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Problem Eater.

C

cjcoltellino

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Hi I recently purchased a spider ball from the hamburg PA retile expo.

She was hatched 5/14/10 and her last meal was 06/09/10 and she hasnt eaten in my care since.

She's healthy doesn't show any signs of health problems, she's very energetic.

I just don't no what to do. And the last day I had held her was the night of the 13th.

I have a male pastel who eats fine. I just need some advice and help.

Thank you everyone who comments, All comments are appreciated.

Her weight: 35 grams
and Length, about 9-11 inches.
 
Problem eater?
Really??
It's last meal was 6/9 - that was a week ago, for cryin out loud. You haven't even had her for a whole week yet, you've been messing with her (not for whole 3 days, though), and you're going to label her a problem feeder?
I just don't no what to do.
Click to expand...
Patience, Daniel-san.
How many times have you tried to feed her since Saturday, that you're already worried??
Did you ask what she was eating? If so, give her another whole week before even trying to feed her again...then offer her one of those.
 
hhmoore said:
Problem eater?
Really??
It's last meal was 6/9 - that was a week ago, for cryin out loud. You haven't even had her for a whole week yet, you've been messing with her (not for whole 3 days, though), and you're going to label her a problem feeder?

Patience, Daniel-san.
How many times have you tried to feed her since Saturday, that you're already worried??
Did you ask what she was eating? If so, give her another whole week before even trying to feed her again...then offer her one of those.
Click to expand...

I tried feeding her the night she came home, then the next day after.

Then i waited a day then tried feeding her again. She was started on hoppers.
And She tends to shy away from the food.
 
I would give the snake time to settle in to it's new home before offering it a meal. I've waited at least 3 weeks before offering a new snake a meal, and that is with very minimal handling. By that i mean only handling it when you clean it's cage thoroughly. It's very stressful on an animal when it goes from one home to another, so you want to give it plenty of time to acclimate itself to its new surroundings. So my advice is to let the snake get used to its new home with minimal interaction, ie, only to give it fresh water and to clean its enclosure, and then offer an appropriate sized prey item in a few weeks:)
 
bradleymoore said:
haha @ asking questions, and then saying "Do you guys even know anything?"
Click to expand...

That's basically because, If your on here and know anything about hatchlings and baby ball pythons, then you know they eat every COUPLE days, Not WEEKS or WEEK.

So don't comment saying "oh well it hasn't been a week HAHA why're you worrying." Stuff like that.

Because I was very nice in my post so don't be a rude jerk back ;)

Thanks!
 
They don't NEED to eat every few days...and many people/breeders don't feed them that way.
Get a grip on the basics, be patient, and try to feed it again next week
 
cjcoltellino said:
That's basically because, If your on here and know anything about hatchlings and baby ball pythons, then you know they eat every COUPLE days, Not WEEKS or WEEK.

So don't comment saying "oh well it hasn't been a week HAHA why're you worrying." Stuff like that.

Because I was very nice in my post so don't be a rude jerk back ;)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

well, i guess i didn't know that. thanks for the information... i've been doing it all wrong from the beginning. ;) i say wait a few more days, like a week.... so it's not stressed out.
 
You shouldn't be rude to people when you ask advice. They give you their information, you shouldn't immediately doubt them and tell them they are wrong. Most people on here have had snakes for many many years and many clutches of babies. And feeding a baby or any snake the first day you got it, shows you are the inexperienced one.

But you really shouldn't worry too bad over just a little more then a week. Snakes, even young ones can go long periods of time without food. Don't stress the baby by continually offering food it doesn't want. That can be counter-productive.
 
Really? Problem eater? I don't think so.

I have a LOT of experience with problem eaters and your spider is NOT a problem eater.

Come back if it hasn't eaten in 6 months or more. Then you can call it a problem eater.

For now, it's just a snake that needs time to acclimate.
 
1st, why would you offer a stressed ball food so soon after getting it home?

2nd, since no one else has asked, what's your temp/humidity at?

3rd, if your such a hotshot about your knowladge on Balls, why are you worried about one that hasn't eaten in a week?

4th, we must know somethin, you came to us for help. And were all telling you the same thing. :

Leave em alone few days.
 
I'm not going to say anything about what I think you should do, I have not had a tiny baby of a ball python to take care of yet. But there was an instance of a Ball Python going 22 months without food before, I think that's the record. So I wouldn't worry too much. :)
 
bradleymoore said:
i bet that was one of steve's (spj) albinos. :rofl:
Click to expand...

Probably. I had 18 months once. :rofl:
6 years of trying with those PITA's but I think I may finally have one now that eats (please don't jinx me.......please don't jinx me.....)
 
Please, lets keep to facts not opinions. The op is indeed dead wrong about them needing to eat every 3 to 4 days. Once a week is fine of course.

But the whole thing "send them to an early grave..." is wrong as well. Though feeding once a week is acceptable, there is nothing wrong with feeding a hatchling ball python every 4 to 5 days if his conditions are optimal for growth spurts. Continuing over feeding into adulthood will definitely shorten their lifespan though.
 
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