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stupid ball python....

BabyMowgli

BabyMowgli

just one more....
I think I am strictly a corn snake girl....this ball python is ticking me off! He refuses to eat and is way skinny.
I even tried a live mouse tonight and nothing! The mouse sat on top of the ball python for like 10 minutes! Unbelievable!

I think he needs to go....don't know how to really sell him though...should I take him to a pet store...I don't think the pet store I work at would take him since he isn't eating...I don't know! I'm just blabbing here, don't mind me... anyone else have problems with their ball pythons? :shrugs:
 
ball pythons are problems period. i would suggest checking for mites, checking stool for parasites (sp.?), make sure you have the right temperature and humidity. My brother just got his first ball 4 months ago and it just ate yesterday. Don't know how you would get rid of him. and also read care sheets on ball pythons there every where just google ball python care or something like that and read, read, and read some more you can never know to much.
 
If he is as skinny as you say then he needs to see a vet. Ball pythons arnt always problems, its just that most of them in captivity are wild caught or captive hatched and imported, and they are a lot tougher then corns to care for. How did you get him? How long have you had him? It can take a lot of patience and a lot of small changes to find out whats wrong. When a snake that refuses to eat and starts to really loose weight its a good sign that something is definatly wrong which is why I suggested a vet incase it is a health problem. If you bought him them getting rid of him to me really isnt being responsible, the next person who gets him may care less and just let him wither away.
 
a guy gave him to me. he wasn't taking good care of him and didn't even know what or when he ate last. I took him because i wanted to help the snake, not because I really wanted a ball python. I have no money to take him to the vet right now, and I don't even think the herp vet here is very good. I think a trip to the vet right now would be more stress on him then it is worth.
 
Care sheets

You fail to give us enough info to help. What are the temps on both ends of the viv?What is the humidity? Does your snake have ample hiding spots? How often do you handle? What size viv?When are you trying to feed?Is it cbb or wc?What is current weight& lenght? :shrugs:
We have 8 Ball pythons of different morphs in our collection and so far haven't had a problem with any of them eating.Ball pythons don't need large enclosures, in fact baby's should be housed in shoebox or sweater box size containers. :cheers:
 
I know about typical husbandry, and it is all taken care of. Temps, 92 and 85, humidity is good, hide on each end plus synthetic leaves on aspen shavings. He is in a 40 quart Rubermaid. I have no idea if he is CB or WC (he was just given to me, and I took him because I was hoping to be able to help the poor thing) He is about 23 - 24 inches, don't know weight, but is too skinny. I am attempting to feed f/t. He ate one f/t fuzzy with me on Feb 20, I tried to feed another on Feb 26 and he didn't eat, so i offered him a live mouse today and he didn't eat it.
 
So two skipped feedings and you are giving up? I don't mean to sound rude or mean, but if you couldn't afford to take him to the vet, then you shouldn't have gotten him. Sick animals typically need vet care. You are doing him an injustice by not finding a way to get him the care he needs.

As for "selling" him...that would be unethical. You should try to adopt him out to someone who can give him the care he needs.

My BP's are great. I know I may run into feeding problems as they get older, but for now they eat wonderfully!
 
If he just ate on the 20th, he very well may not be hungry yet. It's only been slightly over a week. (unless I'm reading your post wrong) Ball pythons sometimes may want to be fed every 10 days rather than once a week. If he is as skinny as you say, one fuzzy may be filling him up. I would wait, and try again in another 7 days, leaving him completely alone except for filling his water. Giving him away is not going to help him at all, only stress him more. As was suggested in a previous post, he also may have internal parasites, but only a trip to a vet will tell you that, and I would definitely at least call around to find out who can check him and for how much. It may be less than you think.
 
Where in Minnesota are you? If you still feel like its too much for you instead of selling it I know of good places it can go with good people to care for it. I can also give you a list of good herp vets.
 
Briana, don't give up on this snake, balls are notorious for being difficult feeders, but are awesome when they grow. My problem corn hasn't fed voluntarily since 17th jan and is now being syringe fed mouse puree until I can get a live pink for her to try.
Maybe you can liase with a local breeder or adopt him/her to an experienced home if the problems persist?
 
Tossing in the towel so soon?
he ate for you just a few days ago, thats progress! ball pythons are known to be picky eaters. and with him being so skinny, his stomach is probably tiny. think about it...you wouldnt feed a starving person a 7 course meal...smaller meals first then slowly work up to larger more frequent meals.
my friend's ball hasnt eaten for 3 weeks and he's healthy. he does this all the time. the last time he wouldnt eat for nearly 3 1/2 months. and it is frustrating...it's one of the main reasons i wont get a ball python. i worry and stress out when my snakes refuse to eat for a week.
i would wait a week, and then try again. are you watching him eat? most balls are shy eaters as well. put the mouse in there and try putting a towel over the cage or leave the room for a few hours. my friend puts a mouse in with his python and then he goes to work. usually when he gets back, the mouse is gone. if he watches the snake, it wont eat.
 
Don't give up so soon. It's only been a few days. My son's BP will only eat every other week. The new one that was given to me hasn't eaten yet. But I'm sure he will eventually. Unless yours is sick, he'll eventually eat as well.

Hang in there.
 
Howdy!
I read on this site before that ball pythons sometimes stop eating during the winter, and thats normal. Of course his skinny condition when you got him isn't. Just stick with it, and offer him f/t every few days. Make sure he finds his water. Is he needing to shed?
Good luck. :)
 
I have a suggestion for you, too. Try to offer him black mice (if you haven't already). Sometimes they will go for them before taking a white mouse. Sounds silly...but I've seen it work!
 
he has a new home, he is no longer mine. A man came into the pet store asking for a BP and said he raised them and is looking for another one. I told him the situation and he said he would take him. He gave me his email and we are going to keep in touch. thanks for all the comments and support though.
 
BabyMowgli said:
I know about typical husbandry, and it is all taken care of. Temps, 92 and 85
Click to expand...
92-85 is not a good gradient for a ball python 92-79/80 would have been more suitable. You basically did not allow him to regulate his temperature.
 
bps really shouldnt be higher that 86 on the hot side and around 78 on the cool side. Thats what mine are at and they eat fine. humidity should be about 55-60
 
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