Underweight BP!!!

[missmisser]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I've been a lurker and a keeper for a while, but this is the first time I'm in the need of assistance.

Two days ago I was approached on facebook by a friend of a friend who needed to get rid of his two BP's because he was going through a divorce. He needed someone to take them and I agreed to do it. I went and got them and found them in a less than great state, but I took pity on them and brought them home.

They were living in one tank. An absolutely filthy and smelly 15x15x40 aquarium with a single heat rock, an overturned hide and an empty water bowl. They were fed live gerbils, but only one of them ate on the regular.

They are supposedly 10 years old, unsexed and siblings. "A" is the biggest one, 1180 grams and about 3,2 feet. Visible spine and scars from a run in with a heating lamp.

"B" is tiny. 560 grams and maybe 2 feet at the most. The spine is sharp and pointy, his colors are faded and dull, he is lethargic and doesn't move. The skin is choppy and uneven. He/she does not look good at all!

I've separated them and they currently living in bedrollers. Humidity is between 60-70%, hot spot is maintained at 95 and the cool spot is at 82.

My questions are: How do I help them best? Did I do the right thing by separating them when they've been living together for 10 years? How do i fatten up "B" (and A for that matter) the best? I'm ready and capable of assist feeding, but how often would you feed him? I'm currently planning on feeding B every 5 days and A once a week.

Any advice/help/constructive criticism is welcome! I want them to have a good life!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Welcome to the site! I'm glad you decided to take them in and give them a better life.

Separating them was the right decision. Housing snakes together really isn't a good idea unless you really know what you are doing.

I would start slow, try to get them eating consistently. I would start off feeding both of them every 7 days. After a few successful feedings (4-6) if they aren't bulking up it might be time to try a 4 or 5 day feeding cycle. Pushing them too hard can actually cause them to stop eating.

I would lower the hot side temperature for them, 88-92 is the ideal range for the hot side. (Your cool side is spot on) 95 is the hottest I consider safe.

Can you give us more details on how you are housing them? Heat source(s)/thermometer(s)/thermostat(s)/Substrate/hide(s)/etc. The more detail the better (pictures are good too)



Here are some threads to make sure you have the basics correct:

Care: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Cage Heating: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers


How to post pictures: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...with-pictures)