r/ballpython • u/ConcertFriendly8223 • 5h ago

Question - Husbandry HELP My ball python WILL NOT eat rats

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So I’ve had feeding issues with my ball python and ever since I got him. He would only eat rat fuzzies every 3 weeks. In desperation I gave him large mice instead and he ate them enthusiastically every week for months and put on quite a bit of weight. I was elated. Now that he is 400 grams he needed larger food so I got him weaned rats. Ik that rats are the most nutritious for them so I had always planned on switching. Well he won’t eat the rats. I tried giving him XL mice, he ate one but never had interest in eating any more. After a month long hunger strike I caved and cave him a large mouse like he was used to which he took happily. I’ve once again started trying to transition him to weaned rats and am loosing hope *sigh* he’s still young and I really don’t want his growth to slow.

What I’ve done:
-heating weaned rat with large mouse so they can smell similar?
-Blow drying prey (shows interest but leaves once he sees what it is)
-braining
- increasing humidity by 10%

Enclosure parameters:
50 gallon (planning on upgrading to 4x2x2 once eating consistently again)
Humidity at 70%
Hot side 94F cool side 72F

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

7

u/Flimsy_Homework7849 5h ago

i had a similar issue with my snake and she refused to eat rats for 4 months before she finally caved and now she eats like a champ, i think you should keep trying rats and wait your snake will be good and will eat when they have too

3

u/FluffyPandaEars93 4h ago

Is the whole warm side 95? Or just the basking spot? Try decreasing it a touch and adding more clutter. The humidity should be high all the time. If you have a pet store that sells mice near you, ask for some of the mouse bedding and thaw your rat in it. Use a blow dryer and brain it. I hope you figure it out! Remember that snakes can go a while without eating. Just keep an eye on his weight.

Also, try covering the sides and only leaving the front of the enclosure see through.

!feeding

1

u/AutoModerator 4h ago

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.

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3

u/SkullDenom 3h ago edited 3h ago

Some snakes can just be picky on smell. Where did you get the rats from and is it the same as the mice? I know my baby won't eat pet store frozen but will absolutely tear through Rodent pro.

Edit: Made the question make sense. Was in the shower typing.

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u/ConcertFriendly8223 13m ago

The rats were from a reptile store and the mice he loved eating were from petsmart!

2

u/KeeledSign 1h ago

If you cannot get him transitioned onto rats, appropriately sized quail are pretty readily available as well and wild ball pythons have been found with way more bird in their stomach contents than one might expect.

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u/ConcertFriendly8223 10m ago

I’ll definitely give it a try! I’m pretty sure my local reptile store should have em:D