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**suprman1986** · #1 12-14-2005, 06:15 PM

OK so my ball python Ajaxx who I just got like 2 months ago now has been a pain in the butt.. the shop I got him from breeds their own feeders and feeds all their snakes live. Well I recieve him and quickly traded him from live to fresh killed, from mice to small rats. since that was such an easy transfer I assumed I would be able to easily transfer him to frozen... i received a dozen frozen small rats and tried thawing them out and feeding him them, and he sniffed it played with it and then curled up in a corner of his feeding box... I refroze the mouse and tried again the next day... same reaction. I am going to try again today by Braining it hoping I get a better response, but it that doesnt work what else can I try?

**Merlin** · #2 12-14-2005, 08:03 PM

I would not try to feed on a daily basis. I would wait a week till the next feeding and try again. Being a bit more hungry he may be more responsive. You might also try making sure that the rat is very warm. try putting it under a heat lamp or use a blow dryer on it.

However you may also be running up against another problem. This time of year many BPs go on their winter fast. It is not unusual for them to go for months without eating.

**suprman1986** · #3 12-15-2005, 06:27 PM

o ok.. I didnt see any harm in attempting to feed him daily since he wasnt even attempting to eat it but I was planning on waiting off for a week since he didnt eat it yesterday either, to see if it was that he just wasnt hungry. I have been thawing the rats in a ziploc baggy in warm water, so they have been warm. I hav ebeen making them so they are warm enough for me to tell that they are warm and then I have been putting them in the tupperwear thinking they will eventually cool down if they are too warm and he will take them.
Hopefully either of those is the case rather than he is just being stubborn and thanks

**Knox** · #4 12-15-2005, 06:44 PM

Last winter, my Black King stopped eating around December and didn't eat again until March.

I understand the concern, though, with BP tendancies toward being fussy eaters.

Best wishes to you both!

**Bitis Gabonica** · #5 12-15-2005, 07:24 PM

LOL Knox, your King is a good boy compared to some of ours.. last year one of our male BPs and our male Dumerils Boa went off their food for 8months! They went off feeding around mid Nov this year, so we don't expect them to eat again til well into next year. Our adult male King is similar though he doesn't fast for so long.. it amazes me how they survive on so little food a year!

Suprman.. you could also try leaving it in the enclosure overnight. Some of our snakes won't feed until they are left alone in the dark, undisturbed throughout the night. Also try feeding him both mice and rats, and as Merlin said, it is winter so expect a non-feeding response. I would personally leave him for two or three weeks undisturbed and then try feeding him again - also, make sure the rat is nice and warm (we sometimes use the hairdryer to warm the item up after defrosting in warm water). Good luck and don't worry, snakes are capable of going for months, and longer, without feeding to no ill effect.

By the way, how old is he/how big?

**Manhirwen** · #6 12-15-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suprman1986

I refroze the mouse

I was just wondering if it's good to refreeze rodents?

**Merlin** · #7 12-15-2005, 10:39 PM

I have refrozen rodents for years. My guideline is if it hasn't been thawed long then I refreeze. I would not refreeze a rodent that had been out for several hours and I would only refreeze it once.

**Manhirwen** · #8 12-15-2005, 11:01 PM

does it work as well with pinkies to refreeze?

**Merlin** · #9 12-15-2005, 11:07 PM

Yes in fact it is easier with pinkies since they thaw and refreeze so quickly.

**suprman1986** · #10 12-16-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitis Gabonica

Suprman.. you could also try leaving it in the enclosure overnight. Some of our snakes won't feed until they are left alone in the dark, undisturbed throughout the night. Also try feeding him both mice and rats, and as Merlin said, it is winter so expect a non-feeding response. I would personally leave him for two or three weeks undisturbed and then try feeding him again - also, make sure the rat is nice and warm (we sometimes use the hairdryer to warm the item up after defrosting in warm water). Good luck and don't worry, snakes are capable of going for months, and longer, without feeding to no ill effect.

By the way, how old is he/how big?

I have tried leaving it in the tank over night and still nothing.. but im going to wait a week or so before trying again. Ajaxx is I would say about 2 1/2 ft about and can easily get down what I am feeding him.


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