new ball python mommy >>>>please help!!!!<<<<

ello my fellow snake lovers,
a friend of mine just gave me my 1st ball python last week. I am having a problem w/him eating. please keep in mind, my friend got Drogo from her friend around april. he did not eat for her at all, so it's been like 3 months now he hasn't ate. the original owner said he is picky and will only eat white mice, so I got 2 white mice today in hopes he would be hungry enough to munch down but he hasn't. he seems interested in the mouse, he keeps looking in it's direction, following it, smelling it, all that...just won't strike. this is not my 1st snake, but 1st ball python, yes. the temp reads 87 degrees w/a red basking light and uth. humidity is at 45%, now I understand it is suppose to be closer to 60. I have a large water bowl, I mist the tank...my house is all cedar, may be why humidity is so low. should I try a humidifier in my room, or possibly a frog fogger or would that make humidity too high? I know the husbandry requirements all have to be just right for him to feed, I just need some guidance and advice here. I want my Drogo to be as happy and healthy as can be, but obviously he's not with an empty tummy. I believe he's in about a 55g tank. I have a rock hide, water bowl, aspen bedding, heat lamp, uth, thermometer/hygrometer. please help me figure out why he won't eat? shedding? humidity levels 2 low? stressed, still needs to get use to his new home??? so many questions, please help me out! he won't eat f/t I was told, so I tried white live mouse to no avail. but like I said, he seems interested in it, like he wants to eat it, just doesn't strike it....ugh...please help me out by answering my questions, it would be so much appreciated!!!! thank ya'll!!!!

First of all, a 55 gallon tank is going to be large for a ball python, especially if it is young and more than likely if he does not feel secure, he will not eat. Secondly, if you have only had him for a week, he needs time to settle into his new surroundings. If the tank is all that you have, try cluttering up the area with hides, logs, plants, or even crumpled up newspapers to make him feel secure. You may even cover 3 sides of the tank so that he cannot see out. Secondly, try to get precise temps inside the cage. Heat tape hooked up to a thermostat is the best way to go in my opinion. I keep my warm side at 90 degrees, and cool side around 80. Humidity in a 55 gallon tank will drop quickly, so you may want to cover part of the top on the tank and/or mist when it comes time for him to shed. What substrate are you using? Also, if you have a picture of his setup this can help us give specific advise as well. You've come to the right place and good luck. Patience is key to getting them to eat, so just stay calm and get his setup worked out and then go from there. Also, if you have a picture of the snake itself we can tell more of his weight and condition since you have received him recently from someone.

Questions: How are you feeding him? If you are moving him out of his cage into a feeding cage, that might be setting him off. Are you feeding live or frozen? Did the past owners feed live or frozen?

It sounds like he is stressed. I definitely recommend giving him some time to settle. I once had an adult ball with a stressful background that did not eat for a year on its own. Drove me absolutely nuts, and I was constantly worried. However, one day out of the blue, she ate and from then on consistently started eating.

I agree with elbee that a picture would help, and her recommendations for the tank.

Also, congrats on your first ball python :) Your first always holds a special place in your heart.

so glad I'm getting some input back! :) thank you!!! I'm guessing the tank is 55g, I know it is 48 in long x 20 in tall x 18 in wide. I have him on aspen bedding. I keep 1 half of the tank covered with a towel to help with humidity. the temp stays at 86 with an overhead red basking bulb. I also bought an uth that I placed underneath his hide, but when I have it plugged in, he won't go in his hide which seems he's telling me it's too hot. I've been misting the sides of the tank twice a day, keep his water dish full, but the humidity drops right back down after the water evaporates of course. he's definitely a fat boy for not eating since april! the first owner always fed him live and said he will only eat white mice. so that is exactly what I tried and he seemed interested, followed it around, smelled it, turned his head in it's direction, came face to face with it but would not strike it. sorry I'm new to this forum, how do I post a pic with my reply? my d/p was taken the day I got him.

this is a pic of him the day I got him a little over a week ago.

http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/...pse697d5fc.jpg

this is his tank setup

http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/...psb8bc7696.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by darkangel1708

I also bought an uth that I placed underneath his hide, but when I have it plugged in, he won't go in his hide which seems he's telling me it's too hot.

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You need to get a thermostat and possibly a smaller cage until he feels more comfortable.

I have a thermostat. it's a thermostat n hygrometer in 1. that's what the small black thing suction cupped to the glass is over his hide on the right side of tank.

Are you sure that is not a thermometer? What you have looks like one of the "stick on" thermometers from petsmart or petco. What you need is a digital thermometer/hygrometer and a digital thermostat. I like the ones from walmart that are called Acurite thermometers. They work wonderfully and you can't beat paying $9 for one. It includes both a thermometer and hygrometer.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347

A thermostat is what you plug the actual heating pad into. The heating pads can get dangerously hot and the thermostat ensures that the heating pad does not get too hot by shutting it off at a certain temperature threshold.

I will always be a fan of herpstat thermostats.

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

You can also use a hydrofarm thermostat, those tend to work well too, but if you have the money I would definitely buy a herpstat.

This guide is very helpful in showing you how to place the thermometer and how to set up your glass tank http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I have a 40 gallon breeder and it has been perfect so far.

As said before he probably will not eat because the tank may be too big for him and the tank does not seem very secure for his hiding purposes. Is there a temperature gradient at all?

i apologize i read that wrong. it is a 'national geographic' thermometer/hygrometer that i got from petsmart. yes, there is a heat gradient. if i'm correct, i should get another hide for the cool side right? another member said i could try adding more hides and things to climb to crowd the tank and make him feel more secure. i suppose i should try this idea? do they sell the proper thermostats at lowe's?

Yes definitely add more hides and more decoration to keep it more secure. What you can also do like in that tutorial for the glass setup is cover 3 sides of the tank with paper so the snake doesn't feel like it is being open on all sides. You can also crumple up newspaper balls and add it to the tank if you are unable to get decorations. Mine definitely enjoys silken plants and plastic plants.

You'll definitely want an identical hide on the cool side so the python doesn't feel like it has to sacrifice security for regulating its temperature.

As far as I know Lowes does not have proper thermostats but since your ambient temperature is around 86 I feel like it would be safer to turn the heat mat off for now. I know you can get hydrofarms on amazon. I Just got one for $26 with amazon prime here.

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

It has a temperature swing but it works fine for its purpose and has worked well for many other users as well. The herpstat is just very accurate and definitely worth the investment.

I'm sure it has been mentioned already,
but I second anyone that suggested another hide on your cool side. Maybe try to get one similar to your current.
Also, since your tank is so large, I would definitely try to fill it up with more decoration and obstacles.
May I also suggest, blacking out the back side and both sides of your tank with a dark film or paper of some sort, perhaps a decorative picture wrap from your local pet store. That might help make him/her feel more secure as well.

Best of luck to you and hopefully everything works out, good luck!

thanks every1 4 the help!!! i will def get a thermostat and tank decorations. i just got a 2nd hide 2day 4 the cool side. plan on getting the rest 2morrow when i get paid! i appreciate the feedback! :)

Not a problem and please keep us updated. We're all here to help! How is your snake doing today?

Also in bed in a screen top like that a big waterbowl will help a lot. I keep one of my balls in a 40 and I have a water bowl covering at least 1/4 of the enclosure and cling wrap covering 75% of the top and my humidity usually doesn't drop below 50% with misting every couple days.

U need to add some more things in there to clutter up the cage so it's not so open. And another hide on the cool side. Is your bp always out or stayes in his hide? Also do u have any belly heat for him? Try getting a better tempture and humidity reader. Accurite is a good one and cheap. U should have one on the hot side and cool. A hiding bp is a happy bp. Good luck to you and congrats on your first bp.

I have heard good things about these thermostats as well and I have one. I order gecko supplies from this site and shipping is a flat $5. Check this out if you want http://www.pangeareptile.com/store/v...cs-ve-100.html

update: he still hasn't ate...I got a hide 4 the cool side, 2 fake plants, cleaned his tank up nice yesterday, covered back n sides of tank 2 help him feel more secure. I still need 2 get more décor 2 cluster the tank some more. I decided 2 try a medium rat this time, going 2 try 2night. w/the basking bulb & uth, the temp is reading 88. also bought a humidifier 4 my room, which sits right beside his tank n humidity is reading between 47% & 50%...still not where I want it. he normally stays in his hide, but came out 2 explore after I cleaned the tank n comes out once in awhile at night 2 roam n drink. he's very good w/being held 4 not eating since april. def is still a fat boy!!!!


http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4bfdd88e.jpg

also, the tank I have him in is his original tank from his original owner, whom of which he ate 4....he always fed him in his tank, which I have also done....he will only eat live, white mice. decided 2 try something diff n go w/a medium rat, will try 2night.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by darkangel1708

also, the tank I have him in is his original tank from his original owner, whom of which he ate 4....he always fed him in his tank, which I have also done....he will only eat live, white mice. decided 2 try something diff n go w/a medium rat, will try 2night.

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A medium rat may be to big and could injure your animal.
Be prepared to intervene with a pencil to put in the rats jaw.
Don't mean to freak you out but to prepare you.
How are you judging the size of the rat?
I would try a small or crawler first.
You could also try putting the snake and rat in a small tub and see if that works.

yaaaaaaay it was a success!!!! :D :D :D he FINALLY ate!!!!! ugh such a relief!!!! no, the rat was not 2 big n I dampened the towel over the top half of his tank n sprayed his tank 2 get humidity 2 60% an hr b4 feeding. as soon as I put the rat in, he struck w/o hesitation!!!! :D :D :D oh I'm soooo super happy!!!!! :D :D no more lil mice 4 him, rats it is haha!!!!!!

Congrats it's a real relief when they eat!

thank u!!!! :) def a huge relief!!!! I'm very happy!!! :)