Help with rescued snake!!

[Herbie'sMom]

I just rescued a 3-month-old female ball python from a friend of my daughters. She is SCARY skinny. So much so, that I'm afraid she might not make it. She's also going through an extremely bad shed. When I picked her up, I noticed how horrid her husbandry was. No under tank heat or even a way to monitor temps, completely open screen top so no humidity and a cage waaaaayyy too big for her. I put her in the feeding container that she came with when I got home. Paper towel on the bottom and a small dish for water. I thawed a pinky mouse, that also came with her (which is also waaayyy too small for her) and left it in the container in the hopes that she would eat. She weighs 62 grams.

So, my question is, when do I attempt to assist feed this little sweetheart? She needs food YESTERDAY!!

[DVirginiana]

Can you post a pic? That'll help determine how bad her situation is.

For food, without seeing how bad-off the snake is, my general recommendation would be to start on the small side of what you'd normally feed a snake that size if she'll take anything on her own. It's just easier on their systems.

I don't have a lot of experience with when to start assist-feeding. Since it can be pretty stressful, I'll let someone who knows more about it answer that.

Glad you got her, hopefully it's not too late

[Mustang5]

Wow, 62g is really skinny. Thank you for rescuing her. How often was she fed has she even had a meal? I would try to feed her either f/t or live (which ever she was on before) for a couple days then you can try to assist feed her. Don't force feed her just try to get the mouses head in her mouth and see if she eats it. If you arent already I would also lightly spray down her cage to maybe help her shed. Hope this helped.

[Herbie'sMom]

Ok, I just found out she's SEVEN MONTHS OLD!! I had her care sheet from Pet Smart (it was with her stiff). She ate once rr twice per month until my daughter's friend got her a month ago , then not at all since. I made the executive decision to assist feed. I'm familiar enough with how ball pythons should look to know she's on deaths door. AND SHE ATE!!!

[DVirginiana]

Ok, I just found out she's SEVEN MONTHS OLD!! I had her care sheet from Pet Smart (it was with her stiff). She ate once rr twice per month until my daughter's friend got her a month ago , then not at all since. I made the executive decision to assist feed. I'm familiar enough with how ball pythons should look to know she's on deaths door. AND SHE ATE!!!

That's great! If she was eating up till a month ago it was probably just the poor conditions that made her stop.

[Herbie'sMom]

Yes, but even then she was eating only sporadically. Her being this skinny infan just from the last month, there's no way. According to my daughter's friend (and what we already know of Petsmart) she was being housed with other snakes. I can also assume the pet store wasn't too concerned with husbandry either.

Everyone, please sent your best vibes so this little one makes it. I can already tell she's such a sweetheart!

[midgard]

Good luck!

[Herbie'sMom]

Here's the poor thing

[Herbie'sMom]

[Shamri]

Oh geez I bet he'll feel like a new snake once he gets all that shed off! Looking forward to pics and updates and hoping he pulls through okay