Trying to KEEP my BP healthy

1. How long have you had your ball python?
1 1/2 weeks



2. How old (or how big) is your snake?
1 year


3. Does it eat on a regular schedule?
first time, no problem. it was fresh kill. second time, refused to eat. I defrosted hopper rat (same size rat as before) in plastic bag. he bit it a few times but drew back each time.


4. How long since its last meal?
2 weeks


5. What type/size prey is being offered?
hopper rat


6. How often do you offer food?
1 time, all night


7. What type and size of enclosure does it live in?
10 gal tank


8. What are you using as substrate? If it has depth, how deep is it?
felt mat


9. What type of heating do you use?
bottom heater and heat lamp


10. Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures?
no, but it stays consistently at 80 degrees as night and goes up to 84 during the day (I turn on the heating lamp during the day).



11. What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures?
tank thermometer placed low in the tank on warmer side.


12. What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure?
80% on warmer side.


13. What is the average humidity level?
40 to 50%


14. How many and what type of hides does the snake have?
1 hide (I had been told he'd be okay with that for about 4mohth. my husband is building an enclosure for him.)


15. Is water readily available at all times?
yes


16. Does the snake live alone or does it share the enclosure with anything else?
alone


17. How often and for how long is the snake typically handled?
once per day (at nite) and usually between 1 - 2 hours at a time (he seemed to "like" it ... being inquisitive but sweet).


18. Does the snake have any medical history (old injuries or illnesses)?
not to my knowledge


19. Do you have any other reptiles? Have you brought in any new reptiles recently?
no


20. Is there anything specific or unique about your situation that we should be aware of?
just that I got my BP at the reptile show and should have prepared better. of course, the store that showed the snake did want to sell, so they told me all would be fine. ... my bad, really.

Do you have a question?

I've been reading a lot in the 1 1/2 weeks that I have him, but the one question that I cannot find an answer for is this:

Should I offer him food after having refused one meal (a week ago) AND while he is apparently starting a shed?
His eyes are milky. To the touch, he feels less solid than he did a week ago. He willingly let me take him out of the tank yesterday and he just rested in my arms. He seemed content but not inquisitive as he normally is.
My hunch is, I should not offer hopper rat or anything until he completes shed, but I also do not want to starve him unnecessarily.
Can someone please help me? He does look healthy all other ... I've been keeping his tank very clean and thought that I am being good for taking him out ... It's gotta be so boring to any creature to not be able to explore his environment.

YES! THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH ! Here's the question:

I've been reading a lot in the 1 1/2 weeks that I have him, but the one question that I cannot find an answer for is this:

Should I offer him food after having refused one meal (a week ago) AND while he is apparently starting a shed?
His eyes are milky. To the touch, he feels less solid than he did a week ago. He willingly let me take him out of the tank yesterday and he just rested in my arms. He seemed content but not inquisitive as he normally is.
My hunch is, I should not offer hopper rat or anything until he completes shed, but I also do not want to starve him unnecessarily.
Can someone please help me? He does look healthy all other ... I've been keeping his tank very clean and been taking him out almost every day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxima

I've been reading a lot in the 1 1/2 weeks that I have him, but the one question that I cannot find an answer for is this:

Should I offer him food after having refused one meal (a week ago) AND while he is apparently starting a shed?
His eyes are milky. To the touch, he feels less solid than he did a week ago. He willingly let me take him out of the tank yesterday and he just rested in my arms. He seemed content but not inquisitive as he normally is.
My hunch is, I should not offer hopper rat or anything until he completes shed, but I also do not want to starve him unnecessarily.
Can someone please help me?

---

I wouldn't worry about feeding him until he's done with his shed. The rest of his behaviors are likely because he's going through this process. He's probably got less than a week left until he's done. Just remember to keep his humidity up until then. Here's a good article to read on this process (if you haven't already done so): http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxima

He does look healthy all other ... I've been keeping his tank very clean and thought that I am being good for taking him out ... It's gotta be so boring to any creature to not be able to explore his environment.

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Ball pythons all have different personalities. Some don't mind being handled at all - some get stressed out by it and the only way you'll know that they are stressed is because they'll start refusing to eat. You also should know that a "boring" ball python is typically a happy ball python. Boring = comfortable. Most of them will come out of their hides and explore at night, but they're known for being pet rocks during the day. My recommendation for you is that because you just got him less than 2 weeks ago, and he's shedding, and he refused a meal already in your care, is to take yourself out of his world for awhile (as difficult as that may be). Still give him everything he needs (clean cage, water, warm spot, humidity, etc), but try not to hold him until he's done shedding and has eaten a few (at least three) meals while in your care.

What ever should you do when you wish you could be holding him? Here's some light reading that you'll definitely enjoy!

• Ball Python Caresheet: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet
• Glass Tank Setup: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!
• Defrosting Feeders: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...efrost-feeders
• Bad Shed? (just in case): http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem

And, last but not least, welcome to the forums! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I wouldn't worry about feeding him until he's done with his shed. The rest of his behaviors are likely because he's going through this process. He's probably got less than a week left until he's done. Just remember to keep his humidity up until then. Here's a good article to read on this process (if you haven't already done so): http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process.

Ball pythons all have different personalities. Some don't mind being handled at all - some get stressed out by it and the only way you'll know that they are stressed is because they'll start refusing to eat. You also should know that a "boring" ball python is typically a happy ball python. Boring = comfortable. Most of them will come out of their hides and explore at night, but they're known for being pet rocks during the day. My recommendation for you is that because you just got him less than 2 weeks ago, and he's shedding, and he refused a meal already in your care, is to take yourself out of his world for awhile (as difficult as that may be). Still give him everything he needs (clean cage, water, warm spot, humidity, etc), but try not to hold him until he's done shedding and has eaten a few (at least three) meals while in your care.

What ever should you do when you wish you could be holding him? Here's some light reading that you'll definitely enjoy!

• Ball Python Caresheet: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet
• Glass Tank Setup: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!
• Defrosting Feeders: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...efrost-feeders
• Bad Shed? (just in case): http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem

And, last but not least, welcome to the forums! :D

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Thank you so very much! I will heed your advice, and I shall be patient and allow him to become a happy and bored BP. His name is Max, by the way. Will have to take him out if tank gets messy, but I will abstain from cleaning a clean tank as well. I'll be able to refill his water dish without disturbing him too much. His new enclosure should be ready within a couple of months, and I've been checking out a lot of articles on what to put in it.

Wait no tstat,???? Go get one if you want to keep ypur snake healthy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frostysBP

Wait no tstat,???? Go get one if you want to keep ypur snake healthy.

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THIS!!! Your thermometer isn't reading the temperature of the glass over the heat pad, it's reading the air temp above it. It could be hot enough to burn your snake on the glass.

Also you mentioned that the tank is about 80-84 on the hot side, but the temperature needs to be very close to 90 degrees for a ball python (89-91 degrees). If temps aren't right it really deters bps from eating


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