Hi,
I got a female Albino back on Dec. 27th and I still have not been able to get her to take a single meal for me! When I brought her home she weighed in at 247g and today she is sitting at 202g-206g. She hatched on 7-21-09. She is set up in a 6qt baby rack, paper towel, small hide and water bowl. Temps are at 80-83 with a hot spot of 90-92. Should I start to worry about her?

What are you offering? How often?

Have a hide?

have you tried live hopper mice ?

I would also lower the hot spot to 85 if it where me.

What are you offering? How often?

Have a hide?

Yes I have a hide!
mice
rat pups
rat crawlers
I have tried live and frozen. Left the food in over night a few times with no luck!

Who was it that said they had luck with sticking problem feeders in their incubator?

There's always assist feeding

Whether or not it's needed at this point I cant say

have you tried live hopper mice ?

I would also lower the hot spot to 85 if it where me.


I have tried live small mice, even all dif colors lol. Is the hot spot to high? I have 3 other BPs that are set up in the same rack that have never missed a meal!

I'm old school, I'd get my hands on a fuzzie or just weaned gerbil, try that, if it takes, get a few meals in her and then get her on mice or rats....if it's weaned don't leave it on over night....although i haven't used that technique since dealing wilth wild caughts in the late 80's.....

I'm old school, I'd get my hands on a fuzzie or just weaned gerbil, try that, if it takes, get a few meals in her and then get her on mice or rats....if it's weaned don't leave it on over night....

Does that work often! Could she just be off feed from winter still? The breeded said she was a great feeder there!

Does that work often! Could she just be off feed from winter still? The breeded said she was a great feeder there!


used too...but my albino's are reaaaallll sensitive to ANY KIND of disturbance during feeding time, so you may be spooking her into not feeding as well, sometimes once I disturb them they will not feed till 24 hours later.....so it could be something like that as well....hard to tell from my house, but I will tell you if you keep ball pythons you will sometimes have feeding issues.....for one reason or another....happens to all of us....

Yeah, I have alot of Boas and now just got into BPs. I only have 4 right now and they all eat like champs except her! I got a Black Pastel the same day from the same breeder as the Albino, she weighed 97g then and is 230 already! I have read that Albinos are not good eaters in general.

Yeah, I have alot of Boas and now just got into BPs. I only have 4 right now and they all eat like champs except her! I got a Black Pastel the same day from the same breeder as the Albino, she weighed 97g then and is 230 already! I have read that Albinos are not good eaters in general.

well i think it's more about figuring out what your doing wrong, both mine eat every time most of the time now, the female did take a few months off during the winter.....

You could also try getting ahold of a hopper ASF. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I've heard people mention taking them for a drive also, although I've never tried that myself yet.

Have you tried asking SPJ for some tips? :dunno:

Sorry, Steve......:lmao:

BTW....all good tips thus far.....except for mine, of course.

Good luck!

She hatched on 7-21-09, at what weight should I be really concerned?

She hatched on 7-21-09, at what weight should I be really concerned?

How's she look and behaving....does she look overly thin ?

How's she look and behaving....does she look overly thin ?

She isnt acting weird or anything, just wont eat for me! Here is a pic of her, I just took it a few minutes ago. She is thinner now than when I got her but she has lost about 40g!
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab143/shaunboyer/001.jpg
I just wish she would eat!

shes a little small to be off feed so soon my 09s are 500g eating great,but its not a big deal she will eat but may be a picky eater.

she probley ate before you got her & lost the weight that was food she was not empty. im sure she looks ok just be patient.

Have you tried asking SPJ for some tips? :dunno:

Sorry, Steve......:lmao:

Oh no he di'int! :eek:

Have you tried turning off the lights? She doesn't look too thin just yet, but she should be taking something soon. Has a vet done a fecal on her?

Oh no he di'int! :eek:

Have you tried turning off the lights? She doesn't look too thin just yet, but she should be taking something soon. Has a vet done a fecal on her?

I have tried at night in the dark also with no luck, no vet visit yet!

Wellllll wayyyy back when we used to put em in a paper bag with the prey....
Some reason it usually worked...Proper size paper bag of course.

Have you tried asking SPJ for some tips? :dunno:

Sorry, Steve......:lmao:

Here's my tip.
Get a different morph. Albinos are just PITA's and Mike is a wiseass. :lmao:

What have you tried to offer? I have some that will only eat dry f/t. I picked up a het pied that I am having problems with myself and any advice is welcome.
Gary

She isnt acting weird or anything, just wont eat for me! Here is a pic of her, I just took it a few minutes ago. She is thinner now than when I got her but she has lost about 40g!
I just wish she would eat!

Well she still looks good....if she don't eat soon I'd try the gerbil fuzzy if you can get one just to get a meal or 2 in her....I heard one day old chicksor quail as well, I have never used them on ball pythons myself but damn near every other boid there is.

Steve....yes I am. :yes:

As for the quail, I've tried them with a BP and had no luck. Hopper mice were the way to go. Live and poppin' around!

Hopper mice were the way to go. Live and poppin' around!

twas my first suggestion....:yes:

I was feeding mice to youngins and rats to bigger balls then I switched to asf's and all my picky eaters ate more consistently even my albino. It's the damn het albino that is giving me the most fits. Almost 2 years old and only 900g, although she did recently kick back on to feed.

Have you tried asking SPJ for some tips? :dunno:

Sorry, Steve......:lmao:

Here's my tip.
Get a different morph. Albinos are just PITA's and Mike is a wiseass. :lmao:

:lmao:

Shaun, if the husbandry is in check like it appears to be. Maybe just a little warm but I doubt that is causing a feeding issue but then again that extra few degrees could be causes some stress. Anyway, what you have mentioned is pretty typical when it comes to ball pythons.

For whatever reason that animal has decided not to eat, you may be able to use some tips and tricks to get it back feeding a little sooner but the best answer I can think of is to just be patience. Keep offering a meal once a week and sooner or later it'll kick back on, they always do.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Shaun,

Try putting her on aspen. Did you ask the breeder that you got her from how he/she had her set up?

Shaun,

Try putting her on aspen. Did you ask the breeder that you got her from how he/she had her set up?

Yes, I called and talked to him before about her not eating. I even asked what type of bedding she was on there, he said paper towels or newspaper! I have not tried aspen, I will now though!:yes:

Yes, I called and talked to him before about her not eating. I even asked what type of bedding she was on there, he said paper towels or newspaper! I have not tried aspen, I will now though!:yes:

Let us know how it works - I've been told that with stubborn hatchlings and babies, switching to aspen seems to be the "magic" charm.

Let us know how it works - I've been told that with stubborn hatchlings and babies, switching to aspen seems to be the "magic" charm.

Holy Crap!

I just realized that when the PITA's were eating semi-regularly, I was using aspen. I switched back to cyress mulch and SOB......that seems to be when the refusals started.

I think I need to get some aspen tomorrow.

Judging by the photos , your animal looks to be in good shape. I wouldn't to too concerned at this point.

I've had a few picky eaters over the years and here are a few things I look for and do.

1) Try feeding a smaller prey item then they CAN take. Sometimes they can be a little intimidated by the size so smaller prey usually helps.

2) Always feed after the lights go out.

3) Only try feeding the animal once a week. By trying to feed it every day or two will only add to the stress.

4) Read your animals body language before trying to feed. A hungry ball will usually have it's head poking out of the cave about a inch off the ground and in the " S " position.

5) Make sure the prey is HOT when using FT. I find the smaller prey items cool down very quickly. I like to run mine right under the tap. I turn on the hot water and run the prey in it for 20 seconds.

6) Add some crumpled up newspaper to the bin. The animal will feel more secure and not so out in the open.

7) Try moving the snake to a new bin. If you have a rack system the temps will vary a little from one shelf to the other. Sometimes this slight change in temp and a move to a new bin will kick start them.

Hope this help! :yes:
Good luck.

Alright guys, I lowered the temp a few degrees, changed her slot in the rack and put her on aspen yesterday! I am going to leave her alone for a few days. Then I am going to offer a live hopper mouse and see what happens! I will let everyone know how it goes! :cool:

Alright guys, I lowered the temp a few degrees, changed her slot in the rack and put her on aspen yesterday! I am going to leave her alone for a few days. Then I am going to offer a live hopper mouse and see what happens! I will let everyone know how it goes! :cool:

Good luck :yes:

Another thing that has worked for me is just not feeding them. I've got a BP that was a major, major PITA, and wouldn't eat.....I just stopped feeding her for about a month in between meals, and now she'll eat whenever I offer her a rat.

I've read putting non-eating Bloods in a tub full of sphagnum can get them to eat too.

Must be something with being able to burrow down in it type of thing.

Good luck!


Shaun,

Try putting her on aspen. Did you ask the breeder that you got her from how he/she had her set up?

Well, its still a no go guys! I would really hate to lose this girl because of something I am doing wrong. She is the only one that flat out refuses to eat for me. The other 3 females are eating F/T, just left in their tub overnight!:mad:

I have an uncooperative Pastel. I'll try the aspen and wait a while before feeding again.

Thanks!

:)

Well, its still a no go guys! I would really hate to lose this girl because of something I am doing wrong. She is the only one that flat out refuses to eat for me. The other 3 females are eating F/T, just left in their tub overnight!:mad:

At some point, you may have to consider assist feeding her. It's always a last measure for me, but sometimes, once assist fed a few meals, it helps to kick that metabolism back in gear. I hope she eats soon for you!

At some point, you may have to consider assist feeding her. It's always a last measure for me, but sometimes, once assist fed a few meals, it helps to kick that metabolism back in gear. I hope she eats soon for you!

Going off the pic - I wouldn't assist feed her...That's a great way to add stress...

Take her for a car ride at night - Then try her...I'd only try feeding her once a week...And I'd stick with cypress - Humid cypress...:yes:

Going off the pic - I wouldn't assist feed her...That's a great way to add stress...

Take her for a car ride at night - Then try her...I'd only try feeding her once a week...And I'd stick with cypress - Humid cypress...:yes:

When I get there I may have to switch them all to Cypress lol I know every photo I see from the southern crew is mostly on Cypress.

Going off the pic - I wouldn't assist feed her...That's a great way to add stress...

Take her for a car ride at night - Then try her...I'd only try feeding her once a week...And I'd stick with cypress - Humid cypress...:yes:

I agree BT, that's why I said "at some point". Now isn't that time, only he can decide when her health is compromised from not eating. When that time comes, then assist feeding absolutely is the right choice. :)

i've broken many a fussy bugger down just waiting them out.
car rides work.
nothing though is 100% across the board.
good luck,
ck

I have tried everything I can think of and everything people have told me trying to help out! Nothing works with this girl!:dunno:

stupid question but not something i have seen anyone else has asked....are you handling the animal? If so stop till she gets settled in, I dont hold any of mine till they have taken 2 meals from me as a minimum....If you arnt handeling her I dont have any other ideas...

I have tried everything I can think of and everything people have told me trying to help out! Nothing works with this girl!:dunno:

just wait.
wait until she's at the front of her hide box, ready to strike, like trevor (i think it was trevor...) said.
she still looks okay in the pic.
it's the time of season.
for the past few weeks i've been lucky if i can find a hand full of takers (out of 30 balls). but i'm not worried.
like lawrence said, eventually they all eat.
just chill...she'll come around.
ck

Like posted previously. I have a problem Het Pied. He has eaten once since Feb. When he ate it was ferocious. I think they are a lot like people I eat about six meals a day. Others gorge themselves on one. If the snake is hungry he will eat. I have limited experience, but the ASF's seem to do the job. I hear it is like ball python crack. Good luck
Gary

I have....
1 pied, 2 het pieds, 1 bino, 1 het bino that havent eaten in 5 months. All 07s and all 700-1200 grams. I feel your pain dude. Ive tried everything...no go.

Thats the worst part about BPs is their eating habits. Theyre either awesome or they fail.

in the past ive taken my non eaters out side to bask in the sun and crawl in the grass a little and it has work for me other than that offer differant sizes and ive had great luck with afs's

Man when I got my albino it took him 7 months, thought i was gunna shoot myself in the foot but all of a sudden wam!!! he started eating

My Het pied ate again last night. Steph threw him a left over from the pastel. I guess he was hungry. Nailed it wrapped it and held on. Only problem it was a mouse ( offered and refused previously). I try to do rats. The only thing I changed was his hide I gave him a much smaller one he barely fits in. Don't know if that is why, but give it a whirl.
Gary