Trying to KEEP my BP healthy

Also, I'm going to add that a rat hopper (pup, I think?) seems kind of small for a year old BP. Get a digital scale and a weight on him and feed him at 10-15%, or eyeball it to being about as wide as his THICKEST part - as in, of his body, not his neck. Their necks are basically an elastic bag attached to their spine. They expand a crazy amount.

Oh wow! I almost was going to go smaller! Have to say after watching all the YouTube Videos, that the freshly killed hopper was a LOT larger than the defrosted ones. They just seem to sort of shrink down quite a bit.

Most of the shrinkage appearance is from being packaged - they're just less fluffy. They stretch out like that while they're being eaten, too.


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-feeding-pics This whole thread is decent for size of prey/animal ratio and just how much snakes stretch. Or this one: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...eding-pictures

Or, well.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/...7fd4f0d4_o.jpg
This is my normal when she was stuck on mice. It's a good example of prey that's TOO SMALL.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/...5a4f8798_o.jpg
This is right.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/...cc230b08_o.jpg

They really DO stretch a TON.

Thanks! I was able to take care of this today. Got a infrared light to keep on all night and closed the A/C vent in the room. Finally, I also got a larger tank today and will be able to finish it in a week. Was going to wait for 2 feeds before moving him over to the bigger and better space (yes, I'll have at least 3 hides in it and plenty of leafy vines, ...). I have learned so much today from you and all the cool people advising here on this forum. Printed the care sheet and other info, read it and found a lot of other material in the process. Finished my small care books as well. I may just have to move him by the end of the week, after hopefully one feed. That way I have all the heat-regulating things in place and a better chance to get him feeding again if he hasn't yet by that time. :)

These pics are very helpful. Thank you. That last one with the neck having expanded so much is especially interesting.

Word of caution, I used the felt carpet back when my snakes were in tanks and my butter bee ALWAYS hid underneath it. She would knock over her hides and even her large and rather heavy water bowl in the process. Definitely get some way to monitor and control your UTH even if it's a cheap dimmer from lowes

You may also want to consider covering the outsides of the glass tank with construction paper (can leave a few inches along top of front pane open for checking on him). This helps make the entire tank sort of a "virtual hide," and makes your pet feel more safe and secure. I also refrain from handling my snake more than about 10-15 minutes on any given day, but that's just me.