I NEED HELP. please.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by varasios

The tank is like a wide style vivarium (why i bought the stronger light) because it has about 24 inches of height to it. he has been offered stunned live mice the whole time. and has one hide cave(hot spot). he spends most of his time in his hide. especially before i added more heat.

---

Ok try this get you temps right, get him a another hide just like the frist one for his cool side.

Is he in a high traffic area of the house, by a tv or radio, do you play loud music in the room he's in?

Crumple up some news paper and put in the tank don't offer any food, don't mess with him just leave him be for a week other than spot cleaning and water changes if needed. In a week offer him a live 100% live mouse and see how he goes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phreak

Two hides would help keep him eating by keeping him less stressed. An active snake is a stressed snake in most cases. It seems he wants to thermoregulate but cant because he would be insecure without a hide. You could try different food (live, F/T) to better your chances of him eating.

---

I had the same hide in the previous tank i had him in and he was eating good once a week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by varasios

I had the same hide in the previous tank i had him in and he was eating good once a week.

---

A change in environment without the needed security can trigger stress. This is way we suggest after any major enclosure changes, i.e hides, viv to tub you allow them to settle in. The added stress of shedding is also a factor. Picture being unable to see and totally sun burned (from eyelids to toenails) and when you heal and can see your in a strange place with millions of years of instinct telling you to hide or get eaten and you cant, grabbing a cheese burger would be way down on your list of thing to do too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by varasios

I had the same hide in the previous tank i had him in and he was eating good once a week.

---

Just because he was eating it doesn't mean the tank setup was ideal. This tank is bigger therefore more stress on him.

i've heard a rumour that ball pythons prefer the scent of a gerbil. Is this true? Why my snake is missing his strikes everytime is really confusing me too.
I'm just scared because he is getting to be thinner.

Gerbils are their natural prey.

You said he had dry skin around his eye? This is most likely a stuck eyecap. Your snake is basically blind in one eye for now. This will probably come off with his next shed but can be taken off. You should let someone with experience tell you how to do that.

Think you should listen to everyone's advice. Have you tried thawed or live mice instead of "stunned"?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by varasios

i've heard a rumour that ball pythons prefer the scent of a gerbil. Is this true? Why my snake is missing his strikes everytime is really confusing me too.
I'm just scared because he is getting to be thinner.

---

They are imprint feeders. If he was eating mice or rats before then thats dinner to him. You get him stuck on gerbils and he might not go back to mice or rats. Striking and missing??? They are given what amounts to almost perfect smell, movement tracking sight, and heat seeking abilities. Hes not missing he's defending himself another sign of stress. You see them strike enough and you'll know the difference if they want to grab and hold on they will.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by varasios

i've heard a rumour that ball pythons prefer the scent of a gerbil. Is this true? Why my snake is missing his strikes everytime is really confusing me too.
I'm just scared because he is getting to be thinner.

---

I would not think about changing his food, work on your setup this is most likely where the problem come from and take it from there.

BP are imprint feeder and you do not want him to be imprint on gerbils.

A 6 months old BP in such a big enclosure is the first problem.

Other problems is your guessing your temps, get a good thermometer as I suggested in my previous post, you also MUST have 2 tight identical hides (all side touching his body).

By any chance, did you happen to get one of those Exo-Terra cages, like this one?

http://www.ciliatus.com/content/imag...m_1%5B1%5D.jpg