Help with my baby ball python!!!!

About two months ago I rescued a baby ball python. He had bad scale rot and humidity blisters. The guy I got him from said he couldn't remember the last time he was fed. Since I've had him the scale rot and blisters are all cleared. But I can't get him to eat. I was able to force feed him once, but I haven't been successful since. He is getting very thin. I have tried live and frozen mice and rats. I've tried assist feeding, and like I said I force fed once. I just don't know what else to try. Any suggestions?

Could you tell us the details of your setup? Enclosure size, exact temps, type of thermometers, heat source, hides, etc.

Most feeding issues can be solved with some husbandry tweaking.

So glad to hear you've helped him with the scale rot :)

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How often have you been trying to feed him?

Do you have a weight and age on him? That would help us help you a lot.

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Originally Posted by drella941

About two months ago I rescued a baby ball python. He had bad scale rot and humidity blisters. The guy I got him from said he couldn't remember the last time he was fed. Since I've had him the scale rot and blisters are all cleared. But I can't get him to eat. I was able to force feed him once, but I haven't been successful since. He is getting very thin. I have tried live and frozen mice and rats. I've tried assist feeding, and like I said I force fed once. I just don't know what else to try. Any suggestions?

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Try something smaller then what he would normally eat for his size. That may encourage him. How big is he? Are your temps and humidity right?

I normally don't recommend force feeding as I have assist fed once to get my yellow anaconda started. I can't offer you much help with the eating since I've never rescued one from a horrible condition, but maybe somebody who has can chime in. Good luck though.

I have no idea how old he is. When we got him he was 130g. He is now about 105g. We is in a tub on a heated rack. The temps closest to the heat is in the high 80s. Humidity is a little above 50%. He has a hide and water dish. I have tried mouse pinks and hoppers, and rat pinks. Both live and frozen.

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Originally Posted by drella941

I have no idea how old he is. When we got him he was 130g. He is now about 105g. We is in a tub on a heated rack. The temps closest to the heat is in the high 80s. Humidity is a little above 50%. He has a hide and water dish. I have tried mouse pinks and hoppers, and rat pinks. Both live and frozen.

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Try a large fuzzy and leave in there overnight maybe? Other then that I can't really offer you much guidance.

different prey such as gerbils and guinea pigs can help with the feeding response due to a difference in smell.

I'd imagine a guinea pig would be way too large. Maybe an ASF hopper?

how did u try feeding ? did u just drop in and leave it with the live ? and f/t did u dance it or leave it ?

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

I'd imagine a guinea pig would be way too large. Maybe an ASF hopper?

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baby*

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Originally Posted by drella941

I have no idea how old he is. When we got him he was 130g. He is now about 105g. We is in a tub on a heated rack. The temps closest to the heat is in the high 80s. Humidity is a little above 50%. He has a hide and water dish. I have tried mouse pinks and hoppers, and rat pinks. Both live and frozen.

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What are you using to measure the temp and humidity?

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Originally Posted by alykoz

baby*

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Guinea pigs weigh an average of 80g at birth... That ball would split right open if he tries to eat it.

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Guinea pigs weigh an average of 80g at birth... That ball would split right open if he tries to eat it.

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I guess I completely disregarded the fact that we are talking about a baby ball haha

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Originally Posted by alykoz

I guess I completely disregarded the fact that we are talking about a baby ball haha

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Haha it's all good!

Only downfall of gerbils and if I'm not mistaken they had a member that did it to his BP and he couldn't get it to switch back to mice/rats.

EDIT:
It actually may of been a hamster, not sure.

Also, gerbils are buttheads. Just sayin...

I've tried leaving a live in with him, and tried dangling and leaving a f/t also. We have a infrared temp gun.

How long were they left in with him?

Maybe try a 16 Quart tub. Put just a hide and a small water dish in there. Once the snake is inside the hide put the F/T meal right in front of the hide entrance. Leave it overnight if needed. Mine usually took the food within a few hours. I've had to do this for a few of my snakes to get them to eat until they got comfortable.

We force fed him today. Hopefully he starts eating on his own.