Bad shed, dehydration, lethargy....Help!

[mainbutter]

Just in case you haven't read up much on ball python caresheets, you should go ahead and read this:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

[Kaorte]

Kaorte,, Thank you!

What a great source of information you have been.....thank you for sharing.

His carpet is already gone...I cleaned his tank and put plain white butcher paper in it.

I will move him to a 10 or 20 gal tank tomorrow, and get the appropriate heating elements, along with new thermometers. I only have the stick on kind now.

I don't feed him in his large tank, btw...I put him in a small lidded container. I started feeding him live because when I first got him, I got anxious because he would not eat. Is it too late to try thawed again?

Anyway, I will stop bugging you for now...you have given me plenty of homework!

Thanks again

Since ball pythons are so shy, feeding outside of the enclosure can actually be stressful for them.

Once you have your new setup done, wait a week and try feeding him f/t inside his new enclosure. Sometimes heating the head up with a hair dryer right before offering it does the trick.

I don't think its too late to switch him over.

[redstormlax12]

My bp was born in late june of this year and just finished i think his forth shed. I personally feel like 3 sheds in six months is below the norm. And 10-15 percent of his body weight is a good way to go. Also another way is the prey item should be about 1.5 times the thickest part of your bp. And when you do get his new tank setup, get some black paper and cover all the sides. My guy wouldnt eat the first mouse i fed him but then i covered all sides of his tub and waited abotu 5 days and he took it in about .1 seconds. Haha. And as for soaking, i just soaked mine today while he was shedding. I used a decently sized tupperware container, put about an inch and a half a water in it and then submerged a washcloth. Then i put him directly in the container and capped it off with a cut-out screened top so there was some airflow. Well i hope he eats, and gets hydrated again soon. And lets hope he takes F/T.

[Montie Python]

Kaorte,, Thank you!


Anyway, I will stop bugging you for now...you have given me plenty of homework!

Thanks again

That's what the forum is for...Welcome! And don't stop asking the questions...I usually don't reply cuz everyone beats me to it...But you came to the right place...

[BPelizabeth]

He is probably not shedding enough because you are under feeding him therefore he is not growing as he should be.

Also ....I have to second the motion for feeding him in his cage.....I think that the whole...(feed him outside so he doesn't bite you later) is a myth. He will be much more comfy doing it in his own environment. And if you don't have a scale to measure....just make the mouse is the size of the fattest part of his body.

Also if you do not have the $$ right now to get another enclosure...someone suggested crumpled newspaper that way they feel more secure. Just make it really cramped in there. They like everything to feel tight and secure.

[WhitePython]

Id suggest feeding him in his own enclosure to reduce stress. There isn’t any need to move him especially because it isn’t good to handle snakes after they eat.

Its never too late! In order to get him to eat frozen thawed you can try heating the rat to body temperature (36°) and heating it’s head afterwards in near boiling water for a few seconds. Then try holding the rat with tongs as if it is moving (so by it’s lower back) and wiggle it around.

If this still doesn’t work try puncturing it’s head so that the the snake can get a good scent of it’s blood and brains. (Gross I know but this is called braining)

You can also start feeding him every 7 days which will probably be healthier. If he’s only eating pups especially. His food should be the same width as the widest part of his body and for perspective, my 3 month old is eating pups as well. I know this can look far too large but because they eat not so often, they’re able to eat meals that big.

[bcr229]

This post is 12 years old.

[Bogertophis]

This post is 12 years old.