new ball python : malnourished

[Memo]

Hey everyone I think I got in way over my head
this is my first snake . He's an albino pinstripe and he's is very skinny . I wasn't going to get him considering the condition and price he was in but knowing if I left him he wouldnt make it because the owner is away at college and his parents want nothing to do with it ( told me themselves ) I decided to take the chance. He's very skinny I got him yesterday and today after school I bought a mice I think adult , not sure and dropped him in the tub . Not a view of him interested so after 15 mins I took the mice out . My temp is on the 71 on the cool side and 89 on the warm side. Humidity is at 68% because hes in shed and still has some on his head to mid body. I do have a thermo stat set at 90. I'm going to try later at night and if not I'll buy smaller mice tomorrow. He's very wrinkly as of now. Also he did pee while I grabbed him because he was leaving the tub. If that matters. Any help would be appreciated. Idk his age but hes about 2 feet long

[Memo]

[Redlude92]

Don't be worried just yet... Let it settle in for a few days.. Don't handle him. Pick a day next week and pick up a rat smaller or the same size as the widest part of his body. Try feeding him again and hopefully he will take it. If not.. Don't handle him just yet.. Wait another week and try again. If still nothing I'd try an African soft fur (I heard they are like the fillet mignon to snakes) if he still doesn't eat I would just not handle him until he does.. I had a snake go 8 months without eating..

If he is extremely under weight, then assist feeding might be the next step, but that is the absolute last resort. I would weigh him and put a picture up so we can see just how malnourished he is.

[Memo]

thanks and he's also very weak. he cant support his own head for a long period of time.

[Memo]

his water gets pretty cold so how often should i change his water bowl. i usually heat up water and mix with regular water till its not cold and not warm

[hijacked]

Did the parents tell you how long it's been since he ate last? Do you know when the owner went to school?

[Redlude92]

I change the water out every day or every other day. I get it straight from the tap.. I don't think the temp really matters. I would just make sure it's not hot..

He does look really underweight. Like I said above, let him settle in his new home for a few days. Don't handle him until he eats. I'm no expert but I've had a couple of problem eaters and what seems to really work for me is not handling the snake until they eat. Try feeding him again on Monday. I would try to figure out what his previous owner was feeding him and try one of those.. I'd say a pinkie rat in my opinion.. Get a pair of tongs and dangle it in from of him for a minute or two, if nothing then tap his nose with the pinkie a few times and see what he does.. I have a hatchling that if I just throw the rat in her tub she won't eat it but the second I tease her with it she grabs it. If nothing happens wait another week and try again. If still nothing I would look into taking him to a vet and see if they can assist feed him or maybe force feed him.

He has the potential of being such a beautiful snake, just have patience with him, he'll come around.

[Syfaio]

Poor little guy...it makes me happy that you decided to give him s home you seem to be off to a good start as for eating just give him s bit as stated above and good luck with your new friend I hope too see some pics when you get him eating and some weight on the poor guy best of luck

[DVirginiana]

Just a thought, but you may want to try and get him to eat frozen/thawed or pre-killed prey. If he's too weak to hold his head up for long I don't imagine he'd do very well with a struggling mouse or rat. Do you know what they were feeding him before you got him?

Glad you got him and best of luck getting him healthy again!

[Memo]

The guy said he was feeding him mouse hoppers. Live or frozen idk yet but I'll get in contact and ask him . I'll also ask him when was the last time he feed him and updated him

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And update this thread I mean