Hello everyone,
I bought a ball python less then thirty days ago. I made a big mistake by buying from a chain pet store and found this out during my research. Since owning this animal he or she hasn’t eaten for me. I don’t know if it’s lost weight but it looks the same as when I got it. It was under fed before I bought it which isn’t a good thing. It started out in a 10 gallon tank because it’s still small. I was having a hard time with the humidity in a tank so I temporarily put it into a 15 liter tub till I can get it on a regular eating schedule. I did this based on a video I seen to help the snake to feel more secure and have a better chance of it feeding. It will be going into a 32 qt tub once it starts eating on a regular basis. My humidity is at 60 percent, hot side at 90 degrees, and cold side at 80. The temps and humidity have been right on point for at least two weeks now and still the snake isn’t feeding. It shows no signs of respiratory infection and is in good health other then looking under fed. I have tried frozen mice that was thawed and offered it every 7 days. It shows no interest in eating. During the day it’s in the hide and comes out on occasion and I am assuming to regulate its temperature. It’s most active at night. I have also covered the top of the tub to help the snake to feel more secure. I rarely handle it but when I do it doesn’t get tensed up but seems to be curious. I have done a lot of research to see what I am doing wrong but, I am doing everything I have found on line. I am going to try to feed on Friday when I can get a live fuzzy mouse to see if it will eat that. Someone recommended live mice for the first 7 feedings. Since I know the pet stores policy after asking many questions I know this snake was only feed once with a frozen thawed mouse. How they did it is beyond me because it’s refusing to eat a frozen thawed for me. Any advice on how to get this snake to eat a frozen thawed? I don’t want to get it use to eating live because of the risk. If I can’t get this snake to eat soon then I’ll have to take it back to the vet.