Type of ball/is he too thin?

Hello, we are new to the forum and first time snake owners. We have a female normal ball python that we bought from PetSmart on May 22 and then we have a male ball python that we are unsure of the morph from a breeder in our area on May 28. He said that it was a mojave, but I really don't think that is what he is. Also, he seems VERY thin and I don't know why. We are going to schedule an appointment with a vet soon to check him out, just looking for opinions right now. He only weighed 40.7g according to our scale about 2 days ago and is a little over a foot long. He isn't shy at all and is very active when we have him out, other than seeming too thin he acts pretty normal I think.

https://www.facebook.com/brianna.dil...=3&uploaded=11

There is link to an album I made public to be able to share for information. There are photos of both our female Luci and our male Mr. Slithers, although they are mostly of our male that I am questioning on here because I wasn't sure how else to upload pictures. Also, he had a green urate/fecal (not sure which one) that I included a picture of and I'm curious what that could mean. I know that it can happen occasionally but, as a new snake owner, am very curious! Thank you so much for everyone's help!

Yes, simply, he looks too thin. Like... Dangerously so. Whomever you got him from either wasn't caring for him properly or as a baby the little one was not a reliable eater for one reason or another. Were any of these things discussed before you bought him?

Yes, he is way too thin. Get some food into that snake! There might be an underlying problem that the vet can find, but seriously, feed him. Poor guy is starving.

And he is not a mojave. No way. That looks like a normal. The breeder you got him from sounds...... odd... to say the least..

Another note, until he's eating reliably for you I probably wouldn't handle him at all. It's hard to just leave them alone, but the stress of handling and a new home might be enough to keep him from eating and it looks like he needs to start taking food right away.

Agree it's a normal. That breeder sounds like they could be a little sketchy. If you aren't already, you might want to quarantine him and make sure you don't touch your others after going in his enclosure without washing hands.
He may not be sick, it's just better to quarantine newcomers, especially if they look unhealthy (I do a 90 day quarantine usually).

Too thin and looks dehydrated.

That is not a snake that has eaten well recently if at all.

I'm fairly new to snakes and even I know that that snake is VERY thin. Hatchlings aren't even that thin lol. Also looks dehydrated (wrinkles). I wouldn't touch him until he eats. But like I said, I'm no expert.

Oh and I agree, normal. Pretty colors for a normal though!👍

Update plz!? :confusd:

Thank you everybody, we are terribly worried about him! He still won't eat, so I was thinking about trying to force feed him. I don't know how to do that though... He is a very beautiful snake! The breeder said that he feeds his snakes weekly and that he was feeding them pinkies... I'm tempted to call the police and have him found and get his snakes taken away because they were all looking pretty thin.. I feel terrible for them! My boyfriend gets paid next Friday and I'm hoping the little guy can hang in there until then so he can go to the vet! Can anybody help me as to how to force feed? I really want this little guy to start eating! He does have wrinkles, but I'm wondering if that is because he is so thin. He does like his water! I will keep updated!

Do you think animal control would do anything for this guy's snakes if I call and report him?

Also, I have an appointment with a veterinarian for my little guy this upcoming Wednesday, I hope he can make it that long! I'm going to put off on one of my bills for like a week so that I have the money to take him in. I tried finding somewhere to help me force feed him but nowhere had any openings today to help me out.

I feel so bad, I kind of just want to cry right now :tears:

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Originally Posted by rainmixaeris

Thank you everybody, we are terribly worried about him! He still won't eat, so I was thinking about trying to force feed him. I don't know how to do that though... He is a very beautiful snake! The breeder said that he feeds his snakes weekly and that he was feeding them pinkies... I'm tempted to call the police and have him found and get his snakes taken away because they were all looking pretty thin.. I feel terrible for them! My boyfriend gets paid next Friday and I'm hoping the little guy can hang in there until then so he can go to the vet! Can anybody help me as to how to force feed? I really want this little guy to start eating! He does have wrinkles, but I'm wondering if that is because he is so thin. He does like his water! I will keep updated!

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What have you been trying to feed him?

Imo, I would try rehydrating him first with warm water. I would sit him in a shallow tub with just enough water to cover the belly scales. See if you can get him to drink the water by just monitoring him while he is in the shallow tub. Trying to force feed or assist feed before the animal is somewhat rehydrated is not the best procedure. Snakes absorb fluids through the cloaca so by just placing him in the warm water you are giving therapeutic fluid replacement that will help some. If he drinks the water then that is a added plus! Stay in peace and not pieces. Good luck. :salute:

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Originally Posted by rainmixaeris

Do you think animal control would do anything for this guy's snakes if I call and report him?

Also, I have an appointment with a veterinarian for my little guy this upcoming Wednesday, I hope he can make it that long! I'm going to put off on one of my bills for like a week so that I have the money to take him in. I tried finding somewhere to help me force feed him but nowhere had any openings today to help me out.

I feel so bad, I kind of just want to cry right now :tears:

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I'm not sure where you are but I had a situation where we got our ball python from a so called rescue and all the snakes in this guy's care were in poor condition, improper heat/humidity and no water and improper enclosures it was disgustingly sad not only that but the place was filthy and there were young kids in the home... anyway ... we called the police and they involved the spca and fish and wildlife and forced these people to get their stuff together ... if you think his snakes are not being cared for properly make a phone call, at least that way you know you've done your part to help these creatures that cannot speak for themselves

I am hoping someone on here can give you a good tutorial for force feeding, as it may need to happen ASAP. I haven't done it though so I wouldn't dare advise. However, pinkies for any but the littlest babies is too small. I (personally) would go after him for the conditions of his animals, whether with animal control, police, rescues, whatever it takes. I have 0 tolerance for abuse or neglect.:mad:

Have you tried a live small mouse before force feeding?
If they were feeding them pinkies that is way to small even for a hatchling.
Ive never had a non eater refuse a small live mouse, then switching to f/t once they are up to a reasonable weight.
Over the years Ive taken many non eaters, one having not eaten for a year(he was being broiled with too much heat). Anyway live mice are the ticket. Also make sure they are not to hot.That seems to be the biggest husbandry mistake people make is over heating the enclosure.

Oh dear, that boy is frighteningly thin... 40g?? That's light for a hatchling. :( Really hope you can help him recover. Please do keep us updated.

!!!!!UPDATE!!!!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
We kept our cage of adult mice next to Mr. Slithers's cage overnight and then took him with us to a local pet store this morning and they put him in a tub with a fuzzy. He didn't seem interested for the first few minutes but then we picked it up and dangled it in front of him before we were going to put him back in his travel cage to leave, and he ended up striking at it and ate it! He has had no trouble with water since we've got him, and we try to monitor the heat/humidity in our snakes' enclosures very closely. Being new snake owners we are trying our best to make sure we get things right.

I am extremely happy that we finally got him to eat! I am hoping that we are on a road to recovery for the little guy, as we were extremely worried about him! I know everywhere we read even the hatchlings didn't weigh as little as he does. We were thinking pinkies were too small, but weren't 100% sure; because of how thin he is it was hard to tell. I texted the guy and told him he needed to take better care of his snakes and that he needed to be feeding them bigger prey than that.

I called animal control but because he wouldn't give us his address and had us meet him somewhere instead they said that they couldn't do anything.:mad: I feel bad for the guy's snakes. He is really shady. When we first texted him with our concern he started talking about how he's had tweekers like us want our money back after buying snakes from him because they needed the money for more important things and so on even though we never once even said anything about wanting our money back. That was also his excuse for not wanting us to come to his house, because he's supposedly sold snakes to a tweeker at his house and then ended up coming home one day with his house broken into and cleaned out. He's just a really shady person and I wish that we could somehow get him caught. He had told us that the snake is two months old and that he was feeding them pinkies weekly but I don't know if I can believe that. I think he is neglecting them and trying to sell them as younger than what they are to people who don't know much about them since they are so thin.

Anyway, I'm glad he is eating and hoping that next week he will eat on schedule with our normal and pinstripe ball pythons.

On another note, our normal, Luci, shed her skin today after being in shed for a while! All of them like their prey live, and we are graduating our two females up to rat pups next week as we are sure they are ready for it. We don't have a name for our pinstripe yet as we just got her a couple days ago from a nice lady who is getting interested in three-gene pythons.

ALSO, after doing a bunch of research, we think Mr. Slithers might be a yellowbelly, because he has that beautiful vivid color and his stomach isn't white, but instead yellow. I don't know if that could just be a sign of him being unhealthy but I have read that yellowbellies can be easily mistaken for normals.

Thank you everybody for all of the advice and being so kind, I feel like I chose the correct place to ask questions and happy that nobody tried making us feel crappy about anything because of being new owners. I will continue to update occasionally on how Mr. Slithers is doing for anybody who is curious about his recovery, and if I have anymore questions I will definitely be on here asking them!

If the local authorities can't do anything then there are some things you can do to take a couple matters into your own hands. Where ever you first found this guy advertizing, post BOS (Beware of seller) warnings. Web classifieds, craigslist, face book, everywhere. If he is going to make a business of abusing animals, make sure he never gets business. When you do, be sure to include as much information about your transaction as possible; name, contact info, his whole operating MO. He sold you a thin, dehydrated normal as a healthy mojave, that is a man who shouldn't be anywhere near the herp hobby.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

If the local authorities can't do anything then there are some things you can do to take a couple matters into your own hands. Where ever you first found this guy advertizing, post BOS (Beware of seller) warnings. Web classifieds, craigslist, face book, everywhere. If he is going to make a business of abusing animals, make sure he never gets business. When you do, be sure to include as much information about your transaction as possible; name, contact info, his whole operating MO. He sold you a thin, dehydrated normal as a healthy mojave, that is a man who shouldn't be anywhere near the herp hobby.

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Lizardlicks is right. There are ways. I personally would make a huge setup and have a friend buy something else, follow his butt, get an address, and sick the police on him. But for sure put up info on any place you can find about him and his shady dealings, not to mention animal abuse!


EDIT: Ahem, sorry... people like that make me see in all shades of red. I am very happy to hear that the little one has eaten now! Though you can just bring a mouse home and feed him in his home, IDK how far you have to go for mice. It will help him be more comfortable. Keep us posted!

We did want to set him up because it is upsetting that he would be doing this. I will definitely have to post some Beware of Seller stuff on this guy.

As for feeding, we get our mice and rats about 45 minutes away, and we normally feed at home but we took him with us to the pet store to find a good size to feed him and they let us attempt to feed him there so we didn't have to worry about taking live home just for him not to eat it. But since we got him to eat we will be feeding him at home from now on. We are going to start breeding rats so we don't have to travel every week to get them live prey.