new ball python mommy >>>>please help!!!!<<<<

[darkangel1708]

ello my fellow snake lovers,
a friend of mine just gave me my 1st ball python last week. I am having a problem w/him eating. please keep in mind, my friend got Drogo from her friend around april. he did not eat for her at all, so it's been like 3 months now he hasn't ate. the original owner said he is picky and will only eat white mice, so I got 2 white mice today in hopes he would be hungry enough to munch down but he hasn't. he seems interested in the mouse, he keeps looking in it's direction, following it, smelling it, all that...just won't strike. this is not my 1st snake, but 1st ball python, yes. the temp reads 87 degrees w/a red basking light and uth. humidity is at 45%, now I understand it is suppose to be closer to 60. I have a large water bowl, I mist the tank...my house is all cedar, may be why humidity is so low. should I try a humidifier in my room, or possibly a frog fogger or would that make humidity too high? I know the husbandry requirements all have to be just right for him to feed, I just need some guidance and advice here. I want my Drogo to be as happy and healthy as can be, but obviously he's not with an empty tummy. I believe he's in about a 55g tank. I have a rock hide, water bowl, aspen bedding, heat lamp, uth, thermometer/hygrometer. please help me figure out why he won't eat? shedding? humidity levels 2 low? stressed, still needs to get use to his new home??? so many questions, please help me out! he won't eat f/t I was told, so I tried white live mouse to no avail. but like I said, he seems interested in it, like he wants to eat it, just doesn't strike it....ugh...please help me out by answering my questions, it would be so much appreciated!!!! thank ya'll!!!!

[elbee]

First of all, a 55 gallon tank is going to be large for a ball python, especially if it is young and more than likely if he does not feel secure, he will not eat. Secondly, if you have only had him for a week, he needs time to settle into his new surroundings. If the tank is all that you have, try cluttering up the area with hides, logs, plants, or even crumpled up newspapers to make him feel secure. You may even cover 3 sides of the tank so that he cannot see out. Secondly, try to get precise temps inside the cage. Heat tape hooked up to a thermostat is the best way to go in my opinion. I keep my warm side at 90 degrees, and cool side around 80. Humidity in a 55 gallon tank will drop quickly, so you may want to cover part of the top on the tank and/or mist when it comes time for him to shed. What substrate are you using? Also, if you have a picture of his setup this can help us give specific advise as well. You've come to the right place and good luck. Patience is key to getting them to eat, so just stay calm and get his setup worked out and then go from there. Also, if you have a picture of the snake itself we can tell more of his weight and condition since you have received him recently from someone.

[HydraReptiles]

Questions: How are you feeding him? If you are moving him out of his cage into a feeding cage, that might be setting him off. Are you feeding live or frozen? Did the past owners feed live or frozen?

It sounds like he is stressed. I definitely recommend giving him some time to settle. I once had an adult ball with a stressful background that did not eat for a year on its own. Drove me absolutely nuts, and I was constantly worried. However, one day out of the blue, she ate and from then on consistently started eating.

I agree with elbee that a picture would help, and her recommendations for the tank.

Also, congrats on your first ball python Your first always holds a special place in your heart.

[darkangel1708]

so glad I'm getting some input back! thank you!!! I'm guessing the tank is 55g, I know it is 48 in long x 20 in tall x 18 in wide. I have him on aspen bedding. I keep 1 half of the tank covered with a towel to help with humidity. the temp stays at 86 with an overhead red basking bulb. I also bought an uth that I placed underneath his hide, but when I have it plugged in, he won't go in his hide which seems he's telling me it's too hot. I've been misting the sides of the tank twice a day, keep his water dish full, but the humidity drops right back down after the water evaporates of course. he's definitely a fat boy for not eating since april! the first owner always fed him live and said he will only eat white mice. so that is exactly what I tried and he seemed interested, followed it around, smelled it, turned his head in it's direction, came face to face with it but would not strike it. sorry I'm new to this forum, how do I post a pic with my reply? my d/p was taken the day I got him.

[darkangel1708]

this is a pic of him the day I got him a little over a week ago.

[darkangel1708]

this is his tank setup

[ElliotNess]

I also bought an uth that I placed underneath his hide, but when I have it plugged in, he won't go in his hide which seems he's telling me it's too hot.

You need to get a thermostat and possibly a smaller cage until he feels more comfortable.

[darkangel1708]

I have a thermostat. it's a thermostat n hygrometer in 1. that's what the small black thing suction cupped to the glass is over his hide on the right side of tank.

[Cyndymei]

Are you sure that is not a thermometer? What you have looks like one of the "stick on" thermometers from petsmart or petco. What you need is a digital thermometer/hygrometer and a digital thermostat. I like the ones from walmart that are called Acurite thermometers. They work wonderfully and you can't beat paying $9 for one. It includes both a thermometer and hygrometer.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347

A thermostat is what you plug the actual heating pad into. The heating pads can get dangerously hot and the thermostat ensures that the heating pad does not get too hot by shutting it off at a certain temperature threshold.

I will always be a fan of herpstat thermostats.

http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

You can also use a hydrofarm thermostat, those tend to work well too, but if you have the money I would definitely buy a herpstat.

This guide is very helpful in showing you how to place the thermometer and how to set up your glass tank http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I have a 40 gallon breeder and it has been perfect so far.

As said before he probably will not eat because the tank may be too big for him and the tank does not seem very secure for his hiding purposes. Is there a temperature gradient at all?

[darkangel1708]

i apologize i read that wrong. it is a 'national geographic' thermometer/hygrometer that i got from petsmart. yes, there is a heat gradient. if i'm correct, i should get another hide for the cool side right? another member said i could try adding more hides and things to climb to crowd the tank and make him feel more secure. i suppose i should try this idea? do they sell the proper thermostats at lowe's?