Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[welshdragon]

hi all i am after some advice on which is the best way to get our python to feed,the pet store we had him from advised force feeding if he did not feed within 10 days as hes supposedly around 7weeks old and 12 to 15 inches long,now it all new to me as he is our first but can it be done another way?been trying pinkies but he shays away all the time cheers

[quasimodo]

No way should you force feed him yet. It is used as a last resort 'cos it stresses them out. Can we have some more information about him ? Is he Captive Bred or Captive Farmed ? As far as you know, had he eaten before you bought him ?

For now leave him warm and quiet in a small tub / viv with a small wee box for it to use as a hide. Best if it can feel the sides of the hide, it will feel safer that way. When it feels safe, it will more than likely start to feed, just leave it for a bit longer to settle, then offer warmed up pinkies ( in poly bag in hot water for a very short while, don't cook it ). Try leaving the food half-way into the hide box, then turn the lights off and creep away

All the best and stop worrying, Royals can be pains but they are sooo lovely. It will eat when it want to

Sue

[welshdragon]

as far as i know he is captive breed,when we acquired him i was told that he had ea tan but i do not know if this is true he is in a 2x2x1 Viv with a heater mat and water bowl with a hide box and the temp is on 80 degrees and the humidity is 70 humid
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2.0 sand fire beardies
1.0 baby ball python
1.0 snow corn
3.0 ferrets
3.0 koi
3.0 terriers
2.0 greyhonds

[quasimodo]

Check the temps over the heat-mat. About 90 is needed as a warm spot. Try also having a hide box at the cooler end of the viv and one over the heat mat, that way it can choose its temperature. All the best with it - it will be fine

[welshdragon]

thanks for the advice
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2.0 sand fire beardies
1.0 baby ball python
1.0 snow corn
3.0 ferrets
3.0 koi
3.0 terriers
2.0 greyhonds

[Lynne]

the viv is far too big for him. royals like tiny spaces, at his age and size a tub will do nicely. or a faunarium. kitchen towel on floor, hide at each end and water. i find they like the cardboard insides of loo rolls or kitchen rolls, and these will do them for ages. and of course his water dish. if he is in a faunarium, put the heatmat under it and set the stat to 90-93, with an ambient temp of 80.
leave him for a full week, only go in to change water, and lift any poo.
dont try with pinkies. he should be on fuzzies. when you go to feed, take the head of the fuzzy and hold it on a light bulb, i hold mine for 30-40 seconds. he will prob refuse, so go back and heat again. offer it with tongs. if he refuses again, go back and reheat the head. do this a few times, if he still refuses, leave it slightly in one of the hides. if its there next morning, bin it and wait a week and try again. do you know the weight of the wee guy?
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[snakeypete]

good advice from above , viv is probs a bit big for it . also temps need sorting out . sad that the shop has sold a young un that nay not be feeding ( could be because its new environment for it , stressed )

agree wi fuzzies ( slightly less girth than girth of baby royal ) , try what Lynne has suggested ,if no joy after a week try putting wee one in a brown paper bag ith the fuzzie and leave overnite ( scrunch end of bag up ) . try resist temtation to handle it until it has eaten , keep eye on its weight, if it it losing weight or dehydrating , take to vet .

try moving it to a smaller enclosure , they are VERY shy . shops should ONLY be selling ones that are regular feeding , no fair on the snake or the new keepers. good lck an keep us posted .
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3.7.0 Royals


We do not stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing.

[Rad]

great advise from lynne and pete, couldant put it better myself

try not to worry. Royals are great fun

[Lynne]

actually, at 7 weeks, i would worry. he has to get this wee one eating. its differant when they are bigger and older, they will have the reserves to see them through a fast. but at this young, and i doubt if it has eaten, then he must get it to eat. the secret i found is heating the head on a light bulb till its roasting. hairdryers dont get them hot enough. i found anyway. but if he gets the head hot enough on the bulb, then with any luck the wee guy should eat.
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[Lynne]

can you try get the weight and let us know welshdragon?
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