BP not eating

[Velius6577]

I've had my ball python for a little over a month now. He is my first pet snake. I bought him at a reptile convention in Madison, WI a little over a month ago. The breeder claimed he was two months old and was already eating, but now I'm getting the feeling that he lied to me. He hasn't eaten since I bought him. I've tried feeding him everything, F/T pinkie mice and fuzzies, live pinkie mice and rats, and a live small hopper mouse. He doesn't even show any interest in any food. He is pooping about once a week, which I find weird since he hasn't eaten in so long, if ever at all. He is in a 10 gal tank, a hide on the hot side and one on the cool side, and a water dish big enough for him to soak in. His hot side is at 87 degrees F and cool side and the 79 degrees F. His humidity is around 60 at night and between 40 to 45 during the day. I'm not sure what to do at this point. He's starting to look a little thin, and it worries me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[Velius6577]

[Billy305]

I'd bump the hot side up about 5 degrees. Hatchlings especially like it a little warmer in my opinion. 91-92 F. Also I'd recommend not disturbing him as much as possible until he is established. Don't go in to the cage for anything but to change the water and leave him alone. Try to feed him in about 5 days after you have raised the heat and left him alone.

They are very shy most of the time at that size and are best left alone until they become stronger eaters.

[Velius6577]

I'm not really sure how to raise the temp without frying him. I have a heating pad under his tank plus a 50 watt over head bulb that is on for 12 hours per day. Is upping the wattage safe?

[Billy305]

Post a overhead pic of his tail straightened out a little. That's where you can see if hatchlings are truly skinny in my opinion.

Also if he is regularly pooping, id say he had most likely been eating. They can hold it for a while, especially without enough heat

[Billy305]

I'm not really sure how to raise the temp without frying him. I have a heating pad under his tank plus a 50 watt over head bulb that is on for 12 hours per day. Is upping the wattage safe?

How are you measuring the heat

[Velius6577]

That's his cool side temp at night, by the way.

[Velius6577]

Should I have the gauges lower?

[coldbloodaddict]

Should I have the gauges lower?

you shouldn't have them at all, they are inaccurate. Get a temp gun.




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[Billy305]

Those gauges can be inaccurate. I would really invest in an IR temp gun. They can be had for 10-20 local or on Amazon. They are very accurate. Just point and shoot to get an accurate instant reading