Ball wont eat...

Question
Okay so I got my new snake, Xen, from Pet Smart 6/12/08 and it hasn't eaten yet. The snake is un-sexed and 17 inches long. So I'm assuming it's young.

I've tried feeding it pre-killed mice, as live prey has been known to bite and injure snakes if left unattended. I don't feed Xen in it's Habitat because I was told by the pet store employees that would make him more prone to striking. Which would not be cool. I know they sometimes go a while without eating but I doubt the poor thing has eaten at all since hatching. I've heard horror stories about snakes dieing from not eating which scares me. This is how I feed Xen:

I take her/him out of the cage and put he/she into a pet carrier

I thaw the mouse while he/she sits in the carrier and don't bother the snake a bit while thawing the mouse. (Pinkies)

I take bamboo cricket tongs,(washed and clean)Grab the mouses tail and drag it around on the bottom of the paper towel lined carrier to simulate movement. As dangling isn't natural in the wild.

I've tried ticking the snake off by getting the mouse closer to him/her in hopes it might strike in aggravation at the mouse. Which hasn't worked and I am probably traumatizing the poor serpent in the process. I dunno what to do I refuse to spew brain matter every where and I refuse to kill the rodent myself.... I'm too much of a softy....

I really want answers that don't involve me taking the snake to a vet... I have no more money... I'll try live prey if I have to... Just help!!!

Worried,
Kitt Kittridge (Not kidding, goddamn american girl dolls... >>)

Answer
Hello Kitt,

Ok, so you have a new ball python who sounds to be around two maybe three months old. One thing you did wrong was buy it from petsmart, they are known for buying wild hatched animals.

The first thing, young snakes are not started on frozen thawed prey. If this is how you wish to feed then you would start the snake off around a year to a year and a half. I would never suggest frozen thawed as this is not the way the eat in the wild. Ball Pythons do not eat dead prey in the wild. What you heard about a snake getting bit by prey is very unusual unless they are left unattended for an overnight stay. The speed at which your snake will grab the prey and constrict it is a matter of seconds.

I do believe that if you are going to be handlig your snake you should feed outside of its regular enclosure. A good container is a five gallon bucket. Place your snake in and drop the fuzzy in there with it.

The prey item has ti be eqall to the girth of your snakes mid body. This helps ensure proper feeding and this should be done once every seven days.

Good Luck,
Eric Rovegno