Baby Ball wont eat

Hello all new here.Anyways I went to the Reptile show here in Indiana today.I wasnt going to get anything I have 3 cornsnakes and lizards as it is but,my youngest daughter insisted on a baby ball.The lady told me it was a non feeder thats why it was $10.00 Of course my little one felt sorry so I took it in.

I seen vids on assit feeding.This guy is skinny.What other tips can you give me so I can save this guys life?This is my first ball too.I have him in a 55 gal thats divided with a UTH of course 2 hides one on hot end and one on cold.Water bowl and a couple limbs for him to play.With him being skinny how long should I wait to try anything on feeding?Im sure hes stressed after what hes been through.Any help tips anything would be great.Thanks

A 55 gal is way too big. Get him set up in a small 6-12 qt Rubbermaid type tub. Have you tried a live hopper mouse? A good pic would help determine whether assist feeding is even necessary at this point...

That cage is way to big, I would start him out in a 12 or 16 quart tub. Big tanks stresses them out and stress means that they won't eat. It is very important to provide the proper temperatures. What are you using to regulate the UTH? And what are you using to measure temperatures/humidity?

Checkout the caresheet:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

I would wait a week to let him get settled in before I tried to feed him. After a week, I would try a live mouse hopper or live rat pup.

For a small baby like that, I will go for the 6-12 qt tub. Smaller spaces = more security to a baby ball (Or balls in general). They're only $2-5 at Walmart.
Also, darkening the enclosure w/ a sheet or something will calm it down as well.

Try feeding live first to try jump starting a feeding response. But I would wait a little bit before trying so he gets some time to adjust to his new surroundings.

She was selling it because it wasn't eating? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of and an awful business practice. Most QUALITY breeders will only consider selling an animal if it's healthy and feeding consistently.


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Originally Posted by KatStoverReptiles

She was selling it because it wasn't eating? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of and an awful business practice. Most QUALITY breeders will only consider selling an animal if it's healthy and feeding consistently.


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Yes I know I felt sorry for the snake too.I didnt realize the 55 divided was to large being 12 x 22.5 I have plenty of tubs I can use.I also run dimmers that Ive used for the past year for my temps on the UTH been working great for my corns.

I havent tried feeding yet only been home about an hour an a half with him so far.I will move him to one of the shoebox tubs I have now.Thanks for the info so far everyone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KatStoverReptiles

She was selling it because it wasn't eating? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of and an awful business practice. Most QUALITY breeders will only consider selling an animal if it's healthy and feeding consistently.


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It's almost as irresponsible as someone impulsively buying an admitted non-feeding baby when they have no idea what they're doing. But at least the buyers intentions were good, which is more than can be said for the seller. They really must have needed the 10 bucks...:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by sho220

It's almost as irresponsible as someone impulsively buying an admitted non-feeding baby when they have no idea what they're doing. But at least the buyers intentions were good, which is more than can be said for the seller. They really must have needed the 10 bucks...:rolleyes:

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WOW another one of these guys :rolleyes: anyways like I said I went there not planing on buying anything me needed the 10 bucks thats funny.Felt sorry for it they acting like they were done messing with.Why not try to save it.Guess Ill search for another forum I hate people like this.Thanks for the help guys later.

I would strongly replace the dimmer with a thermostat.

Here are 2 good thermostats

Hydrofarm, cheap but effective

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZZG3S

Herpstat, best of the best

http://spyderrobotics.com/

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Originally Posted by pOsSuM72

WOW another one of these guys :rolleyes: anyways like I said I went there not planing on buying anything me needed the 10 bucks thats funny.Felt sorry for it they acting like they were done messing with.Why not try to save it.Guess Ill search for another forum I hate people like this.Thanks for the help guys later.

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Really didn't mean to offend, and like I said, your intentions are good...but it's kind of like buying a puppy at a puppy mill pet store...it just validates what they're doing...I guess if you're good with supporting irresponsible breeders...