|
Q:
|
Python peels skin off feeder head, then wont eat!
|
|
In Relation To:
Ball Python
|
|
|
Everytime I feed my new ball python I got about a month ago from petsmart she/he attempts to eat the fuzzy feeder mouse, and everytime she strikes and peels back the skin, or chunks of the head and has difficulty swallowing the pieces and then will not consume the rest of the rodent! After a few hours I attempt to feed a new fresh fuzzy and I'm 100% successful, though the snake seems to struggle swallowing the fuzzy everytime! My snake is supposedly less than 3 months old, and was raised on pinky mice, but after reading online I am to understand BP can eat fuzzy and even hoppers right after hatching!? Also the thickest part of the body is large enough for hoppers! Someone please help me :(
Attached Photos:
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:14:09 PM
|
|
SapphireTigress
|
|
Are you feeding frozen thawed? Because pet co/smart feeders are overpriced and I've found abysmal quality. I'm not sure what you mean by struggling, i know mostly people expect a quick meal, but it's normally a little bit slower, and depending Iiiin prey size and derpiness of the snake, it can be a bit of a longer process. What are your temps?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:27:44 PM
|
|
Cenobite
|
|
I've had hatchlings that can take an adult mouse no problem.
As to your question though, Are you feeding live, fresh killed or frozen?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:38:27 PM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
The snake is currently kept in a Medium sizes Exo Terra tank, the hot side is around 85-90 degrees (depends on house temp) and 78-80 ish on the cool side! At night just cool side runs and there is a heat pad under hot side hide! Yes I buy frozen feeder fuzzies from petsmart (I know they very $$$) and thaw them out in warm water for 10 min then dry them. I have been feeding my 3 corn snakes, and Rat Snake this way for the longest time no problem! But this is my first BP and I know to not get them confused in the differences the reptiles truly have! ANY advice from you all is appreciated!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:40:22 PM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
OH when I said BP struggles eating I mean she twice has attempted to eat the mouse from its side rather the head/rear and will take almost 45 minutes to consume it once it figures it out... And sometimes she just takes a good 20-30 min to eat when she goes head first! My corn snakes eat their fuzzies in less than 5 minutes and they are not even half the ball python size, including the head or body!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:47:36 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/10/2013 8:55:48 PM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
No its not shedding, I keep records of sheds of all my snakes, and the Ball Python should not be shedding for another week-week half! This is the 4th time feeding this specific snake, and each meal has been the same, give or take a problem, I know not all snakes are easy eaters, some rare cases even call for force feeding but I was just curious is it something wrong I may not know about! :(
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/10/2013 10:24:20 PM
|
|
aecianlikessnakes
|
|
How old is she? She should be eating hoppers or small mice. Try feeding it live and eventually transitioning over to f/t. Might sound backwards, but I've been through a similar situation with my BP from Petco. I hope this helps! Also, trying spacing out her feedings a bit. Once she's actually hungry, I guarantee you she'll eat it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/10/2013 11:16:42 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accepted Answer
|
7/11/2013 1:17:50 AM
|
|
aSnakeLovinBabe
|
|
I think she is having trouble because the food is too small and she can't get a good grip on it. When snakes eat something that really small compared to their mouth they tend to struggle. Bump her up to at least a hopper or a small adult mouse!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/11/2013 3:14:57 AM
|
|
shellboa
|
|
I agree with Shannon. Upsize to at least a hopper and give it time to swallow. Pythons are naturally slower than corns since they can not only take twice to three times the size of meal but thier energy level is lower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/11/2013 3:17:31 AM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
Well success!!! I was able in 1 try to get her to eat again! I videoed it, and took photos! But it still remains to me why she does this everytime, very odd coincidence at the very least. I am gonna buy some frozen hoppers this week and give it a go next feeding. In the meantime I will try to post some size comparison to the snake and feeders for you all to help me judge! Thanks for the answers so far
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/11/2013 5:13:41 AM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
SORRY but if this is graphic to anyone, I find myself wondering how it is you may own a snake or be on a herp site lol... Anyways this is what my BP is doing when I feed it! 3 times now I think!
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
7/13/2013 3:22:34 PM
|
|
Aimee
|
|
do you watch her bite the head and then take the feeder away? I'd just leave it in overnight, nice and dark and safe, and see if it's still there in the morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
7/16/2013 4:51:56 AM
|
|
Tzap
|
|
I did as you all suggested yesterday, I bought her hopper frozen feeders, and she did wonderful! Thanks for all the help herps!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log
in, or Become a Member!
|
|
|
|
Most Popular Tags
Ball
,
Ballpython
,
Bci
,
Behavior
,
Boa
,
Breeding
,
Buying
,
Caging
,
Care
,
Chondro
,
Cornsnake
,
Crested
,
Crestedgecko
,
Eggs
,
Feeders
,
Feeding
,
Feedingproblems
,
Gecko
,
General
,
Genetics
,
GTP
,
Health
,
Heating
,
Humidity
,
Identification
,
Illness
,
Incubation
,
Infection
,
Leopardgecko
,
Mites
,
Morelia
,
Morph
,
Morphs
,
Parasites
,
Python
,
Regius
,
Respiratory
,
Shedding
,
Snake
,
Substrate
|
Latest Questions
|
|
|
|
points:150
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
More Questions
|
|
|
Latest Answers
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
|
|
|
points:150
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
More Answers
|
|
|