Ball Python first refusal

[cgcassano]

Hello all, please pardon my dumb question. My 10 month old pied male just refused his first meal...he takes frozen thawed. He just went up a size rat to medium. This was his first. Can I re-freeze the rat or should I throw it away? He may have refused because I moved him into a bigger tank a day before... Is that common?? He ate the day after I first got him back in December. When should I try to feed him again??
Ok, second dumb question. I also have a normal het pied female baby who is about 4 months old.... She is shy however, we handle her often.... But she has pooped and urinated twice whilst being handled.... Is this just bad timing or is she so scared that she poops/pee-pees?? I haven't noticed heavy breathing before!


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[Big Borg Reptiles]

Throw the rat away. They get super gross if you re-freeze and thaw. Depends on the snake and how drastic the environment change is on whether they refuse food, ball pythons get stressed easily. I would try again in a week but some people say a couple days.

Baby snakes aren't very good at holding in their bowels, it's absolutely normal. Handling them starts moving things around and pushes everything toward the back. The biggest thing to watch for is when they start lifting their tail up or you see the vent starting to open, that's always a sign that something is coming. As they get older they get much better, I don't think it has to do with fear, just lack of muscle control.

[Dovetail]

Most balls, and most snakes in general, will need at least a week to adjust to a new space before feeling secure enough to feed.

[cgcassano]

Thank you for all the valuable info!!!!!


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