Hi, Sabrina from New Jersey and I need help!

[SabrinaB]

I don't know what to do. My 21 year-old son has abandoned his two week old ball python. I am trying to keep it alive but, I am not really a snake person. The snake was bought from PetSmart on 08/05/2010 so I cannot return him been 15 days. The snake has not been eating here, though he says he took the snake to a private pet shop in another city and was able to feed him once since he has had it. The day he left, over a week ago, he threw two of the frozen fuzzies in the cage and has not been back since. I went back to PetSmart and bought a UTH, some water conditioner and a cage cleaning spray and some new substrate same as before cedar chips. I removed the snake and the rotting rodents, cleared out most of the substrate, attached the UTH and cleaned the take. I put fresh water in the bowl with water conditioner and stopped using the overhead flourescent lights because I read that the snakes are nocturnal. The snake seemed happy was moving around the fresh tank, dipping into the water bowl but... it still would not eat the fuzzy I tried to feed it off of tongs. I am really afraid to handle the snake but braved it to clean the tank because I don't want to see it die. I took it out once to try to get uses to handling it and it seem to strike at me so I put it back in the tank. In the tank when I put my face to it it struck at me twice. So I figured it was at least active. Today I look in the tank and its eyes are blue or grey. It is curled in the corner above the UTH but I don't know if it is dying. I changed the water and put the water conditioner in but I am afraid it is going to die. My son has not followed up with the registration process or anything. I am trying to find out where to take the snake so that it will be taken care of the way it should be, including being interacted with. does anyone have any suggestions? I will surrender tank and all. I don't want it to die. I live in NJ.

[Ntume]

Dear Sabrina,

You did great! even though the water conditioner isn't really needed, but the UTH is certainly a must for balls because they need the hot spot for digestion and overal temperature.

Don't worry about it dying. The greyish/blue eyes (milky/cloudy) means it is in a shed cycle. She/he is throwing off it's old skin.
Let it settle, shed off and a let it alone for a while. BP's don't need human interaction and actually like being left alone


Try feeding it a live small hopper mouse 5-7 days after it shed?

Greets,

Yaron

[SabrinaB]

Dear Sabrina,

You did great! even though the water conditioner isn't really needed, but the UTH is certainly a must for balls because they need the hot spot for digestion and overal temperature.

Don't worry about it dying. The greyish/blue eyes (milky/cloudy) means it is in a shed cycle. She/he is throwing off it's old skin.
Let it settle, shed off and a let it alone for a while. BP's don't need human interaction and actually like being left alone



Try feeding it a live small hopper mouse 5-7 days after it shed?

Greets,

Yaron

Thank you, Yaron. PetSmart does not sell live mice. There is a private shop down in South Jersey. Do I have to take the snake there to feed it?

[Ntume]

Thank you, Yaron. PetSmart does not sell live mice. There is a private shop down in South Jersey. Do I have to take the snake there to feed it?

No you don't have to bring the snake to the feeder. This causes a lot of stress to the snake and it would not want to eat i'd reckon.

Let it settle in with the UTH and the fresh water.
do you have a small hideout for him in the tank? like a bowl with a hole on the side or on top? They love small, cramp places.

After it shed you can buy a small live mouse and see if he wants that. If he's left alone for a while and settled in with the right husbandry, I hope he will eat for you.

good luck!

[sarahlovesmiike]

Just go buy the feeders after the snake sheds and feed it inside it's enclosure. Make sure the snake has a snug hide to fit in. You should take a look at a caresheet. Once the cage is set up they're actually very low maintenance. You might even like the snake! They really are awesome pets to have. And thank you for doing the right thing for the snake

[PiedPeddler]

Hi Sabrina, First I'd like to commend you for your efforts! I am so glad you care enough about the snake to do what you have so far! I'm sure we can overwhelm you with details, but I don't want to do that. One thing in your post concerns me and that is the use of cedar. Are you sure it is cedar, and not cypress? Please double-check the bag. Cedar is sometimes used for rodent bedding, and really isn't appropriate for rodents or snakes. It is used to line closets and in cedar chests because the aroma that we might find pleasing is toxic and repels or kills the moths that might ruin our clothes. If it is cedar, please remove it soon. If you don't want to spend more money on an alternative bedding you can use newspaper or paper towels until you find a good home for the snake. Hopefully someone in your area will chime in and help you find a good home for the snake. Thanks again for putting in the effort so far and for coming here to seek help!
- Paul

[Boanerges]

You might be able to take it back to Petsmart if you don't want a refund? I would call the manager and ask. You could also check local mom and pop type of pet stores and see if they would take it for free? You or your son would lose out on the money you invested in the snake but it would save you from raising up a snake if that is not what you wanted to do.

If you did want to raise the snake yourself feel free to PM me with any questions you may have.

Also, welcome to BP.net and good luck with whatever you decide to do

[Brunoheart]

Good for you for trying to help this poor baby. I know of a Reptile Rescue here in Delaware that may be willing to take him. I have spoken with him at length and believe he is ligitimate. If you are interested and would be willing to travel somewhat to meet with him, pm me and I'll send you his contact info. Kudos to you again for trying to do the right thing for him/her!

[SabrinaB]

Just go buy the feeders after the snake sheds and feed it inside it's enclosure. Make sure the snake has a snug hide to fit in. You should take a look at a caresheet. Once the cage is set up they're actually very low maintenance. You might even like the snake! They really are awesome pets to have. And thank you for doing the right thing for the snake

Thanks, I have a small tree-like item, a sectioned hollowed out log type item and a water bowl in with the snake. I will look at the care sheet.

[SabrinaB]

Hi Sabrina, First I'd like to commend you for your efforts! I am so glad you care enough about the snake to do what you have so far! I'm sure we can overwhelm you with details, but I don't want to do that. One thing in your post concerns me and that is the use of cedar. Are you sure it is cedar, and not cypress? Please double-check the bag. Cedar is sometimes used for rodent bedding, and really isn't appropriate for rodents or snakes. It is used to line closets and in cedar chests because the aroma that we might find pleasing is toxic and repels or kills the moths that might ruin our clothes. If it is cedar, please remove it soon. If you don't want to spend more money on an alternative bedding you can use newspaper or paper towels until you find a good home for the snake. Hopefully someone in your area will chime in and help you find a good home for the snake. Thanks again for putting in the effort so far and for coming here to seek help!
- Paul

Hi Paul, actually I am not sure it is cedar. I just assumed because it is red that it was. I does not have that smell so maybe it isn't. I purchased the bag from the clerk at PetSmart and it is supposed to be for reptiles. Thank you for responding.