Help- Can't get my new Ball Python to eat

[Ashley-Rose]

I will try that today when I get home from work, thank you for the suggestion!

[Pyrate81]

Some critiques on your setup and suggestions:

1. Looks like you're using aspen. That's fine.

2. It should be more cluttered for a tank that size and a snake that small.

3. Black out the sides and back using construction paper or something.

4. Get a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer. Highly recommended is the accurite from Walmart for $12.

5. 80 degrees is good for the cool side, but the hot side should be 88-92 and ambient should be around 85.

6. Humidity needs to be minimum 45-50%. Higher during shed. I spray my BPs when they are in shed.

7. Don't keep trying to feed your snake everyday this week if that's what you are doing. It'll stress the snake more and make it worse.
Offer food on scheduled feeding days until he gets eating, no more/no less.

8. Try and make changes in one day, then leave him alone for a week so he can settle back in. If you're constantly making changes, it'll keep stressing him out more and it won't help.

9. HOW ARE YOU HEATING THE TANK??!!

10. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm trying to get information out of you so we can all help you. There is a lot of information getting thrown at you and going home to try half this stuff all willy nilly is not gonna help. It's gonna take time and patience for your snake to be comfortable. Step 1- get the things together that you need for the snake. Step 2- makes the changes. Step 3- let him settle. Step 4- Hope he eats.

11. Help us help you.

[Ashley-Rose]

How do I check the humidity?
When you say, keep making changes, do you mean to stop taking him out and holding him? Or just changing the feeding schedual?
I am heating the tank with a red heat incandescent bulb
How often do I mist the cage?
I know you're not trying to be mean, again, I am new to owning one so I am trying to figure out things too. If I didn't want the help I wouldn't have asked :) I appriciate all your help

[Ashley-Rose]

Never mind now about the changes thing, I get what you are saying about doing it all at once

[Pyrate81]

1. Hygrometer is a gauge which checks humidity. The accurite digital indoor/outdoor thermometer also has a built in hygrometer.

3. You'll probably want a higher wattage bulb or a CHE(ceramic heat emitter) to get that 80 temp up depending on what temp your hot spot is at. You can pari a UTH(with thermostat) and a red bulb. It is something I practice during the winter to keep ambient temps up.

4. I mist mine 1-2 times daily when they're in shed. It depends on how low the humidity goes. There are other ways of keeping humidity up with a glass tank though.

Caresheet for BPs gives a good general care for the snake and should verify most of what I'm trying to relay to you.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

[Ashley-Rose]

I have been turning off the heat lamp at night, is that okay or should it always stay on?
I will do some shopping tomorrow then since I have the day off.

Thank you again for all your help~

[Pyrate81]

I'd leave it on. Keep those temps stable. BPs don't need a night cool down.

Good luck with the shopping and keep us updated.

Yw.

[Ashley-Rose]

I posted an update if you are interested! There is a question for you on there as well~