Yucky feeding details.........

[amErika]

Ok I am having a herd time getting my baby BP to eat the f/t fuzzies. I put it in a small box with a heat pad underneath for warm and then put the fuzzie in. I poked a pin into the fuzzie's head and squeezed until stuff came out before i put it in the box. Half and hour later I tried doing the rat dance with thongs and laid the fuzzie on top of the baby and shut the lid again. Nothing, my baby is just not interested in pre-killed food.

Help! Not only am I against feeding live but wallet is too.
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<b>"You are only young once, but you can be immature forever." -- Barbara Murphy

[amErika]

OK maybe I should be more specific. I need some ideas on how to get the baby to take f/t fuzzies. I brained the prey and that did not interest it. What now?

[addsig]

[bensnacks]

You tried tapping him in the head w/ the fuzzie Erika??
How long since he last ate??
[addsig]

[eddie]

Many ways to try before giving up.
Get a live one and thump it for a fresh kill.
Scent the F/T with a live one by rubbing them together.
Lightly tap the snake with the food on its sides till ya annoy it into striking.
Put it in a smaller box so that the food is sorta crammed in with it and put it on the warm side of the enclosure.
Make it dance like its live by grasping it behind its head with tongs or hemostats.
Put the snake in a brown paper bag with the food , folded and stapled shut, and air holes! overnight.

Feed it in the dark( night time)
Feed it a pinky and immediately follow it with the fuzzy.
put a hide in its feed tote and play ambush with the food by making it look live and run it past the hides hole.
Try the food warm and dry. Retains the scent better.
Scent it with used rat or mice substrate.
Try the food wet, some snakes like it that way too.
Try the food just a tad warmer than normal.

Lots of ways, and you can use them in combinations also.
Good Luck!

[addsig]

[amErika]

Thanks Eddie

Will try a few of your suggestions
[addsig]

[XzyluM]

I recently got my problem feeding royal to eat. The only trick that worked for me was leaving him in his enclosure and laying the mouse down in front of his hide box, didn't take long and he ate. This was the only thing that worked for me and it took me 5 weeks to get him eating. I've got no problem now but still have to use the trick. The other night he finally constricted when I dropped the mouse and went to pick it up by the head. Just be careful on what substrate you use if you try this one. Hope you come up with some sort of technique that works.
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[JuliusSqueezer]

You might also try a pink rat....some snakes prefer them. Once you have tried every little trick....the main trick is to keep trying everything. What didn't work yesterday may still work tomorrow. Usually with ball pythons though, they just need reassurance that they will be left alone long enough to eat. They feel really vulnerable while swallowing and know that they can't defend themsellves during this time so they like privacy for the first few meals. Once they become established feeders, this becomes much less of an issue. Since this snake is a baby, it can safely eat a live pink rat too. That may be an easier thing to leave it alone with over night and it's movement should eventually cause a feeding response.
[addsig]