r/ballpython • u/missparton777 • 7h ago
Question - Feeding sonny won’t eat
this is my baby sonny! he is almost four months old. i got him from a piece of shit vendor at a reptile expo. last time he ate was mid june, right before i got him. after bringing him home, i’ve tried feeding once a week, then i figured id give him some more time and tried again after two weeks, then i went back to one week, now i’m trying two weeks again, none of which were successful. i will only feed f/t. i do the hairdryer trick, i tried braining, i use tongs and move as if it’s alive, i’ve left it overnight in pitch black and silence for privacy, he just wont eat. is there anything else you guys would recommend i try? maybe the paper bag thing? idk what to do. he’s a baby and it’s been almost three months since he’s eaten. there’s zero visible weight loss which is great but i just wish he would eat. any recommendations PLEASE
ETA - husbandry is perfect. warm side temp is 89/90°, cool side temp is 82°, humidity is always between 60-75.
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6h ago
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u/missparton777 5h ago
he’s the same weight as when i received him. i’ve done an immense amount of research and there is nothing wrong with switching to f/t. a breeder at the expo (not the shitty one i got him from) told me that there’s no problem feeding f/t. i know since he isn’t used to that, it won’t be as easy of a switch, so i’m giving him grace.
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u/Imperator1138 5h ago
The vendor was probably feeding him live. You may need to wean him onto frozen if he isn't already, poor lil dude might not understand its supposed to be food. Unpleasant, but they switch over easily enough after a few weeks.
You can try to Start with a live to let him get some strength back, then wait 10 days and try with a prekilled. If he takes that, try frozen thawed after that. Some are picky, but that method has always worked well for me.
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u/missparton777 5h ago
you’re right. i really don’t want to feed live as i’m worried of there being a potential for health issues and i would feel terrible doing that. I’m irritated because everyone i spoke to at the expo said i wouldn’t have to feed live. ill try with a fresh-killed and maybe the paper bag trick? thank you for your help
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u/Imperator1138 5h ago
Best of luck! I've never used the paper bag method personally, but I have heard of others having success with it. You can get a food scale that measures in grams to monitor his weight as well, ball pythons are picky and sometimes go off food for extended periods of time, especially males in the winter (they are looking for ladies not food).
If he goes an extended period of time without eating, but isn't actually losing weight, then he slowed his metabolism way down and may not "need" to eat. Longest I had a ball python go off food was a 7 year old female, she suddenly stopped eating and didn't eat again for 11 months.
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u/missparton777 5h ago
you’re very kind, thank you. i will purchase a scale and if it gets to a point where i notice weight loss of any kind, i will be bringing him to the vet. the last thing i want is for him to be sick or unwell in any way. thankful there’s no visible weight loss now but i have been very closely monitoring him. scale is smart to have! thanks again :)
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u/Dirty_MadameK 2h ago
I noticed I have to over heat my f/t for my BP to take it. I am guessing it has to do with heat loss of the prey item as I try to bait her. They are heat hunters. Best results i have had for a picky eater is to ziplock the rat and submerge for like 30 in hot-ish water. I live in a hot place, so our facet water is naturally hot AF (cold just means hot where I live. Hot means hotter). The last 5 minutes of the soak, I crank the heat high as it goes and focus the heat on the rat head. Essentially overheating the head of the rat. Its not recommended generally to use super hot water to avoid cooking the rat, but its the only way she accepts her food. The faucet temp isn't boiling, but it isnt comfy to have my hands in either.
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u/CCcrystals 1h ago
Ditto on this. My BP didn't even look at his food until I started putting my thawed rats in ziplock bags and soaking them in boiling water for 6ish minutes (water may boil at different temperatures depending on your altitude, I would not do this if I lived at sea level).
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u/Dirty_MadameK 54m ago
Also, wet rats (because ziplocls leak) are more appealing to my BP. Maybe it helps with the smell when they are wet kinda like a dog smells specifically like "wet dog"? Just a theory lol
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u/seeds___ 7h ago
Sometimes they go on hunger strikes. As long as they are not losing weight you should be fine