Baby short tailed python not eating

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2F98qfzDH.png
Yeah, I can see what you mean- you'd want something about a half an ounce, I guess, according to this ^ ^ ^. What about some other kind of chicks? I think there's an online source of quail chicks?

Here it is, just in case you want to try quail chicks: https://www.laynelabs.com/other-feeders/frozen-quail

Using Layne triples my price and I get less for the money, so I went with the rodentpro chicks. They're large... but I'm hoping I could remove the heads.

I'm loosing my faith with him, though. He isn't progressing at all and just keeps loosing weight. I did another tube feed as the vet recommended, and now 2 days later I've found him all dehydrated despite my efforts for high humidity.. I got him to drink a fair amount of water but he's just a sack of bones.

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

Using Layne triples my price and I get less for the money, so I went with the rodentpro chicks. They're large... but I'm hoping I could remove the heads.

I'm loosing my faith with him, though. He isn't progressing at all and just keeps loosing weight. I did another tube feed as the vet recommended, and now 2 days later I've found him all dehydrated despite my efforts for high humidity.. I got him to drink a fair amount of water but he's just a sack of bones.

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It can be very discouraging when you have one like this. That might work, your plan with the chicks- I hope so. I haven't fed many chicks, but as I recall they're quite digestible, so that will help them "stay down", hopefully. I know Layne Labs is pricey- they do have a good reputation at least.

I really feel you should go back to basics here, it's not the food that's the problem. He ate fine until November, when temps dropped. Your snake is either cold or feels insecure. Have you gotten your temps warmer? If his ambient is at 70, he's not going to eat. Your cage is really quite large and open for a baby short tail python, the hides look too large and aren't identical. I would go to a smaller tub, two tight hides, water bowl in the middle, deep substrate and leave him alone for a week before you offer anything and try to find live to offer.

This is the kinda stuff I hate with the reptile community, lol. I made the enclosure larger because I was being hounded for having it so small and basic on a discord I'm in.

I can place him back in the 15qt I have if it won't stress him too much. I can go out and purchase other hides as well. As for temps, I'm using a bigger heat mat as was suggested. My ambient only improved slightly to 72ish, according to the temp gun. I wrapped a towel around the enclosure and I am reading 75f on the warmer side closest to hot spot.

Reddit is also suggesting I go out and purchase a 6qt tub. Which I can happily go to find.

6qt is what breeders usually recommend starting hatchlings in, if he was already in the 15qt and eating I'd try him back in that first but small and basic is exactly what baby snakes crave. He's not refusing food because of lack of enrichment or because he's bored, you have to learn to ignore people that are more concerned with it looking pretty or nice from a human perspective and realize from the snakes view, that's just a huge scary open space potentially full of predators. Good temps and feeling safe and secure is what gets snakes eating. Your ambient needs to be more around 78-81, I wouldn't want it dropping lower than 75 across the entire cage or you are looking at digestive and RI issues to pop up too.

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

This is the kinda stuff I hate with the reptile community, lol. I made the enclosure larger because I was being hounded for having it so small and basic on a discord I'm in.

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Unfortunately there are a lot of people (with good intentions) that really don't understand what certain species of animals really need, and they demonize people who do because they think it's cruel to "confine animals to small spaces". Some animals that is cruel, but certain species of reptiles thrive in spaces much smaller than the average person would expect.

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

how do I raise a plastic tubs temp? I can't do a lamp or anything like that.

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before I upgraded to an AP cage, I used a tub, and I had a CHE hanging over one side for warmer ambient temps

the tub you are using it pretty tall so I'm not sure a CHE would have the same effectiveness as mine, but I bet it would raise temps in there at least somewhat.

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Originally Posted by Dinoanc

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I can place him back in the 15qt I have if it won't stress him too much. I can go out and purchase other hides as well. As for temps, I'm using a bigger heat mat as was suggested. My ambient only improved slightly to 72ish, according to the temp gun. I wrapped a towel around the enclosure and I am reading 75f on the warmer side closest to hot spot.

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I think you finally answered your own question. 72* Ambient, etc. :( You're the only one who can fix this, your snake is relying on you to provide what he most needs. He's stuck without options, & snakes that are too cold simply do not eat.

Temperature is the most important thing, but also feeling "secure"- so for now, I'd go back to what was working- the smaller container. He needs to be eating.
The smaller one may have been working because it was easier to adequately warm to his liking-? While he gets back to eating in that one, you can work on & test the container he needs to grow into, but eating (digesting) is "job #1"- for his survival.