Feeding help needed BADLY

[Ciaran_songs]

I about 6 months ago got a normal ball python from Petsmart (I know a really bad place to buy pets but I didn't know that at that time). It had been my dream ever since I was very small to have a snake of my own and for my birthday, 6 months ago my mother finally agreed. I used all of my birthday money plus savings to buy everything I needed plus the snake. At first he was really defensive but I could still hold him ( I gave him about a month to settle in ) and he was eating fine but then slowly he started skipping weeks. When he skipped weeks I could no longer touch him so he got more defensive and now today it has been about a month and a half since he last ate I have tried everything he will not let me touch him at all to move him into a box to feed and he just sits in his hide all day. You can see the tip of his spine now and I am so worried I have panic attacks and end up crying I am stressing so much I have no idea what to do. I did about three months of research before I got him but everything all the sites told me has not worked since. At first everyone told me a ball python was the best beginner snake but now when I ask they say that I should not have gotten a ball python so I am so confused. If I can't get him to eat within the next 3 weeks I am going to get rid of him to someone who can get him to eat I can't even sleep it feels like I'm starving child I am so stressed and have no idea what to do. His enclosure has everything two hides vines space heating pad everything I can offer A snake and more. I feed him frozen medium mice (When he eats) a friend of mine has suggested trying live mice but he has eaten frozen thawed all his life so I am confused as to why he suddenly wants live if this is the case. I heat the mice up with A blow dryer and everything you are supposed to do I don't know what to do I feel so bad and he is probably starving too. Any help is appreciated even the smallest tips I just need something honestly any idea's I will attempt ( As long as the snake is not at risk ) to get him to eat. At first we thought he was a female but now I am pretty sure it's male though not positive. I have posted here before to ask for help and the very nice people here gave me tips that made him eat but now nothing works.

English is not native to me I am sorry for grammar and I am just overall terrible at punctuation sorry about that.

[Lord Sorril]

I'm sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with your snake.

I realize that you saved up your money and bought the snake---the equipment needed to properly care for a ball python can be a lot more expensive than the snake itself. Describe your setup and heat sources so we can eliminate that as a potential cause.

Ball Pythons won't eat well unless they are comfortable. Handling a ball python (at all) that is a problem eater is also a bad idea as it also stresses them out. Once the snake is firmly set on a steady routine is the best time to handle them.

Also, since the snake is from one of the Pet store chains...there is a small chance it has internal parasites or a defect that you have not spotted. This would require a trip to the Vet....like I said though-I think it is more likely the setup than a medical issue...

[Ciaran_songs]

I have gotten him checked out no internal diseases thankfully, I don't remember if I mentioned that or not.

[Cheesenugget]

I about 6 months ago got a normal ball python from Petsmart (I know a really bad place to buy pets but I didn't know that at that time). It had been my dream ever since I was very small to have a snake of my own and for my birthday, 6 months ago my mother finally agreed. I used all of my birthday money plus savings to buy everything I needed plus the snake. At first he was really defensive but I could still hold him ( I gave him about a month to settle in ) and he was eating fine but then slowly he started skipping weeks. When he skipped weeks I could no longer touch him so he got more defensive and now today it has been about a month and a half since he last ate I have tried everything he will not let me touch him at all to move him into a box to feed and he just sits in his hide all day. You can see the tip of his spine now and I am so worried I have panic attacks and end up crying I am stressing so much I have no idea what to do. I did about three months of research before I got him but everything all the sites told me has not worked since. At first everyone told me a ball python was the best beginner snake but now when I ask they say that I should not have gotten a ball python so I am so confused. If I can't get him to eat within the next 3 weeks I am going to get rid of him to someone who can get him to eat I can't even sleep it feels like I'm starving child I am so stressed and have no idea what to do. His enclosure has everything two hides vines space heating pad everything I can offer A snake and more. I feed him frozen medium mice (When he eats) a friend of mine has suggested trying live mice but he has eaten frozen thawed all his life so I am confused as to why he suddenly wants live if this is the case. I heat the mice up with A blow dryer and everything you are supposed to do I don't know what to do I feel so bad and he is probably starving too. Any help is appreciated even the smallest tips I just need something honestly any idea's I will attempt ( As long as the snake is not at risk ) to get him to eat. At first we thought he was a female but now I am pretty sure it's male though not positive. I have posted here before to ask for help and the very nice people here gave me tips that made him eat but now nothing works.

English is not native to me I am sorry for grammar and I am just overall terrible at punctuation sorry about that.

Please provide temps on hot spot, cool side, size of enclosure, what type, is there a thermostat, and preferably a picture of your set up and snake without touching him or disturbing him. Even if you previously done so, do it again as it appears something did not go right husbandry wise. Also, any new changes around the environment, like more foot traffic from people passing by, etc.

I was one of those people who was also sold by the idea that ball pythons are beginners species. While some agree with that, I don't after getting mine, having the same feeding trouble as well as finding out how many 'please help snake won't eat' threads there are in numerous forums. It is okay though; ball pythons are tough little critters so mistakes can be forgiven as long as they are corrected. Don't beat yourself over it. Challenges in life, as you will find as you grow older yourself, are there to help you grow.

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[Ciaran_songs]

I have not been able to reply for that I am sorry, I have gotten him to eat now the only problem is getting him to eat next time. His tempts on his basking side is at around 90 Fahrenheit at all times sometimes it may drop below that, though that's only when it's cold in my house but I always make sure it's not to cold. His ambient temperature is around 80. These are all temp's that I have been told he should be on if they are wrong please let me know thanks. he has a heating pad under his log and in his other hide there is nothing so that he can choose between heating bad and no heating pad. I have tried feeding him when in his hide he does not take it. The only reason I got him to eat was because I took him to my local feed store in a shoe box crying and there was a lady who helped me for 2 hours try to feed him in the end she ended up force feeding him which I felt bad about. I will have to take him back next time to try again. He has water constantly in a big enough bowl that he can lay in which I take out and scrub every 2-3 days he has distilled water for drinking water. He tries to puke up his mouse constantly it has now been 24 hours since he ate and is still trying to puke it up. Every time I walk by his enclosure he strikes at the glass I am pretty sure he has hurt his jaw now. All he does is try to strike at me even when I am far away. Lately I haven't been able to even open the enclosure anymore without him trying to go for my face. I have tried everything he won't calm down I broke down in tears a couple days ago my mother said that I have 5 months to get him to be tame otherwise she wants him out. There's nothing I can do since I live with her I have tried but she won't let it go she is worried he will get loose and hurt our other animals or me. even though I have clips on his cage lid, as for the size of the enclosure it's 65 gallons and is 4 foot tall with branches but is not to cluttered. I have tried feeding him in a shoe box as well as his enclosure to no avail. All he does is sit in striking position all day I am worried for his health if you need anything further let me know I want him to be happy I am hopeful that I can do it.

[MarkL1561]

I have not been able to reply for that I am sorry, I have gotten him to eat now the only problem is getting him to eat next time. His tempts on his basking side is at around 90 Fahrenheit at all times sometimes it may drop below that, though that's only when it's cold in my house but I always make sure it's not to cold. His ambient temperature is around 80. These are all temp's that I have been told he should be on if they are wrong please let me know thanks. he has a heating pad under his log and in his other hide there is nothing so that he can choose between heating bad and no heating pad. I have tried feeding him when in his hide he does not take it. The only reason I got him to eat was because I took him to my local feed store in a shoe box crying and there was a lady who helped me for 2 hours try to feed him in the end she ended up force feeding him which I felt bad about. I will have to take him back next time to try again. He has water constantly in a big enough bowl that he can lay in which I take out and scrub every 2-3 days he has distilled water for drinking water. He tries to puke up his mouse constantly it has now been 24 hours since he ate and is still trying to puke it up. Every time I walk by his enclosure he strikes at the glass I am pretty sure he has hurt his jaw now. All he does is try to strike at me even when I am far away. Lately I haven't been able to even open the enclosure anymore without him trying to go for my face. I have tried everything he won't calm down I broke down in tears a couple days ago my mother said that I have 5 months to get him to be tame otherwise she wants him out. There's nothing I can do since I live with her I have tried but she won't let it go she is worried he will get loose and hurt our other animals or me. even though I have clips on his cage lid, as for the size of the enclosure it's 65 gallons and is 4 foot tall with branches but is not to cluttered. I have tried feeding him in a shoe box as well as his enclosure to no avail. All he does is sit in striking position all day I am worried for his health if you need anything further let me know I want him to be happy I am hopeful that I can do it.

Baby snakes are typically nippy but this sounds like he’s super stressed. Get him eating first then taming him down is super easy. Mine was raised in a tub setup and his only human contact at first was feeding. He too would strike at everything at first. I got leather gloves and handled him for a few minutes a day. Within a few weeks he was perfectly tame. Don’t start handling until he eats 3+ times consecutively.


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[Bogertophis]

...as for the size of the enclosure it's 65 gallons and is 4 foot tall with branches but is not to cluttered..t.

I truly wish you had read up (here, on this site) well BEFORE you bought this cage & this snake. A large tank is difficult enough, but one this TALL for a terrestrial
species (as ball pythons are) is all wrong...it makes it very hard to keep it warm enough or humid enough, nor is it easy to make it cluttered enough for a BP to feel
like it is "safe" & hidden. (This tank would be great for an arboreal species, or something like a rat snake, that loves to climb...but it's not healthy for a BP, sorry!)

I don't see where you answered my question as to the size of this BP? (length, age if known?) So that is why I haven't suggested a better size tank or enclosure yet,
but IF you are determined to keep this snake healthy (eating!) I'd suggest that you set up a proper sized tank (or whatever) immediately...since it will take a while
for this snake to de-stress enough to eat for you. Not only was force-feeding this BP a bad idea, but taking it to the feed store & handling it first, or even trying to
feed it in a separate tub at home as I think you tried previously, was almost a guarantee that it would NOT feed on it's own. Handling a snake like this first just destroys
it's confidence & thoughts of food...all it can think of is fear & self-defense. For a BP to want to eat, it needs to feel like it has the "upper hand" over the prey...right now,
he's feeling like HE IS the prey. Do you understand?

So unless you plan to obtain another snake that will do well in this large & tall tank, the best thing you can do is to prepare the proper cage for this snake now, & you
can probably sell this tank to someone working with a species that it's appropriate for. I cannot imagine a BP in a 4 foot tall cage...it's just an awful idea- a mistake.

[MarkL1561]

I truly wish you had read up (here, on this site) well BEFORE you bought this cage & this snake. A large tank is difficult enough, but one this TALL for a terrestrial
species (as ball pythons are) is all wrong...it makes it very hard to keep it warm enough or humid enough, nor is it easy to make it cluttered enough for a BP to feel
like it is "safe" & hidden. (This tank would be great for an arboreal species, or something like a rat snake, that loves to climb...but it's not healthy for a BP, sorry!)

I don't see where you answered my question as to the size of this BP? (length, age if known?) So that is why I haven't suggested a better size tank or enclosure yet,
but IF you are determined to keep this snake healthy (eating!) I'd suggest that you set up a proper sized tank (or whatever) immediately...since it will take a while
for this snake to de-stress enough to eat for you. Not only was force-feeding this BP a bad idea, but taking it to the feed store & handling it first, or even trying to
feed it in a separate tub at home as I think you tried previously, was almost a guarantee that it would NOT feed on it's own. Handling a snake like this first just destroys
it's confidence & thoughts of food...all it can think of is fear & self-defense. For a BP to want to eat, it needs to feel like it has the "upper hand" over the prey...right now,
he's feeling like HE IS the prey. Do you understand?

So unless you plan to obtain another snake that will do well in this large & tall tank, the best thing you can do is to prepare the proper cage for this snake now, & you
can probably sell this tank to someone working with a species that it's appropriate for. I cannot imagine a BP in a 4 foot tall cage...it's just an awful idea- a mistake.

Great advice! I actually missed that the tank was 4’ tall. That seems insane to me and makes me wonder if your measurements are correct. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a glass tank with the dimensions you listed. I’d go to wallmart and grab a ziplock locking bin around 24” x 12” should be ok. If you need to maintain humidity drill the holes on the side not the top. Then get an uth with a thermostat. Once temps are good leave the snake alone for a week before offering food. After that do not handle until he eats 3+ times. So basically you will not be touching your snake for a month or more.


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[Bogertophis]

Great advice! I actually missed that the tank was 4’ tall. That seems insane to me and makes me wonder if your measurements are correct...

FYI, if you'd been reading all the OP's posts, you'd also know that her native language is French, so for all we know she may well live in France, or at least NOT the U.S.-
& the pet store she went to may sell very different things than we are used to seeing "on this side of the pond". Caging designed perhaps for arboreal species...

[Ciaran_songs]

I forgot to mention that a couple months back I had a rabbit I was taking care of in the room but I have removed all traces and he was doing it a bit before this to just wondering that may have helped the not eating situation.