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Stubborn Ball Python

R

R.W.

Call me Richard
Remember those two Ball pyhtons I recently got?

Well the male is the most enthusiastic feeder I've ever seen, but the female is being a problem feeder.

Shes refused three meals(she eats medium rats.) All three were f/t and the last I tried the washing with soap deal, and I even left it in her tub overnight. Nothing.

Today I figured I'd try getting a live rat and stunning it. If that doesn't work I'll probably just try live an watch closely.

Any other suggestions?
 
I had the same problem with the female ball I bought this year. Sadly, the only thing she'll even think about eating is live mice. Even then, I have to sit her in the room I plan on being in most, as sometimes she'll wait as along as an hour before deciding to bite and constrict.

If a live rat doesn't work, try feeding her a live green anole. If she goes for that, you might then try scenting a frozen/thawed rat or mouse with a green anole.

BPs can be very picky eaters. She may just simply refuse anything you try to give her, until she finally feels motivated enough to eat.
 
Isn't stubborn ball python redundant? :) (This being why I will never fall for one, unless I find a pied just walking down the street, then I'd break that rule). Good luck with your girl!
 
Anoles are not a natural food for Bp... corns yes....... Gerbils are the favoured alternative over here, but expensive if they take a liking to them....
 
African Soft-Furred rat? If they are crack for cornsnakes, maybe they are crack for BPs too.
 
I think the snakes you can sucker into feeding with anoles are snakes that naturally feed on lizards when they hatch, like corns and kings. I have no idea what hatchling BPs feed on in the wild.
 
ANOLES???

No way..

No no no..


Ball Pythons eat rodents. The end.

Try another rodent, live, prekilled, smaller, larger... different kind of rodent even. But no Anoles..

I have NEVER heard of that before..
 
LadyOhh said:
ANOLES???

No way..

No no no..


Ball Pythons eat rodents. The end.

Try another rodent, live, prekilled, smaller, larger... different kind of rodent even. But no Anoles..

I have NEVER heard of that before..
Click to expand...

Oh well, that's what the breeder told me to try when I asked him. So now you've heard it. :) Just an FYI, I tried feeding mine an anole....she refused. She's living happily on live mice now.
 
Well good...

Interesting misinformation there.. I'm curious why that was even an option.

I digress.
 
Update: My little BP finally decided to try a F/T fuzzie last night, and she loved it! Yay! It took a little convincing on my part. She was actually trying to bite my finger at the end of the tongs, but hit the fuzzie's leg instead. Once she realized what she had in her mouth, she gulped it down. Yay! No more live fuzzies! I'm sure you know how tough that is for someone who doesn't have their own mouse colony.

I just hope she sticks with her love for F/T and doesn't decide to switch back to live again. Phew.
 
LadyOhh said:
Well good...

Interesting misinformation there.. I'm curious why that was even an option.

I digress.
Click to expand...

Who knows. I thought the suggestion was odd as well...but she hadn't eaten for about four weeks. As an adult snake, I wouldn't have worried so much, but she was a teeny hatchling, so I was willing to try new things to get her to eat. Good thing for my wallet, she had no interest in anoles! They cost $8 each at my local pet shop.

:-offtopic The anole now has his own viv and girlfriend to keep him company.
 
R.W. said:
Remember those two Ball pyhtons I recently got?

Well the male is the most enthusiastic feeder I've ever seen, but the female is being a problem feeder.

Shes refused three meals(she eats medium rats.) All three were f/t and the last I tried the washing with soap deal, and I even left it in her tub overnight. Nothing.

Today I figured I'd try getting a live rat and stunning it. If that doesn't work I'll probably just try live an watch closely.

Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Try live. It's also possible that she's just off feed. That can be frustrating but is nothing to worry about so long as they're not losing weight.
 
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