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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Can you help they wont eat
How old is your BP? 1.2 they are a year old How big is your BP (weight)? 1.0 274g / 0.1#1(Ivy) 418g/0.1#2(Meredith) 392g What type of enclosure do you use? 34 qt sterilite tub How big is your enclosure? 22"X16"x6" Is your enclosure in a low traffic area? yes What are your temps (cool & warm side)? 81.5/91.3 What is your humidity? 55% What type of thermometer/hygrometer do you use (dial,stick,or digital)? digital them&hydrom/temp gun What kind of hides do you provide (log, homemade, cubbyholes etc) and how many do you have? 1 each..homemade plastic square box w/half moon cut-out off centered..they dont use them..they crawl under the newsprint so we removed them..the person we bought them from never used hides with them Are your hides tight (all side touching your BP’s body) and identical? yes..but we took out and they hide under the top layer of newsprint very snuggly What have you attempted to feed (Rat, Mice, size live, f/t)? 1.0 refused f/t sm mouse last wk but ate live sm mouse but only after leaving it in cage--wouldnt take from tongs...............0.1 #1(Ivy) refused f/t sm mouse, refused live sm mouse..............0.1 #2(Meredith) ate from tongs last weel sm. mouse live, ate f/t sm mouse from tongs this week. How often do you handle your BP? only to clean their cage...meredith b/c she has eaten without problem we have taken out and handled 3 times so far The person from whom we aquired the 3 has not had a problem with them eating. Please help |
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| 08/12/08 07:46pm |
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LadyOhh View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828819 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/12/08 07:52pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: LadyOhh In reference to Message Id: 1828822 Can you help they wont eat
Ivy wont eat anything |
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| 08/12/08 07:54pm |
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LadyOhh View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828824 Can you help they wont eat
If you can, move them to 15 qt tubs, or shove more stuff into the tubs to make it tighter. Leave them alone for a week without any contact, and try again with live. |
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| 08/12/08 08:02pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: LadyOhh In reference to Message Id: 1828832 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/12/08 08:05pm |
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GA_Ball_Pythons View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828819 Can you help they wont eat
If you feed them what they were eating previously and keep providing proper husbandry they will eat eventually. If you try to feed something different from what they were used to, that could be your problem. If they were used to live keep feeding live until they eat with consistency than try to switch them when they are. One thing you can try and that has worked for me in the past is loose crumble newspaper in the enclosure Same thing no handling unless ABSOLUTELY necessary until they are consistent feeder. I know it is frustrating when they do not eat however as long as you do everything possible, provide optimal husbandry, and your BP are healthy there is not much you can do except waiting. |
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| 08/12/08 08:07pm |
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LadyOhh View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828838 Can you help they wont eat
Give them at LEAST a week, if not more, of no contact. Then try again. If that doesn’t work, keep changing things bit by bit until it works. |
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| 08/12/08 08:08pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828819 Can you help they wont eat
Quote: WHY WON’T MY SNAKE EAT?
In almost all cases, a ball python refuses to eat due to husbandry issues. Especially a young one. If your snake misses more than one meal (sometimes they won’t want to eat while in shed) please check the following possible causes: Lack of Security -- No hides, or hides that are too large or exposed (ie: half logs). They prefer dark, tight hides they barely fit into. Also, if the enclosure is too large, or too open (glass) or in a high traffic area with a lot of loud noise or movement. Another snake in the same enclosure can also cause serious security issues. Over Handling -- Frequent intrusions into the enclosure, changes to the enclosure, and/or long frequent handling sessions can cause a shy snake to feel vulnerable and refuse to eat. Improper Temps -- Temps that are too high or too low, or temps that fluctuate too much. Make sure you have an accurate and consistent read on your temps. Improper Lighting -- Bright white lights shining directly into the enclosure, or 24 hour lighting can cause stress. Make sure there is some sort of day/night cycle. Offering New Prey -- Changing prey species (ie: mice to rats) or methods (ie: live to f/t) can cause refusal. Such changes can be made, but may require patience and persistence. Improper Offering of Prey -- Offering prey too frequently can do more harm than good. If a snake refuses, do not attempt to feed again for a week. Also, changing environments by moving to a feeding-box or removing hides and "furniture" can cause refusal in these shy snakes. Prey Too Large -- Too large an item may intimidate a snake and cause refusal, or even a regurgitation if it is eaten. Also, if a ball python has eaten large meals in the past, it can cause a sudden an indefinite period of fasting. Mites -- An external parasite common to snakes that must be treated and eradicated. A product called Provent-a-Mite (P.A.M.) is the safest and most effective method. Seasonal -- Sexually mature ball pythons may fast for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months during their mating season (typically anywhere from late fall to early spring) especially if a sexually mature snake of the opposite sex is in close proximity. Illness -- If all other possible reasons are eliminated, a vet check may be in order to look for internal parasites, as well as possible infections to the skin, scales, mouth or respiratory system. Fortunately, ball pythons are extremely hardy snakes that can go for months (if necessary) of fasting without suffering any ill effects. This gives a responsible keeper plenty of time to figure out why the snake refuses to eat and get them on a regular, consistent feeding regimen. |
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| 08/12/08 08:14pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Rabernet In reference to Message Id: 1828848 Can you help they wont eat
Rab .. I already have that bookmarked but thanks |
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| 08/12/08 08:19pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1828855 Can you help they wont eat
Quote: Rab .. I already have that bookmarked but thanks
Didn’t realize that. It really is a great checklist to go through and figure out what is causing your new ones not to eat. But I’m a bit biased on the caresheet! |
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| 08/13/08 05:50am |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Rabernet In reference to Message Id: 1829237 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/13/08 12:36pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1829550 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/16/08 04:34pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1833007 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/16/08 06:13pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1833007 Can you help they wont eat
That’s a Kevin McCurley trick and normally works. Don’t remove the paper, just drop the mouse in and check back in an hour - the mouse should be gone. |
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| 08/16/08 06:15pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Rabernet In reference to Message Id: 1833106 Can you help they wont eat
Quote: You tried all three on both of them in one day? Or that’s a summary of what you’ve tried over time?
We tried all three on both of them in one day. I will try the crumpled newspaper and try a live mouse next week |
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| 08/16/08 07:08pm |
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LadyOhh View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1833160 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/16/08 07:59pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1833160 Can you help they wont eat
Quote: We tried all three on both of them in one day.
Sometimes offering too often (and three different prey items on the same day can be argued as too often) that can be stressing in itself and cause refusals. Let us know how it goes next week! |
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| 08/16/08 09:50pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Rabernet In reference to Message Id: 1833341 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/16/08 10:09pm |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1833357 Can you help they wont eat
Do I leave the newspaper in there for another week to make sure they eat again or take it out? Leave them alone or handle them (after the 48 hours of course)? -- Im banking on leaving them alone but I want to know what you all think. Thanks!!!! |
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| 08/23/08 03:51pm |
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Momofsix View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1840442 Can you help they wont eat
Quote: Do I leave the newspaper in there for another week to make sure they eat again or take it out?
I would leave it another week or two and make sure they stay consistent with their feeding. Quote: Leave them alone or handle them (after the 48 hours of course)?
Let them be until they eat again just to make sure they are adjusting and don’t stress. Let them get in their routine then have some fun! :) |
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| 08/24/08 12:37am |
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Jwsurfergirl View Profile |
Message To: Momofsix In reference to Message Id: 1840915 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/29/08 09:50pm |
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WorkoutMachine View Profile |
Message To: Jwsurfergirl In reference to Message Id: 1846584 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/29/08 10:16pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: WorkoutMachine In reference to Message Id: 1846602 Can you help they wont eat
Don’t you just love that "trick"? |
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| 08/29/08 10:26pm |
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Rabernet View Profile |
Message To: WorkoutMachine In reference to Message Id: 1846602 Can you help they wont eat
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| 08/29/08 10:28pm |
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