Another eating/health question (baby bp)

I have a baby ball python (hatched August 11th) who hasn't eaten for the month of October.

I know that it's not uncommon for ball pythons to stop eating - but his appearance lately has caused me to be concerned.

I've had him since September 14th. The first week he ate a live mouse (he had been eating live previously) and the second week he ate a frozen/thawed mouse (which made me really happy because I was wanting to switch him). No problems, no hesitations.

Since then he has not eaten.

My concern is with his weight loss - he feels really thin (spine is visible and easily felt, skin is loose).

I also recently noticed that his belly is weird grey/pink color. He has no other signs of shedding though and has had this odd coloration for about 2 weeks.

I guess I'm just wondering if this is something I should be concerned about. Normally I would let it play out, but his weigh loss has me concerned.

Nothing has changed in his environment and his temperament is still the same.


Thoughts? Suggestions?

I was thinking about offering another live mouse this weekend.

Pics would help alot.

Go ahead and tell us what the temps and humidity is, how you are measuring it, what the sources are.

Without this stuff we can't be much help.

I should have known this would be asked...

He's in a 10 gallon glass aquarium with a lid (not a screen). All but one side are covered (it's a modified tank).
He has two hides, fairly sized water dish, and a log/climb thing. On aspen bedding. Under the tank heater.

I monitor temps/humidity a few different ways.

Ambiant temp is around 80 with humidity at 50%. I measure it with a digital thermo/hydometer

The hotter side of the gradient is at 90 (according to the heat gun).

I also have a crappy Petco thermometer that's stuck to the top of the hotter side. I don't really trust it, but just as an FYI it says 80 (ish - like I said, it's crap so I don't use it).

Here's an attempt at a picture of his belly. The flash made it a bit hard to see. http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file.../6/bpbelly.jpg

And here's an attempt at showing how thin he is

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...6/skinnybp.jpg

If you have any other suggestions on angles/ways to show whats going on I'd appreciate it. I'm new to photographing snakes. :)

Does your Under tank heater have a thermostat regulating it?

No, it doesn't. I thought about getting one (ex-boyfriend's snake/set up had one) but I gun the warm side twice a day and it hasn't changed so I didn't think it was necessary.

Should I get one and do you have recommendations?

Would that cause the sudden appetite problem?

They are absolutely necessary without one UTH's just get hotter and hotter over time. (They can and will get hot enough to kill a snake) That pink on his belly could be the beginning of a burn.

Here are some good thermostats. Stay away from the junk sold in pet stores.

Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

Best: http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html

There are all sorts of potential causes... improper temperatures, not enough security, too much handling, or even no good logical reason (BP's just love to stress us out)

Can you post a picture of his cage?

Here's the best shot I could get of his cage (reflections and all).



I've questioned the hides before. I know those logs aren't ideal for babies (they're kind of big). For awhile I had aspen kind of built up in the back of it to make it smaller but he's since flattened it out. I've also heard that you should have two identical hides - is this true?

I'm ordering a thermostat now.

I guess my question is - what should I do going forward?

Is his size a concern or should I just wait it out as with any off-eating situation?

The snake I previously cared for was 5 years old, so it didn't worry me so much when she wouldn't eat.


http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...4/8/6/cage.jpg

Yes, identical hides are generally a good idea. I like these: http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

He looks a little thin but not alarmingly so.

How often are you offering food?

Sweet, I will buy a few of those as well. Apparently online shopping is the way to go.
Why do pet stores suck at selling snake-appropriate stuff?

I offer good every Wednesday night.

I first fed him 5 days after getting him home. I was really surprised he ate because he had just moved and the breeder said he hadn't struck - but was just eating rat pups when left in his tank overnight. But he took the young mouse beautifully.

I offered twice this past week - no interest at all.

I was thinking about trying live again, but I'm feel like I should wait a bit as to not stress him out too much with it.

I really don't know. They just love to hire people who don't know what they are talking about and stock overpriced junk lol.

Stick to your schedule. Trying live isn't a bad idea at this point... worst case you have to transition him back to F/T.

Thanks for all your help.

I'll just keep on with what I'm doing, switch out new hides and get the thermostat and hope for the best.

At what point would I want to contact our vet?

Would you suggest I wait until Wednesday to offer the live food?

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for all your help.

I'll just keep on with what I'm doing, switch out new hides and get the thermostat and hope for the best.

At what point would I want to contact our vet?

Would you suggest I wait until Wednesday to offer the live food?

There are a few more steps you can try before escalating to a vet appointment... assist feeding for example. But if all else fails a vet trip might be in order.

Yes, if you feed Wednesdays then stick to wednesdays. offer food. If he takes it great if not wait until the next feeding day. Offering too often can actually reduce the chances of a successful feeding.

I kept a yearling BP in a 10gal tank for a few months (he ate well in there), then moved him into a much larger custom made cage. He ate two more times for me then stopped and refused food for over a month. The only hides available to him were those half logs, and I decided he was probably feeling insecure (he would strike at the F/T food item defensively). 3 weeks ago, I added 2 new hides, 1 gal plastic nursery pots turned upside down with a hole cut in the bottom for the snake's access. I left him alone for a week, he went into shed....waited another week, then he ate as soon as the food item was offered. Try to give your snake hides that are relatively dark and snug, leave him alone for a week, then try again. Good luck

Offer him live...Get him eating regularly then try F/T...

Recently purchased a hatchling that has not eaten,hatched out mid sept absorbed all yolk and shed out tried to feed on oct 4th(small fuzzie mouse f/t)did not take left in tub overnight and still there in morning.Have done the same thing several times now with different prey items (pinkies, fuzzy rats) and still no luck. Tried to assist feed last night and she spat it out 3 times decided this was enough will try again the night after tomorrow night.If this does not work should i then continue to try to assist or should i then try to force feed or am i worrying to much and she will just eat in her own time.