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Noneating balls
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by czarnick on June 6, 2009
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can anyone advise me? i have 2 balls, born last september ('08) who absolutely refuse to eat and so i have force fed them since their hatching. they look great, have great colors and patterns, but will not for love nor money eat on their own and i have tried about everything. i know balls can be picky eaters but this seems extreme. any ideas would be greatly appreciated. thank you.
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RE: Noneating balls
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by Crotalusssp on June 7, 2009
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Have you attempted to "assist" feed or are you forcing the food all the way down? I would try to use a small fuzzy and place them in the mouth gently closing it and tugging the mouse to sort of lock the teeth on. Then place the snake down and allow it to finish swallowing. I have used this to success Balls and Burms. (At least with Burms though, the stubborn ones will most always take chicks.) It may take several weeks of this. Once they imprint on the mouse smell and do not equate it to having food forced down their throat they will start to feed on their own. I know others use the African rats or Gerbils also. You may take a run at those also. Best of luck, I am not a fan of assist/force feeding of any snake, but sometimes it becomes necessary. Of course this goes without saying, but I will say it. Make sure all habitat needs are being met and the snakes feel secure with hides. Good luck.
Charles
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RE: Noneating balls
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by Rob_Carmichael on June 7, 2009
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Charles mentions some tried and proven ideas. A few others include:
1) Offer hairless mice (you can get them at American Rodent Supply)...you can even nuke them for a few seconds to boost up the internal temps that sometimes stimulate a feeding response.
2) Offer 1-day old quail - something about birds that gets even the most stubborn feeders to feed and I've used them with success with neonate balls (rodentpro.com)
3) Wait until evening to offer food - I will usually wait until the young-in is in its hide box with just its snout protruding - a sure sign of a snake waiting in ambush for prey. Then, slowly and very slowly, I move a slightly warmed fuzzy mouse toward the snake making just small, natural movements to see if I can get a feeding response.
Force feeding is probably delaying the process as Charles mentioned - it can oftentimes do far more harm than good. Assist feeding should be done after you have tried everything else. If you try assist feeding, follow Charles' instructions.
Good luck,
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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RE: Noneating balls
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by JSargent on June 7, 2009
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soft furred rats will usually work if normal rats and mice won't.....every baby we had trouble with last year, took soft furred with no problem....african soft furred rats are their natural food....good luck
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