Underweight Ball Python

Hello this is my first thread, so I apologize if I am not in the correct area. Anyways, I am a first time snake and ball python owner, I got him/her from petco coming right close to a year now if I had to guess about 9-10 months. When I picked him/her, it was the runt of the 4-5 they had in their tank probably about 20 inches long and 150-200 grams. I keep him in a 30 gallon tank with the hot side at about 78-85 degrees F. and the cool side at about 70-75 depending on ambient temp in the room, the humidity normally hovers around 30-40% but I spray atleast 2 times a day to keep it close to 50-65%. Recently I've noticed that he seems too skinny and underweight I've been feeding him hoppers once every 5 days as that's what I was told by the guy at petco. Right know he is currently 23 inches long and 266 grams and he has a very triangular shape to him with a quite prominent spine. My question is do I need to alter his feeding session, should I be giving him adult mice at this size? I know snakes can handle prey quite a bit larger than they are but awhile back he had an issue with a hopper he ended up rolling it into a ball in his mouth and took him 45 minutes to get it down and then he spit it right back up again and didn't eat so I fed him the next day and he didn't have an issues with that one. He just doesn't seem big enough to handle the adult mouse I bought to try but never didn't so if you guys can help me out to get my snake back on track I would much appreciate it. If you need more info or pictures please ask and I will get the info you need. Thank you for reading

He's definitely on the small side for a year old ball. I would try him on rat pups, see if he'll take those. It would be super helpful if you could post pics of the set up and the snake itself. I'd also bump up his temps a bit.

1. Temps are too cold. Hot side should be 88-92 degrees. Cool side should be 78-82 degrees. What are you using to heat your tank? UTH WITH THERMOSTAT is recommended. Thermostat is 100% necessary. Heat lamps and radiant heat panels are also used by forum members.

2. Do you have hides? There should be 2 minimum and for a 30 gallon tank, you need to clutter it up with plants(crumpled newspaper works as well) and other places for him to hide under.

3. A mouse should be fine for that size snake. Try him on 2 mice at a time. Triangle shaped bp is not good. Do not panic, once he starts eating properly its body will even out over time.

4. In the event of a regurgitation by a snake, do not attempt to feed the snake for 7-10 days. If he didn't fully swallow the prey, then what you did you have been fine.

5. Care sheet for BP: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

6. Welcome to the forum.

I am using a UTH with a thermostat, the temps I gave are with a thermometer on the back side of the tank at mid way I've been looking into a heat gun so I can get accurate temps. I do have two hides one on each end he does alternate between the two. I'll get some pictures of the snake and his tank up so we can dig a bit deeper here. I really love the snake he is so good in nature and completely calm always wanders when I get him out. Thank you for the replies i'll go take a few pictures real quick. also he is about to shed just so you know when you see the pic.

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2uxzmev.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/9puj2o.jpg[/IMG]

IR/heat gun is highly recommended by keepers on this forum.

Analog thermometers are typically not reliable. Digital is the way to go if you don't have a heat gun. An indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe is recommended(notably an accurite from Walmart for $12ish). Your hot spot should be 88-92. 70-75 is still cool and should get bumped up.

I would definitely add more to the enclosure for him to hide under.

He doesn't look ridiculously underfed but could use some plumping up IMO. Hard to judge size but I'd see he could easily handle a mouse when he eats. Probably 2, imo.

Note on food- mootworm recommended rat pups which is the best option for when you go to switch your snake to bigger rats, it'll be easier later. Mice are fine for now, but you will want to switch to rats soon. Worry about that once you get things even with the snake's enclosure and eating right.

Ok, I'll go pick up the thermometer you suggested today. So should I try an adult mouse to see if he can take it, or should I stick with the hoppers he seems to handle the hoppers fairly easy.

^^ I edited my previous post to include food size and suggestion.

For cluttering the tank up, if you don't have the money for plants, decor, etc. I've seen crumpled newspaper as a very good suggestion.

Oh ok, sorry I didn't see it, ok I toss some newspaper in there as well. Thank you for all the help