Hey guys,

I posted in here a few weeks back concerned about my newly purchased ball python, and the way as he was balled up, literally had his head like on his side.
Anyway, since settling into his new surroundings he is as inquisitive as ever, whenever I enter the room he is always facing the side of his tank nearest to where I am stood having a good nosey. So in spirits, he is totally fine. His name is Trevor.

I have a couple of other concerns for Trevor. Firstly, something I have noticed since day one...his skin folds.
Now, I have done quite a bit of research and I am pretty convinced he is not dehydrated (although I have not actually seen him drinking)...his skin looks in super health, the only problem is the amount of folds he has when he twists and turns. Even to the point of, the other day I was handling him and he turned and attempted to give me a little nip as he was trying to move forward...what actually happened was, his skin is so loose that as he slid over my hand his loose skin must have got stuck and he must have got the impression I was pinching his skin and trying to hold him back, bless him.
When I bought him a few weeks ago, the 'breeder' said she was feeding him on one mouse pinkie a week...which I instantly thought, hang on a minute.... I have only ever owned corn snakes, and I know BP's are a whole different 'ball game'.....but seriously....one pinkie a week!! Surely I thought this can't be enough.
Anyway last thursday I moved him up onto a rat pinkie (although chunkier still looked about right for his body size) and he took it fine. He is used to being fed on Mondays and Thursdays, so yesterday (Monday) I offered him another rat pinkie which he didn't take (although seemed very interested).
I checked him this morning, and he has done a fair sized poop which is making me think (rightly or wrongly) that he will probably be ready for another rat pinkie now that he has 'made space' on Thursday).

So what do you guys think? Judging from the pics, would you put his folds down to malnutrition?
I have checked out what an underfed BP looks like and he is very similar; what with the spine showing and not much meat on there...

On a real quick note but a slightly different topic, I just had to go back and purchase the BP that Trevor was housed next to from birth, I couldn't leave her there in that shop, with that 'breeder' also probably being underfed... so I went back and bought her too...her name is Xena.....Xena Warrior Python.
The breeder told me she does not feed properly, and has been putting a credit card in her mouth and been force feeding her pinkies every week.

I have checked out Youtube at various 'assist feed' videos, but just wondered which method of assist feeding you guys prefer and/or what seems to work best.
Thanks everyone
-Mark, Trevor and Xena.