Help with an abandoned BP!

Hi...hoping I joined the right forum & you all can help me!

I work at a small chain pet store [we don't carry reptiles or anything, mainly just sell supplies] & when I got to work yesterday morning, my boss showed me a shoe box that was left outside the door & inside it was a baby ball python. Nobody at my job likes reptiles & I was afraid at what my boss would do with the snake if nobody took him...so I reluctantly said I would take him home [i say reluctantly because even tho i love reptiles & have had them before, i am currently 8months pregnant & a new pet isn't something we need right now lol :)]

Anyway, so I have him & luckily for him we had kept all our reptile supplies & hes in a nice viv & has adequate lighting & heating...I have a 100w zoo med powersun lamp [those $70 bulbs!] on him for daytime & a low wattage red bulb for night.

Ok...so the issues...he looks pretty skinny, you can see his spine which I don't think is normal :( & when I held him he doesn't seem to have a very strong grip.
Also the thing that concerns me the most is he makes this whistling noise now & then...seems to be mainly when he is on the move...I can't see any mucus or discharge...any ideas on that? :confusd:

I left him be yesterday & he immediately found his cave & spent all afternoon & night resting. Same with this morning, I saw he was out basking when we got back from shopping about an hour ago so my fiance got him out just to see how his temperament would be getting him out of the tank & he seems ok.
He stayed in a ball with just his head out, but I was able to get him to explore a little...thats when I noticed the whistling noise.

I have never owned a ball python...only snakes I've had are corn snakes. Any advice for me? I plan to feed him every Thursday, is that enough being as hes underweight? How do you get a snake back to a healthy weight?
How about handling them? They act a lot different to corn snakes, so am finding it a lil hard to read how hes feeling...when he was in his ball with just his head out, it made me a lil nervous he was waiting to strike at me or something :confusd:

Here are some pics, hope they work! We've had a few bunnies & kittens dumped outside our store, but never a snake! Sad...especially as this was early morning when he was found, so it was freezing cold outside!

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps818cdb5a.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...psafcd92ae.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...psfb4ded12.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps797fc473.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...psf8486c59.jpg

Yea looks real skinny in that pic. Try feeding him smaller meals at first.

Sure is a good looking critter. Fatten him up and look into the possible RI.

Poor baby - you're his Christmas angel to take him in and stabilize him......

Could you give me an example? Once a week still?

I'm a new keeper myself so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. :) I can't tell his age but he looks about the same size as my boy. I'm feeding him every 4 days. I'm feeding rat pups but that may be too big for your little one since he looks like a bit on the thin side. I'd give him at least another day to settle in then try offering him at rat fuzzy and see how he does with that. I'd try frozen/thawed first.

As for the breathing issues, I think most here would advise you to take him to a herp vet. It could be an RI.

Good luck and good for you for taking the little guy in.

ETA: Oh and also about the balling behavior. When they wrap up tight in a little ball with their heads tucked in, it means they're stressed/afraid. It's a self-protective behavior. Don't let that worry you, though. If he's anything like mine, he'll relax in a minute or so and then start exploring. The older mine gets, the less I see the ball. I only see it very occasionally now if I move too suddenly by his head. I've been given to understand that most balls are head shy.

What I've learned from this forum is that a hiding BP is a happy BP. If he stayed in his hide, it means that he feels safe as BPs in the wild prefer to hide in small spaces rather than exploring.


Have you weighed him? If he is a baby and underweight, he would benefit from more frequent feedings such as a 5 day schedule on appropriately sized prey.


I noticed that corn snakes are more active than BPs are. Most BPs are very docile in temperament, and only strike out of fear or if you smell like food. When they're about to strike, they form an "S" shape, though that doesn't always necessary mean they're about to strike.


I'm new to owning a BP myself but reading through these forums really help. Take a look at this care sheet for more information: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet


I cannot believe someone would abandon this cute baby! :( So great that you took him in.

I have to agree, you are this snake's guardian angel! I recommend feeding it slightly smaller meals, but more often since it's underweight, maybe every 4-5 days. Any animal, if it's starved, can be harmed if it is suddenly given a large amount of food. So lots of small things will do until it begins to fill out again. A triangle shaped body is definitely a sign of starvation.

On a side note, where'd you buy the things in your terrarium? They look awesome!

Ok thank you! I appreciate the feeding tips...I really hope he eats ok! Hes for sure a baby, but not as tiny as the ones you see in pet shops when curled up he fits in my out stretched palm [& i'm a petite lady lol] if that helps with size...so hes probably a young juvi.

Glad it sounds like hes happy, after we held him today hes now stayed out basking & not gone back to his hide.

So when I get him out & he stays in a ball with his head out, what does that mean?

Thanks again...we honestly don't need a snake right now like I mentioned, its not the best timing, but my boss despite being a pet store manager isn't very compassionate about animals & I hate to think what he would have done with him if I didn't agree to take him...especially being a snake.

We'll do our best & take care of the lil guy. Like you all said it IS the holidays afterall :rolleyes:

& thanks :) there all things I had leftover from having reptiles before, most just came from random pet stores & the buddha elephant I was given as a gift & decided it would look cool in the tank haha. The sub I'm using is coco husk [eco earth] hope thats ok for a ball python...I also have aspen shavings, but I know they aren't good for humidity & they also don't look very natural lol.