/08  06:44pm

 #1719420


KAMANDAG
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   Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons   In reference to Message Id: 1716276


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Quote:

I would recommend a new owner


GA! That was pretty funny. I was laughing so hard I think I hurt myself more.

And to the OP...did you get the book yet? Don’t worry, Scylla doesn’t get paid a penny by endorsing it. He’s doing it out of the goodness of his heart.
04/28/08  07:03pm

 #1722160


H8er4eva
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   Message To: KAMANDAG   In reference to Message Id: 1719420


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Darius, Darius, Darius. Always seeing the worst in people. Being the optimist I am I read it as seven days minimum for a new owner. As in for a new owner you should leave the snake for 7 days but if you are more experienced then you can judge yourself. GA could you clear this up if you read the thread?
05/01/08  01:00pm

 #1722181


LoftLizard
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   Message To: H8er4eva   In reference to Message Id: 1722160


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Looked pretty straightforward to me... 7 days with no handling minimum.

Bruce
05/01/08  01:29pm

 #1722263


KAMANDAG
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   Message To: H8er4eva   In reference to Message Id: 1722160


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Quote:

Darius, Darius, Darius. Always seeing the worst in people.


I don’t, do I? I always thought I look at the lighter side of things.

Which one of us has H8er4eva as our username? (but I know you’re a lover deep inside, that’s why Sra thinks we were doing something else in the chat room yesterday!)

HAHAHA!
05/01/08  03:01pm

 #1722274


GA_Ball_Pythons
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   Message To: H8er4eva   In reference to Message Id: 1722160


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Quote:

GA could you clear this up if you read the thread?

Let’s say that what I do is not what I would recommend to a new owner whether it is housing, hides, temps, breeding, acclimation, etc

What I do is based on my experience (and I am fully aware of the consequences when I decide to do something) what I recommend is based on what I know is more likely to work and less likely to disappoint a new owner.

It’s about knowing your animals, and being observant with the new ones!
05/01/08  03:12pm

 #1722426


Marg
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   Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons   In reference to Message Id: 1722274


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

And I’m sure GA does let them acclimate for one week,
as she recommends to every one else :o)
05/01/08  05:32pm

 #1727861


Anolis-Boy
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   Message To: Marg   In reference to Message Id: 1722426


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I waited from Thursday to the monday after the onday that was comming up and he still won’t eat. But he did shed on monday.
05/07/08  07:57am

 #1727869


Rabernet
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1727861


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Time to re-assess your enclosure then. Can you detail how old the snake is and exactly how you are housing it? (size of enclosure, how you provide heat, how you measure heat, size of hides, etc).



05/07/08  08:26am

 #1728113


ScyllaCharybdis
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1727861


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

To Anolis-Boy...

Is there any particular reason you’re NOT answering the questions you’ve been asked?????
05/07/08  02:07pm

 #1728518


Midoripickle
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   Message To: ScyllaCharybdis   In reference to Message Id: 1728113


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Mine is 20 inches too and he eats full grown mice. The guy at the pet store picked them out for me and it wasn’t till I was ready to feed him that I was like, CRAP! I don’t think he’s gonna down these. But I gave it a try and he swallowed that sucker in like 10 minutes!
05/07/08  07:35pm

 #1728524


Midoripickle
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   Message To: Midoripickle   In reference to Message Id: 1728518


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I probably handled Edward too much when I first got him. I just couldn’t resist. But then after the first day or two I forced myself to leave him alone for about a week and he ate just fine...
05/07/08  07:40pm

 #1728733


Anolis-Boy
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   Message To: Midoripickle   In reference to Message Id: 1728524


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I’m sorry I havn’t been answering the question I have a lot of Liittle League Baseball. But i give heat with a heating pad that is under one of his two hideaways, i have a nightlight for viewing, i have a wooden vine for climbing. He is also a baby, he is 21 inches. I think I did the same thing as Midoripickle.



05/07/08  09:51pm

 #1728750


GA_Ball_Pythons
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1728733


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

The first problem is that you did not allow enough time for your animal to settle before offering food, this alone can be stressful enough to lead to a refusal.

Also a fuzzy is TOO small which could be another problem.

And finally your BP was in shed.

All those have likely contributed to your first refusals.

Few more questions

Is your enclosure in a low traffic area?
What are your temps (cool & warm side)?
What is your humidity?
What type of thermometer/hygrometer do you use (dial,stick,or digital)?
Are your hides tight (all side touching your BP’s body) and identical?
Did you offer live or F/T
Have you handle your BP since?
05/07/08  10:05pm

 #1732593


Anolis-Boy
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   Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons   In reference to Message Id: 1728750


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

I have been offering F/T food, the humidity is about 40-50%, I use a dial thermometer and hygrometer, a lot of people walk through where he is, on the warm side the temps are about 85 degrees, cool side= 75 degrees. My hides are not identical and all of the side are not touching his body. I really havn’t been handling him.
05/12/08  12:02am

 #1732627


Reflex
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   Message To: Anolis-Boy   In reference to Message Id: 1732593


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

alrighty here...

Before you can get an accurate humidity/temps, you need an accurate thermometer! Those dials can be as much as 20 degrees (or % humidity) off! Get a DIGITAL thermometer/hygrometer. I (am many, MANY other herpers) use the Acu-rite digital thermometer/hygrometer. Not to mention humidity should be 50-60%, not 40-50.

Quote:

a lot of people walk through where he is


you need to put him in a quiet, low traffic area. All the vibrations and people walking around him is stressing him h=out way too much

Quote:

warm side the temps are about 85 degrees, cool side= 75 degrees


WAY too cold. Again, these temps are most likely off. Get a digital therm and tell us what it is then. But just so you know, the temps should be 80-84 COOL side, and 90-94 WARM side.

Quote:

all of the side are not touching his body


Get hides that WILL, then! here:

Quote:


6 Inches Plastic Flowerpot saucer form hatchling to 250 grams (Found at Walmart or any gardening places)



05/12/08  01:25am

 #1732672


Frankykeno
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   Message To: Reflex   In reference to Message Id: 1732627


 Newbie Here. I need answers!!!!

Refusal to eat isn’t the problem, it’s a symptom of a problem or set of problems (I really need to get this tattooed on my arm or something LOL). It sounds like there are problems in letting this snake properly settle in, in having it in a high traffic area which doesn’t sit well with these shy, nocturnal snakes and with your husbandry (hides, temps, etc.). Fix those issues, give the snake another week to adjust to all the changes - even good changes cause some stress to these snakes - then offer an appropriately sized prey late in the evening. Remember they are nocturnal so even though they may well eat during the daytime, nighttime might up your odds of a successful feed.



05/12/08  05:10am


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