Feeding Woes!

[New Herper]

Hi All. I am new to the group. Currently I am the proud owner of 1:1 Ball Pythons ( Sapphira and Eragon ) and 0:0:2 hatchling corn snake morphs 1 reverse okeetee and 1 snow ( Garnet and Cobalt ), can you tell that I have a 7 year old daughter !!! Sapphira our female is weighing in at 200 grams, she has not eaten in 2 weeks but has not lost any weight. Not worried about her as it is winter here on Long Island. She was owned by another herper who had to make some room in his collection. She was my present from Santa. Eragon was purchased about a week after X-mas and was the last one left but my youghest Daughter fell in love with him. He only weighs in at about 80 grams. He was displaying longitudinal wrinkles along his neck but I soaked him and he drank so all was good. He has eaten 3 times since I got him, 1 fuzzy mouse, 1 large rat pup, 1 med. mouse, all live. He was a little thin to start with but now he hasn't eaten in three weeks! His weight has dropped to 77 grams from 80 grams and he seems VERY skinny to me. He also had a rough shed It took soakings and mineral oil to get him to shed his head and caps. He was also constipated and it took five days of straining and warm soaks to get him to go! Again all sings of dehydration if I am not mistaken. Other than this he seems quite happy thermoregulating and such. Now The question for the experts did I do a Bad thing, I was worried about him being so thin and not eating so when he wouldn't eat I assisited him using a small F/T mouse. Basically putting it in his mouth so he couldn't spit it out. Instinct quickly took over and he swallowed it with no regurge as of 24 hours. If I did a good thing and he continues to not eat on his own should I do it again until he starts eating on his own, just so that I keep some weight on him and keep him hydrated! he is in a 30 gallon aquarium 75-80 cool side, 95 - 100 hot isde day, 85 - 90 hot side night, humidity about 60 to 70%. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
Mike

[New Herper]

I should add that he hasn't eaten in almost three weeks.

[rabernet]

Mike, I can understand your worry. I think what your main problem most likely is, is that the wee one is very overwhelmed by such a large enclosure. With ball pythos, smaller really is better. I set up my babies in 15 quart tubs with very small tight hides, that might be something you may want to consider doing to get him feeling more secure and eating again on his own for you.


Also, I'd try to keep your temps consistent 24 hours a day if you can - 92-94 on the warm side, 82-84 on the cool side.

The detriment to assist feeding is that you could be adding un-needed stress to them.

Also, you didn't mention, but are the two balls set up in their own enclosures? If not, that can also be a contributing factor to his not eating, the dominated snake (the one being cuddled) is too stressed to eat.

Here's how my babies are set up:

The heating pad in this picture was temporary until my flexwatt order came in - should only be used temporarily if at all, since they are not designed for heating reptile enclosures. Binder clips from Office Depot secure the lid, and a digital thermometer/hygrometer from Walmart for $12 measures temps and humidity:


Those tubs came from Dollar General - I think they were $3. I soldered ventilation holes with a $10 solder wand from Walmart

Here's an example of the hides - shortly after this picture was taken, the green box hide was replaced with an identical plastic saucer hide. I got these from Walmart for $.47 each and soldered an entrance in them:


There's a baby in there - about 80 grams in the picture:




This girl ate every week for me after her 1 week of acclimation in this set-up. This is her now:



Let us know if you have any additional questions - and good luck with him!