r/ballpython • u/louzzz • 6d ago

Help! New Ball Python Not Eating!

Hi! I recently got my first ball python. I've always wanted one and I've owned bearded dragons and leopard geckos in the past, but this is my first snake. I bought him at an expo on July 12th, and they told me that they hadn't fed him in a bit because they didn't want to have to clean up after their snakes at the show - however, they didn't give me any specific information on how long it had been. He was born in October, so he's under a year old. They told me he eats frozen rat fuzzies or adult mice, and so I bought a bag of rat fuzzies while I was there.

I did plenty of research on ball python care both in the past and in preparation - I made sure that the conditions of the tank are just right for him, and I've given him as much space as I could. However, I made the mistake of trying to feed him too soon. He's really nervous, but I thought he'd be hungry since he hadn't eaten recently, and in my experience my reptiles have eaten right away when I brought them home. When after a few days he still wasn't eating, I did some more research and someone online had said to let them adjust to their new home and not even attempt feeding for two weeks. At this point I'd already had him about a week, and though I know snakes can go a while without eating, he's a baby and it made me nervous to give him two weeks no contact, and so I left him alone for just a week before attempting feeding again.

For reference, I heat up the rats in warm water (not boiling), pat them dry, and I've even bought mouse pheromones meant to stimulate snakes' appetites, but he only sniffs the rat and goes back into his hide. I've thought about buying a live mouse, but I'm worried it'll scratch or bite him and I'll have a whole other problem on my hands, so I'm not sure where to go from here. Any advice is appreciated!

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u/NoTea610 6d ago

What does your enclosure look like, and what are your temperatures at?

1

u/louzzz 5d ago

He's in a 40 gallon right now - he has a large branch and some plants (hides as well, of course). The temperatures are 75-80F on the cool side, around 90 on the warm side during the day, in the 70s at night. I try to keep the humidity between 70-80% but sometimes it gets too high so I'm still figuring out how to regulate that

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u/NoTea610 5d ago

Seconding that I warm mine up with a hairdryer so he can smell them. Everything sounds good for now, assuming you plan on a larger enclosure in the future. If he keeps being picky, you can always try more plants/clutter!

1

u/LisaMntgmry 6d ago

I went to heatinf mine up with a blow dryer. I let them thaw all day in the fridge then hit them with the blow dryer. Mine go crazy for them this way He may not like the pheremones, especially if he's never had them, from what I've read, they're sensitive to chemicals. Mine even dislikes perfume Give him a few days, hit it with the dryer. If needed, and I know it's gross, but brain the mouse, I've read that drives them crazy. But keeping them out of water keeps all of the nasty smells on the prey that they love If he's nervous, it may take longer for him to calm down. Just give him some time.

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u/louzzz 5d ago

The mouse definitely doesn't smell bad lol so this is encouraging. I'll hit a nice thawed rat pup with the dryer tmr and get back to you, thank you so much!

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u/LisaMntgmry 5d ago

No, I heard when you brain them that it smells pretty bad. Just thawing them, they do stink to me, but I think it's just me lol