Got some newbee questions. Help please! :)

Hi everyone,

I am a complete newbee when it comes to snakes......yet, I inherited a 4 month old ball python in Nov 2017. I knew nothing at all about pythons and everything I've learned has been on-line sources. I followed all the directions exactly for temp, humidity, hides, water, feeding...etc. etc... The snake has been doing well and eats weekly and doing all the things the website says its supposed to do.... except one thing.....its has not shed or even shown any of the signs that it may start shedding (ex: eyes and belly color). I spoke with the person who I got it from and they said they had had it for ~6 weeks before I got it, and it had not shed during that time either. Is there something wrong with it? Should I take it to a vet?

Second question, ....the snake has grown in the months that I've had him, but it seems he's gotten larger (thicker) in the lower part (last ~12 inches) of its body and not so much in the head or for the 1st 3-4 inches after the head. Is this normal or is something wrong?

I would love any advice I could get for my new friend :)
thank you all!!
Erin

How old is the animal and what are you feeding?

Like Pit said, we're going to need more info.

What is the age and weight of the snake?
And what size prey are you feeding the snake?

Plus a photo of two ... of the snake and the set up. .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The person I got it from thought it was four months old in November 2017....so I'm guessing its about 7-8 months old now. I am feeding it pinkie rats.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Erin

The person I got it from thought it was four months old in November 2017....so I'm guessing its about 7-8 months old now. I am feeding it pinkie rats.

---

Well I am also new to ball python but I am sure snake has to eat something bigger than rat pinkie. What is the weight of snake?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gusanr14

Well I am also new to ball python but I am sure snake has to eat something bigger than rat pinkie. What is the weight of snake?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

You have to weigh the snake so we know its size and send us a pic so we know what it is were helping. The prey should be the size of the snakes Thickest Part.. If not the snake wont grow and if it doesn't grow it doesn't shed.
Download Tapatalk and log into your BP acct... Then you post from your camera roll like FB.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Erin

The person I got it from thought it was four months old in November 2017....so I'm guessing its about 7-8 months old now. I am feeding it pinkie rats.

---

That there is your problem.

That is basically a starvation diet. It is keeping the snake alive, but it isn't growing enough.

It is completely normal for the body (middle) to be wider then the head, neck and tail.

A rat pinky is something you would give a hatchling fresh out of the egg. By now your snake should be eating rat weanlings. You have to go up in size of food. Slowly of course..

Imagine the rat would stretch out to reach something...the width of its body should match the width of the Ball Pythons WIDEST part, the middle part. Start feeding appropriate sizes. Since your baby is somewhat stunted, go slow, though. Give it a rat fuzzy for the next 2 feedings and then go to rat pups. From then on, match the middle part of the rodents and snakes body.

Also weigh your snake, so you can keep an eye on the weight gain and it also helps in determining which size to feed. A cheap digital postal scale works fine for that.

Basically, your snake hasn't grown enough to shed its skin..

He/she will catch up though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Erin

Hi everyone,

....

Second question, ....the snake has grown in the months that I've had him, but it seems he's gotten larger (thicker) in the lower part (last ~12 inches) of its body and not so much in the head or for the 1st 3-4 inches after the head. Is this normal or is something wrong?

....

---

IMO, a small head and forepart of the body and a thick rear two-thirds of the body is a normal weight distribution for ball pythons of all ages. Do a web search for ball python pictures and see for yourself.

As for the other question, I'd also need more information.

Good luck with the little guy.

Up it to rat pups.
It has to grow to shed.