Help with bad feeder!

[jtipton]

Balls can be ruff to manage. Juss sayin'. Can anybody attest to that?

I have kept several different species of snakes and none have made me as crazy as some of my Balls. I guess I'm not used to something being as stubborn as me.

Great suggestion on converting a mouser Tom

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Did she happen to just lay some eggs not long ago? If she was on the small side beforehand, that could account for the low weight. Otherwise, I agree with what Jerry said.

I'd only offer food once a week, and leave her completely alone otherwise. No peeking. No handling. She doesn't eat? Another week with no pestering. It usually doesn't take more than a few weeks for them to decide to eat.

Soft furs aren't a sure bet, so I'd save your cash unless you can find one locally to try out. I had a big name breeder pawn off a mouser on me recently without telling me up front, and she refuses anything but live small mice. Won't even *look* at a soft fur.

And speaking of, I wish folks would quit spewing that BS about snakes getting hooked on asf. If that's all you feed the darn thing, then sure it'll probably prefer those. But I've fed hundreds of snakes soft furs and regular rats, whatever I happen to have the most of at that time, and none has ever shown a preference. They eat anything and everything I offer.

Well, except this mouser.

Good luck!

I was told she's a virgin. I only bug her once a week for feeding. Problem is, i'm not sure if feeding is her only problem. She hasnt gone to the bathroom at all since i've had her. Could that mean she's sick or something?

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Kelsie, if that's where you're at, you are in deep 'stuff.' You might wanna consider Kingsnakes or Colubrids at this point. Balls can be ruff to manage. Juss sayin'. Can anybody attest to that?

Good luck to all. Looks like I may have wasted a couple hours belting out books, for free... Please learn from my dumbness, only extend your neck so far... You can lead a Horse to water, ahhh, forget it... Cya.

I have 4 other balls and they never gave me problems like this girl. Tonight I tried warming up the food and scenting it with a friends used rat bedding and she still refuses. Sorry if I dissapointed you, but my mom is the boss and if she says no live rodents there aint much I can do.

 

[Shadera]

No dice, Tom. Tried that several times, even with small rats near the same size as larger mice, and she's way too smart for me. I've got plenty of mice thankfully, so I just pop 'em in like candy. Just sucks that it wasn't mentioned, and she sure wasn't discounted.

Sorry OP, didn't mean to derail your thread.

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

I have kept several different species of snakes and none have made me as crazy as some of my Balls. I guess I'm not used to something being as stubborn as me.

Great suggestion on converting a mouser Tom

Glad somebody got something outta that mess... Whew!

I was told she's a virgin. I only bug her once a week for feeding. Problem is, i'm not sure if feeding is her only problem. She hasnt gone to the bathroom at all since i've had her. Could that mean she's sick or something?

For sure... An answer to her possibly being sick.

I have 4 other balls and they never gave me problems like this girl. Tonight I tried warming up the food and scenting it with a friends used rat bedding and she still refuses. Sorry if I dissapointed you, but my mom is the boss and if she says no live rodents there aint much I can do.

Yikes. It's gonna take a lot more than that. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst out here in Az. The breeder will likely shun you off as a Newb not trying his/her hardest. When a Ball doesn't eat right, I blame the owner, again, just saying.

No dice, Tom. Tried that several times, even with small rats near the same size as larger mice, and she's way too smart for me. I've got plenty of mice thankfully, so I just pop 'em in like candy. Just sucks that it wasn't mentioned, and she sure wasn't discounted.

Sorry OP, didn't mean to derail your thread.

Bummer, like I mentioned, repeat with stinkier bedding. It will work. Or not, you can't even bump the tub or you are caught by them. Either way, no worries, have you tried Gerbils on it? Sometimes you gotta get em on something different first... Then trick em out.

But, what do I know. I'm new too . Also, they are very shy animals, they need to have their confidence built too, hence the ground cover mentioned. Keep at it, it can be done.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

No dice, Tom. Tried that several times, even with small rats near the same size as larger mice, and she's way too smart for me. I've got plenty of mice thankfully, so I just pop 'em in like candy. Just sucks that it wasn't mentioned, and she sure wasn't discounted.

Sorry OP, didn't mean to derail your thread.

Not a problem!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

For sure... An answer to her possibly being sick.

As to the possibly sick issue, should I take her to a vet or something? She hasnt shown any signs of an RI or anything else. Dont know whether this is relevent, but she has what appears to be a large wound on her back. Looks like a large cat scratched her or something. It's black colored and it shrunk a little after her shed but it's still very visible.

Yikes. It's gonna take a lot more than that. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst out here in Az. The breeder will likely shun you off as a Newb not trying his/her hardest. When a Ball doesn't eat right, I blame the owner, again, just saying.

Besides trying ASFs there isnt much else I can do for her feeding wise. I was never told how difficult a feeder she was. I was told she would skip a week here and there but that sounded normal.

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

Get some pics up of her... At this point, she's looking up to you to get her the right 'meat.' If she ain't open mouthed breathing, wheezing, visibly 'jacked up...' It's on you right now. She's begging you to go get fresh meat and get her what she wants... Plain as day. 20-30 days... It's time to figure it out, if she hasn't dumped in your presence, you can add a week to that. Good luck, it's time to tell Momma to help you/your pet out! Tell her Tom says so... Lolz. But seriously! Here's a good story...

It's about us, the Human keepers, we throw em/animals in a cage and its up to US/YOU to make em happy and healthy. Bottom line, it can be a hair pulling experience to get it right, are you noticing yet? I'm burning out for my fifth time as I type.

Speaking of, there's a fool, who'll go unnamed at this point here in Az posting ads on Clist for people to take his 'plummeted' from the Az Desert's Rattlers. He currently is dumb enuff to offer a free Tiger Rattler, one of my favs, to anybody who can get it to eat. And, according to the Clowns ads, he has three like this... A Winder and an Atrox as well.

What the Jerky Boy doesn't know is, some/a lot of 'fresh yanked' Venomous Az snakes need to be tube fed... I can't save the World, but damn, I guess I'll be dialing Az Game & Fish at 0700 hours tomorr. I cannot stand Desert pilferers.

I sure hope you can get some pics of this kiddo, and, talk mom into doing the right thing, otherwise, in the next week, or three, you may learn the art of proper force feeding... If, she's looking bad? Not sure how bad she really is?

The scar don't sound real hot/good, and, I'm really proud that you asked about a Vet visit... That is massive of you. I was trying to save you that, but, if you've got the extra dough, a 'welfare' check up is a great way to rest better at night, till you figure her 'meat' preference out. Please keep us posted, I don't know why, but I care... Gosh dang me!

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Ok, these are all brand new pictures taken a few seconds ago. I honestly dont want to give this girl up, she's such a sweetheart and real pretty to boot!
I circled the scar in red. It was worse before her shed, it was a straight, thick black line that felt like a scab. My mom, who is interested in but not a huge lover of snakes, took one look and asked me if she had been in an accident. I never thought to take a picture of it, stupid me

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Here's the third pic. For whatever reason it didnt upload. I am lucky enough to have a reptile vet very nearby. If raising her temps doesnt work i'm going to try ordering some ASFs and seeing if she likes that. If not then i'll have a discussion with my mom and go the live root and hope that works. She wont admit it but she likes the snakes and isnt happy to hear that this girl isnt doing well.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Please keep us posted, I don't know why, but I care... Gosh dang me!

lol, thanks for caring! Maybe its because we seem to have a lot of the same moral standards when it comes to critters?
I'll try my best to do right by this girl, if it comes down to it I WILL feed her live even though my mother and I arent comftorable with live, and for whatever reason its so rare to find in my area.

 

[jtipton]

if it comes down to it I WILL feed her live even though my mother and I arent comftorable with live

Sometimes all it takes is one live rodent to get them back on track. Then she may start taking frozen again. I have had a few that have done that. Best of luck with her Kelsie.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Just an FYI here, she's sitting on the cold end of her cage and has been for the last 5 minutes.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

Sometimes all it takes is one live rodent to get them back on track. Then she may start taking frozen again. I have had a few that have done that. Best of luck with her Kelsie.

Thanks. My moms biggest concern, besides the whole 'rat welfare' thing, is that Kat(the snake) wont eat it and then i'll be stuck with a pet rat.

 

[PlatinumRosePythons]

either a poor eater or a poor feeder.

This may be a dumb question, but what's the difference between a poor eater and a poor feeder? Arent they the same?

 

[jtipton]

This may be a dumb question, but what's the difference between a poor eater and a poor feeder? Arent they the same?

I believe that poor feeder remark was refering to the breeders feeding habits

 

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

I believe that poor feeder remark was refering to the breeders feeding habits

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

She looks pretty good... I've belted out all I can. Looking forward to a positive update.

 

[Fangthane]

Body weight looks pretty good, so I don't think you need to panic any time soon. Offering a variety of live feeders may end up being your best bet. It's all just a matter of finding that subtle nuance that'll trigger a feeding response. Just be aware that you'll want to monitor the situation and not leave a live feeder alone with the snake for very long, if at all.

When are you offering the feeder, and how long are you leaving it in the enclosure? If you haven't already tried it, the next time you offer a feeder, do so late at night with no lights on. Also, try leaving it in overnight. If you're using belly-heat, don't leave the feeder on top of the heated area for extended periods, as that'll greatly increase the rate of decomposition. Have you tried braining the rodents before offering?

 

[rcpreis3]

Ive got 2 2009 balls that are not even 800gs, I feed them every couple weeks on average. They'll eat more if I let them. I just dont let them. I dont see a reason to be impatient. Granted the girl went 6 months off feed, but thats when I first got her. Its just a difference of opinion. Shes 1000gs anyways and no reason to panic, give it a few months even before you start switching to ASFs. But throwing a live in there isnt such a bad idea, and I have noticed it can get them going as well. At 1000gs she could go a good 6 months and then take off and still be perfectly healthy. Its a snake, theyre pretty resilient, and dont use alot of energy, but I definitely wouldnt breed her this year.

If you do travel to pick up live I would get a few and a hand full of mouse feed from them, plus a waterer. I would recommend starting with small rats and just keeping a few in a 12qt or 15qt tub until u switch her to f/t. Or breed your own. But yea If you want to keep balls your gonna need a live food scource. Sorry to break that to ya. I saw Craigslist, and that wouldnt be a bad idea, but dont tell them what your using them for, or youll never get a live rat.