My #1 Tip for Getting Ball Pythons to Eat!

[@angelinabrennen5535]

Totally makes sense! Just had our 4yr old girl eat after a shed after not eating for 10 months.....fortunately she didn’t lose a lot of weight during this time. She just about launched herself out of her tank last week when I came in with her dinner!

[@TheThickfog]

I have a male around 1,500 grams and he hasn't eaten in 2 months. It's frustrating. All the other snakes I have not missed a meal. Your female going 10 months is wild. Im glad she was okay. I hope my male eats soon.

[@stagxxxghost876]

For mine using the heat lamp to warm frozen worked immediately, instead of just thawing the rat out in warm water. The feed usually smells stronger and the heat signature is more pronouced. Feeding went from inspecting and leaving it to striking and coiling over night.

[@madeiranmarvel2116]

Totally agree with you in that ball pythons are more likely to want to eat just after a shed. They also have more space inside them just after a big poop. Another trick I have found to raise your chances of a strike is to swap their hides for a different type eg if its usual hide is one of the black flat top ones change it a a 5l water (square not rounded) bottle with hole cut where the lid is. As they have to squeeze themselves into the bottle they seem to feel more secure. If they climb onto the top of the hide while you are scenting the room its usually a good sign they want to ambush their prey. It also works the other way around. With hatchlings i have found that swapping an exo terra cave for a take away container with hole cut out or vice versa usually gets them to want to eat. Downsizing works best but you can also give them bigger hides as long as its not too different from what they are used to. What you said about them leaving for another hunting ground makes total sense and perhaps changing the hide makes them feel as if they are elsewhere.

[@sastampink3243]

My BEL finally ate last week and again this week after refusing since April. Thanks for posting these videos.

[@katherinechamberlain5017]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank.You!!!! Any and All Info is GREATLY APPRECIATED. 😁

[@JorgeGonzalez-cd3it]

Actually my Cypress Fire (juvenile) was a very picky eater, idk what it was specifically but after I watched your last few videos on the subject, I cleaned out her tub thoroughly, I changed out her substrate to coco husk from Cypress mulch and offered her a live rat pup again 2 days later and she took it with very little hesitation and has a regular feed cycle now! So thank you very much

[@katatonik7090]

This is the best advice we have found to get our very picky ball who was off feed for a while. We gave his home a good clean and changed it dramatically and he has eaten 3 weeks I a row and is back to being interested in food. So happy we watched this video!! Thanks so much for sharing this amazing advice!

[@KINOVAReptiles]

So glad to hear this worked for you! Thanks for watching!

[@marlonmunoz6673]

Thanks for the tip, I actually used it in one of the snakes I purchased from you and it worked, right after it shed I cleaned the tub. waited for about an hour, then offer him the meal and he ate. It's the Enchi Gene x pied we got from you. Thank you for the tips.

[@karenm6887]

Super helpful. I have a 2 year old ball that hasn't eaten in 5 month's. I'm going to try the cleaning today and hope it helps cause I've tried everything else.

[@alienbob5690]

Maybe even a 2nd habitat??? Swap after each shed?

[@pauldazar3348]

Karen please euthanize the snake and get involve 9n something more morally ethical and productive. Leave reptiles to deranged sickos. LIVE FEEDING IS DEPRAVED ANIMAL ABUSE.

[@alienbob5690]

@@pauldazar3348 good thing we don't live feed. STFU

[@darrellhunt4246]

Thank you! I haveva male that stopped eating in November. Tried everything for months. He shed and went to the bathroom last week. I put a piece of pvc board down the middle of his tub to make it tighter. Clean and new substrate. Put him in last night and this morning when I peaked, he was coiled and looking ready. Stopped by and bought him a live mouse after work and he took it. Coincidence? Great tip. Thank you again.

[@chriscrisafulli798]

That’s a fantastic pro tip! I love that you’ve taken what a ball python would do in the wild and adapted it to your collection. Using it to interpret your ball pythons behavior. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@snakeshack7114]

Another great one Justin!!! You mentioning this tactic in an older video of yours and I have basically implemented it in the past year or so with pretty good success!

[@bzexoticz3933]

This is absolutely genius. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@Wulfgeist]

More great tips!! Definately going to be giving this a go for some of my stubborn eaters.

[@tonygayter]

Ive got 2 females that just wont eat, and as always they are the ones you want to grow the most lol. Will try out moving them and maybe changing substrate as well to add to the effect.

[@matildaharden1064]

Try moving them and if that don’t work get some frozen chicks from rodent pro and try one of them. Don’t make chicks a habit, but sometimes it’ll get them going again

[@jimspapperi8399]

Perfect timing cause I've got one. Thx so much!!!

[@silvershelbygt5006]

I've got a male just shy of 2 years old. He hasn't eaten in over a month. His just shed and has a clean cage. Still doesn't want to eat. He's in good health and quite active at night.

[@MrBeathard]

Tracy and Dave Barker are the best. Thank you Justin for sharing the information.

[@matildaharden1064]

JK another tip I’ve used over the past 10 years to get them started back is offer a fasting ball python a chick! That has worked for me more times than I can count. These creatures are so interesting.

[@xrisescanilla1996]

Perfect timing! Four Female of my ball python hasn't eaten since December. They are not losing weight. Im getting frustrated but haven't tried this approach. Thanks for the information.😀👍

[@s-reptilesfranckambre2405]

full of sens! so great to have this information in mind! Greetings from France

[@myherpshed1298]

Great video and advice. Thank you for sharing.....👊👊👊👊👊👊

[@Davoncarmin]

Thank you. I just bought one. this was helpful even though I have the booklet on them this was more helpful

[@scottlucidi6476]

That DG is your best snake, imo. Killer yellow in the tan pattern.

[@jamesdehart3325]

I just vended right next to Vpi at the staford show! So so out of my league next to those titans!

[@geneticpaletteoutpost7194]

Great info for those picky ones. Especially for us on the West Coast that can’t have ASF. Thank you JKR

[@learning4685]

Very helpful tip, thank you

[@royalgeneticreptiles9428]

Super good video, this question is one of the most ask in this hobby. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 Btw love the shirt🤩

[@680ecks]

Wow now that's great information ! Thank you. Alot of guys don't give tips like this .

[@Z06ChevyVette]

Your tips and advise is 100% right🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼 It happened with my son’s Pied. It wouldn’t eat for some reason but then!!, your video comes up about the tub cleaning and disinfecting. He did as you indicated on this video and sure enough, that big bad girl pounced on a large rat within the first four seconds of throwing the rat inside!!!!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼 Thanx for your professional advise and for these amazing videos!!!🙏🏼

[@lorgagssertao4036]

Thanks mate! I had never thought about this one!! :D

[@Balls2U]

Fantastic video as always Justin

[@colinhaworth3980]

Excellent video and information thanks 🙏

[@Emily-Double_Take_Snakes]

Great video! I had some picky eaters and it almost made me not want to get into the hobby of breeding because it was so frustrating and stressful. I hope this video helps a lot of people who might be feeling the same way. Would you consider doing a video about genetic diversity and inbreeding? I have always been curious if breeding offspring to parents causes issues because I know some breeders do it. Also having enough diversity in your breeding group.

[@BentleyJax-River]

Super helpful! Thanks Justin!

[@jodiedwards2634]

Great info!

[@stefanpdreid1364]

Try to just make the head of the rodent really warm. That is an amazing trick. I realized that most of the times, the snake seems to be afraid of the size of the rat. If just the head is warm it seems smaller to the snake and it has a very strong eating response.

[@chuckwalla325]

I'll have to try that

[@EquitySolutionRayRaz]

( WARNING LONG comment ) I’ve told people time and time again it’s their environment and atmosphere of the animal and if they just meet this list of criteria I send them that they have no problems at all , if it’s happy it eats , Usually it’s security issues as far as them not having multiple spots to buckle down and digest comfortably without being out of temp or in “ danger ⚠️ “ I’ve literally had to drive two hours cause someone bought a hatchling and it won’t eat ... gotten there and took their setups changed it or brought something maybe it needed and fed the animal before I left without an issue , smashing food ! Is it the security of my scent ? I doubt it I think it’s just cause it lacked something it needed in the keeping side of things ( multiple times ) It’s the service side of things when you buy a family member from our house 😉

[@jenniferfowler4383]

Can you send the list?

[@AbesExoticReptiles]

Thanks for the info, Justin!

[@westonjako]

Looking forward to using this tip! Thanks for the short clip but fullll of gold !

[@samanthawinslett202]

Thank you for sharing such good information.

[@toddbiondolillo]

Great video Justin, I learn something new every time I listen to you!

[@markl478]

Very well done! Thank you!

[@806pythons7]

Great tip, thanks. Stay Safe!

[@billh1491]

Thanks Justin love the help and tips you give out thanks

[@ColorMeExotics]

My male hasnt eaten since Januray. But has lost maybe 60 grams. Hopefully he will eat here soon. Going to try some of these out.

[@newforestmorphs1377]

Really helpful Justin. Makes sense !

[@LeviathanCourtney]

Very interesting, I was under the impression that having their scent would make them feel more comfortable and more likely to eat!

[@allgasnobrakes919]

Having their scent what??? I’m confused on what you were trying to say Bud.

[@LeviathanCourtney]

@@allgasnobrakes919 In the video he says to get rid of the scent of their shed/waste in the enclosure. I’d heard that scenting the enclosure made them more comfortable. Bud.

[@allgasnobrakes919]

@@LeviathanCourtney scenting it how and with what thO, Bud? 🤷‍♂️

[@LeviathanCourtney]

@@allgasnobrakes919 urates

[@allgasnobrakes919]

@@LeviathanCourtney oh Ohk...Appreciate that...I got a male that’s a little over 2 and haven’t had a meal and been refusing Live Small-Medium rats since January!! Kindve got me worried a little now!! 🤦‍♂️ Thanks again,#Bud 🙏🙏

[@throughbredballs8215]

Another great video! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@michaellivingstone7386]

My male went off feed for about five six moths when he was a year old he's two and a few months so after that initial off feed protest he's been fine also have a boa and when the says things eat like boas I now understand ,the boas are heavier eaters and almost ever time there gonna take it

[@johnrafael4110]

my bp broke his 5 month hunger strike today because of this video, thankyou man

[@KINOVAReptiles]

Great! 🙌

[@jackthesnakekeeper]

How long do you leave the food item in when you are trying to get them back on food? Great video it made alot of sense. Thanks.

[@lindaburcher3908]

I have a python that’s was hatch February got from shop feeding on mice’s . They told me to star them on rats after six weeks Then I when to another shop and they said to keep on mice until a year old . Which is right. Thank you

[@joeycarroll8089]

So how long do you wait after you clean the tub

[@kylejones2619]

With patreon, would i be able to see all the previous content you have uploaded?

[@stefangriep3423]

I will try this with my "one live mouse per week" feeder...maybe this will get him to accept ft rats

[@ljnoahtv2505]

400th like haha thanks Uncle Justin!

[@P4ULM4C]

I've got a female who recently went off feed for about 6 weeks my own fault I moved her in to a viv and she wasn't ready for a move to a bigger place. I've got her feeding again on rat chubs after 4 feeds I tried to up the size slightly nothing that would be to big for her and she grabbed it then started eating got psst the head then spat it back out. I've fed her bigger in the past, but the feed I'm giving her now seems rather small for her size, any suggestions?

[@monicaglovely3066]

I want to try this but I feel like I've stressed my BP enough for a bit. I've had him for about a week, (his last feed was Friday by breeder) so I gave him an extra day and attempted to feed Saturday night (he was terrified of it) and I got the size the breeder had said to get.. Going to be leaving him alone until next weekend and try again as he started trying to look for an escape after I stood there for almost 20 min waiting to see if he'd take the rat pup. Wondering if I should change/clean tank out first tho as I did have a corn snake in it before n didn't really scrub it (just whipped down and put new bedding/new hides) Or wait the week, try again and if he refuses again, to clean it /get different hides and retry in another week?

[@Blozvich]

Do you still clean the tub every time they shed during breeding??

[@Blozvich]

@@KINOVAReptiles thank you so much for the information! Your amazing man!

[@FJBrandon]

My thought is that balls are much more primitive than other species of snakes they are built to stand long periods of time off food being in Africa I mean to many predators and so they embrace their fasting techniques

[@754welive5]

Do you think this same method would work for males that doesn’t want to breed?

[@devilsmisfits3181]

What if the snake is on 4 months of fasting or not eating she is a pastel het clown ball what do I do

[@mayabjack]

Hmmm. Mines just had a shed and still refused to eat. Might give this a go. Do you change the enrichment all around too?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

You can!

[@sj3920]

Any idea why one would consistently strike and kill the rat, but not actually eat it? Happens over half the time she eats! I try to get it later and re-offer, but she won't take it. Same thing if I offer another live rat...

[@michaellivingstone7386]

Try a mouse or smaller prey item to get it eating then slowly go up prey sizes I thought mine was ready for weiner rats and had to go back to large mice as that was what he preferred

[@Hadeshinai1]

i pre planned a 3 month supply of frozen rodents. and they still haven't accepted any food :/ next time ill just breed rat's for a month worth of supply so not much would be wasted

[@JohnLopez-jt1cj]

If not, why?

[@JohnLopez-jt1cj]

Is it okay to handle the next day after eating?

[@KINOVAReptiles]

It's fine but we recommend letting them have a day or two to digest. Sometimes if they get stressed it can prompt them to regurgitate.

[@Ken9284]

Tip #1: Don’t go near holes filled with poop. Good to know.

[@ballzofparadise1236]

588👍

[@jase123111]

Too much talking.

[@courtneyherczak9087]

Thank you! I have a picky pinstripe pied! I will clean n change his home up a bit and see what happens! He’s just a baby n only eats like once every couple months... he is growing way slower than my other two babies...