New Pet

I bought a new ball python 2 weeks ago. Store owner said he ate once a week. Saw him fed. Brought him home. Left him alone in his new home a little over a week to adjust. Now he won't eat. All he wants to do is soak in his water dish. Will sit in there for days. I don't see mites or blisters. HELP!!!!

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Originally Posted by jeannie

I bought a new ball python 2 weeks ago. Store owner said he ate once a week. Saw him fed. Brought him home. Left him alone in his new home a little over a week to adjust. Now he won't eat. All he wants to do is soak in his water dish. Will sit in there for days. I don't see mites or blisters. HELP!!!!

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Would you mind elaborating about your setup? What are your temperature and humidity like? What are your ambient temps like? What equipment are you using to measure temps/humidity and what kind of heating are you providing the animal? Are you using somekind of thermostat to control temps? What prey items did the store offer and what are you offering him(Mouse/Rat/size/color)?

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Originally Posted by iceman25

Would you mind elaborating about your setup? What are your temperature and humidity like? What are your ambient temps like? What equipment are you using to measure temps/humidity and what kind of heating are you providing the animal? Are you using somekind of thermostat to control temps? What prey items did the store offer and what are you offering him(Mouse/Rat/size/color)?

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As Iceman suggested, do provide this info. It could well be that your python is too hot if there are no parasites present.

Also, do you have hides available for him?

I agree with the others. It sounds like something isn't right with your setup. Here's a link to our caresheet. http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=52

lets see.... I have a 6ft long foot and a half wide and 2 foot tall glass aquarium. Temps average between 70-95 degrees depending on time of day and location in tank. I have 2 under tank heaters and 2 heat lamps on timers. I'm using astro turf and the same type of bark they had at the store for a substrate. he has 3 hiding areas, including the covered water dish he likes to saok in. Store fed him adult feeder mouse, live. Which is what I have tried. They also fed him in a different tank,(other than his habitat.) Which I did also. I'm not sure how old he is, or when his last shed was. He's about 3 and a half feet long and very friendly. Looks healthy as far as I can tell. I do know he's captive bred. Only trouble I have with his habitat is humidity. Tends to fall to the dry side. But I spray it 2-3 times a day. Just don't know if I should panic or not, This is my first snake.

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Originally Posted by jeannie

Temps average between 70-95 degrees depending on time of day and location in tank.

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This is probably your single biggest problem. Ball pythons need steady, non variable temperatures to feel secure enough to eat. 82-84 on one side of the cage, 92-94 on the other ... 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ... measured with a good digital thermometer.

Temps below 80 and fluctations in temperatures will certainly cause a ball python to refuse food.

It's not going to be easy to get the right temps in a fish tank of that size. Good luck!

-adam

First off, don't panic. Unless the snake is in terrible condition, you have plenty of time to get this guy to eat. I would advise a trip to the vet, to get a general checkup and a fecal done. You'd be surprised at the peace of mind from knowing you don't have to worry about parasites.

Wow, that's a big tank. Temps below 80 are not good, and it sounds like you may have a hard time heating such a large tank. An average size enclosure for an adult ranges from 18" x 36" to 24" x 48". Ball pythons spend most of their times snug in their hides. You want hides that just fit the snake, with little to no extra room. They like to be able to feel touched by all the sides.

The other thing I would suggest is to go ahead and feed inside the cage. It's less stressful, and you'll get a better feeding response. As long as you open the cage for water checks and general handling you'll be fine. I started off doing the same, but I've had better results since I started feeding in the cage. None of my snakes snap at me, and I've yet to be bitten. I get the rare, I'm in shed hiss or it's too early leave me alone hiss, but never a strike.

I hope this helps some. :D

i think a 3 and a half foot ball should be able to take something bugger than an adult feeder mouse. my 21in. bp takes adult feeder mice live about once a week.

I don't believe it's fair to compare the two. Younger bps are growing rather quickly, whereas adults just aren't. I would think an adult bp, especially a male, would be fine with an adult mouse or two once a week.

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

I don't believe it's fair to compare the two. Younger bps are growing rather quickly, whereas adults just aren't. I would think an adult bp, especially a male, would be fine with an adult mouse or two once a week.

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ok. im not an expert so i just kinda thought that. now that i think about i know a 4ft bp that eats five adult mice!

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Originally Posted by jeannie

I bought a new ball python 2 weeks ago. Store owner said he ate once a week. Saw him fed. Brought him home. Left him alone in his new home a little over a week to adjust. Now he won't eat. All he wants to do is soak in his water dish. Will sit in there for days. I don't see mites or blisters. HELP!!!!

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Someone correct me if I am wrong but BP's aren't really "soaking" snakes are they? :confused: I've had mine BP for about 4 months now, love her :love:. Anyway all the research I've seen and from what her breader told me they don't really "soak" unless they are shedding. When my girl had a bad shed and the vet said to soak her, well she was not a happy girl. So I would be suspicious about the "all he wants to do is soak in his water dish" comment :worry:. Anyone want to add to this :judge: ? I agree I think it is a humidity issue and then yeah all the rest... But I'm new too so it's only my addition to the post. Another thing... When I bought my girl I told him I wanted a tank big enough that I would not have to replace it as she grew. I have a basic 30gal tank and it can't be 6 feet. I know BP's like to feel secure so that could be it too but again others may know more than me.

it is rare for a bp to soak for no reason other than pleasure, since most dont enjoy it. there may be the odd one or two that soak cos they like it but usually if your bp is soaking in their water bowl a lot its got a reason. the most common reasons are:
mites
shedding
too hot
nice and comfy tight fitting water bowl.
i would imagine if the water bowl is covered then it may be seen as a hide, just filled with water. if this is the tightest fitting place he can hide then maybe thats why he goes in there.
if there are no mites and he aint in shed then the only other reason without a stretch of the imagination is the temps as far as i can see.