Skipped a meal/stress?

My two month old ball python has eaten for the previous 3 weeks with no problem. But this week, yesterday, I offered him two hoppers for the first time. I gave the hoppers to him the same way I always do; already had been thawed in warm water for an hour and then dried with a hair dryer for a few minutes. He seemed interested at first, was checking them out and everything. But then he went away. Later, he came back, then went away. I ended up tossing them since I left them there till noon and he did not take them. I noticed that he moved one off the paper, but nothing more. How come he didn't eat this time? What causes ball pythons to skip a meal?

Also, I switched out bulbs and his temps are much better. The edge of his cool side can be 76 degrees, but is usually 77 or 78 degrees. Inside of his hide on his cool side stays this range. His hot spot has stayed around 88-90 degrees. But usually it's 90 degrees. His temps are checked with a temp gun. I finally ordered a better humidity gauge, so it'll be arriving this Monday (hopefully). But he's still been quite active both during night and day. When I'm away, I'll come home and see parts of bedding that have been pushed back as if he were trying to escape through the doors. I'll also see him try slithering up the terrarium edges or pushing the top of the terrarium. What could be causing him to do that? His temps have been in decent range and everything. The only thing I could think of that could cause him to stress is his humidity, since I'm still just using that stick on one from petco.
I don't know when he'll shed. He's been dull for quite some time now. His eyes have not turned blue, but I did hear they'll eventually clear up. But would I have noticed him being in blue? He does have some white hues here and there on his face. He's been soaking frequently and "yawning". But what should I do about his shedding?

Sorry to leave so much to answer, these are just things that have continued that I still don't seem to understand. Anything helps:)

Sounds like he needs to shed...many snakes refuse food when in shed. What's the humidity? (raise it when they're in shed)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Sounds like he needs to shed...many snakes refuse food when in shed. What's the humidity? (raise it when they're in shed)

---

The stick on thing claims its 60%. But like I said, I'm getting a better humidity gauge here soon, so I don't hold too much faith in it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

The stick on thing claims its 60%. But like I said, I'm getting a better humidity gauge here soon, so I don't hold too much faith in it

---

They are close. Mine was within 4% of my Accurite gauge. I got rid of the stick on gauge just because I didn’t want the chance of it sticking to my snake someday.

I know...so add some humidity...guess-timate it. I'm not seeing the snake...does he look normal? or crinkly? With experience, you'll be able to tell from just the
way their skin folds look, like on their neck & all, or from the "halo" on their tummy 'scutes', as well as by flashlight in dark room on the arc of their eye-caps. ;)
Some snakes seem to take forever to shed, while others get it done faster...not much you can do about how fast their body does this. I suspect that those with
the best health, best hydration & best nutrition are the ones that go thru the shed process faster...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I know...so add some humidity...guess-timate it. I'm not seeing the snake...does he look normal? or crinkly? With experience, you'll be able to tell from just the
way their skin folds look, like on their neck & all, or from the "halo" on their tummy 'scutes', as well as by flashlight in dark room on the arc of their eye-caps. ;)
Some snakes seem to take forever to shed, while others get it done faster...not much you can do about how fast their body does this. I suspect that those with
the best health, best hydration & best nutrition are the ones that go thru the shed process faster...

---

Yeah, he appears fine. The only thing I worry about is his weight since his spine is slowly starting to stick out more. That's why I gave him another hopper, but besides that, he looks pretty good. And yeah, I don't know how to post pictures on this thing XD

As for humidity, I might use that towel trick I've been seeing. I hope that boosts his humidity pretty good. Unless adding a sponge or another moist object next to his water dish will help

Maybe he wants something bigger than a hopper? How many days did you go between feedings?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

Maybe he wants something bigger than a hopper? How many days did you go between feedings?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I feed him every Friday. That's what his feeding schedule was when I first got him

Also, what should the humidity be for him to shed?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

I feed him every Friday. That's what his feeding schedule was when I first got him

Also, what should the humidity be for him to shed

---

70% is where I keep mine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

70% is where I keep mine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Ah, I have it around 80%. I'll let it air out for a few seconds

Also, he's been eating hoppers since they've been his first five meals. Last night, he was doing the same things he was doing last time I watched him eat. Just never actually ate the two hoppers

80% is fine. You just don’t want it too low. That’s when they can’t shed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

Ah, I have it around 80%. I'll let it air out for a few seconds

Also, he's been eating hoppers since they've been his first five meals. Last night, he was doing the same things he was doing last time I watched him eat. Just never actually ate the two hoppers

---

How much does he weigh? I’d think at his age he could be eating way bigger than hoppers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

How much does he weigh? I’d think at his age he could be eating way bigger than hoppers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I could weigh him. But exactly, that's why I offered two of them. I can't buy bigger sized mice at the moment and I still have tons of hoppers left. I asked and read back through posts, and people have said its okay to start offering him two. Some have even used that technique and it works. Hence why I left both of them

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

I could weigh him. But exactly, that's why I offered two of them. I can't buy bigger sized mice at the moment and I still have tons of hoppers left. I asked and read back through posts, and people have said its okay to start offering him two. Some have even used that technique and it works. Hence why I left both of them

---

Gotcha. I remember that now. Don’t do both at the same time though or you’ll waste double if he doesn’t take em. Do one....and if he eats it, do another. Also, you said you thawed the hopper for an hour in hot water. I thaw XL adults for 20 minutes and they’re good, so maybe it started cooking and that has turned him off?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

Gotcha. I remember that now. Don’t do both at the same time though or you’ll waste double if he doesn’t take em. Do one....and if he eats it, do another. Also, you said you thawed the hopper for an hour in hot water. I thaw XL adults for 20 minutes and they’re good, so maybe it started cooking and that has turned him off?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Any other time, it'd be in warm to hot water for 30 minutes. I lost track of time, I'll be honest. I didn't think much of it until I noticed he was interested, but just didn't take it. It was probably the thaw time that caused him to skip, as I always dry it with a hair dryer for a few minutes. On my other post, Craig agreed it'd be okay to just leave them and let him do his thing, since he only eats when I leave him his food. He was all over both of them, just idled 15 minutes after

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

Any other time, it'd be in warm to hot water for 30 minutes. I lost track of time, I'll be honest. I didn't think much of it until I noticed he was interested, but just didn't take it. It was probably the thaw time that caused him to skip, as I always dry it with a hair dryer for a few minutes. On my other post, Craig agreed it'd be okay to just leave them and let him do his thing, since he only eats when I leave him his food. He was all over both of them, just idled 15 minutes after

---

It’s ok to leave them, I just wouldn’t leave both at once. I’d do one at a time. No need to waste extra. But that’s just me :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

It’s ok to leave them, I just wouldn’t leave both at once. I’d do one at a time. No need to waste extra. But that’s just me :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Ah, I see. Well it really helps, especially when I don't know what I'm doing since this is my first one. So thanks:D

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cd1033d45d.png


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If he skipped a meal because he's near shedding, should I still try to offer him food this Friday? Even if there's a chance he might not take it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

If he skipped a meal because he's near shedding, should I still try to offer him food this Friday? Even if there's a chance he might not take it?

---

I would. Also....I’m not sure why that last post of mine ended up on this thread. 🤣


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

I would. Also....I’m not sure why that last post of mine ended up on this thread. 🤣


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Lol, I kind of figured it was your way of showing other agreements towards how horrible bulbs are with humidity XD You didn't mean to post that pic??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

Lol, I kind of figured it was your way of showing other agreements towards how horrible bulbs are with humidity XD You didn't mean to post that pic??

---

No, it was supposed to go on my post about FB groups. Lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

No, it was supposed to go on my post about FB groups. Lol

---

This forum is now haunted....;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

This forum is now haunted....;)

---

Yes!
Thanks Spooktober!

I'd like to highlight the part about his/her snake being over active. Crawling up on the sides and ceiling of the tank and pushing around the substrate. Because my BP lady is doing that too. Pretty badly. The only way i can get her to stop is if i take the lid off of her tank. Then she'll calm down and rest a bit and eventually go into her hide again. (But the moment i put it back on it's like bam. Nonstop searching in her tank again.) I see a lot of replies about the food and things you can do to regualte humidity but this question has so far gone unanswered. So please if you have any info or advice the original poster and i would much appreciate it. I am really starting to get worried about my snake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Auriea

I'd like to highlight the part about his/her snake being over active. Crawling up on the sides and ceiling of the tank and pushing around the substrate. Because my BP lady is doing that too. Pretty badly. The only way i can get her to stop is if i take the lid off of her tank. Then she'll calm down and rest a bit and eventually go into her hide again. (But the moment i put it back on it's like bam. Nonstop searching in her tank again.) I see a lot of replies about the food and things you can do to regualte humidity but this question has so far gone unanswered. So please if you have any info or advice the original poster and i would much appreciate it. I am really starting to get worried about my snake.

---

When ball pythons do this, it usually means that they want to get out. There's something wrong with their husbandry that is making them want to escape, and they do it mostly out of stress. Check your temps and humidity. See if it's off from where it should be.
Mine is probably doing it out of humidity. But that was fixed yesterday:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Traceur

When ball pythons do this, it usually means that they want to get out. There's something wrong with their husbandry that is making them want to escape, and they do it mostly out of stress. Check your temps and humidity. See if it's off from where it should be.
Mine is probably doing it out of humidity. But that was fixed yesterday:D

---

That or hunger... You sure can't leave the top off the cage though. It could mean they want better air circulation if you're using a plastic tub or professional
enclosure, neither one has much air circulation, so as to maintain humidity. I'm personally not a fan of either cage-type, but that's me*...& maybe your snake too?
(*I'm also not a BP keeper any longer)

Yea.. stress makes that happen. My bp was in a single tub and he would try to push the lid time to time even though humidity and temperatures were on spot. He would skip meals time to time. However, when I moved him to an enclosed rack, he eats like a champ. My guess is that he needs more safety spot, meaning more places to hide. I even had two hides in the tub but he would still want to try to escape, and I think the light in the room might have stressed him out.