HELP PLEASE! Ball python possibly starving?

[lavenderlolita]

So I got three ball pythons about two weeks ago and one (a four month old spider) just doesn't seem to be doing well?

he won't eat and when he came to me he was already thinner than his clutch mate normal female I got as well which didn't really surprise me as males are smaller.
but the more I handle him (which at this point is at a minimal) I realise how skinny he is and after refusing to eat these two weeks, I wonder how long he can go on like this.

just now I was inspecting him and as he slid over my finger I could actually FEEL his heart. not just his heartbeat, but the actual organ.

he's weak and is a bit like a noodle

WHAT CAN I DO BEFORE RESORTING TO GOING TO THE VET?

[Anatopism]

Do you have photos of the snakes for reference? How old are they? What was their living situation before coming to you?

What is your habitat like for each snake? Temperature of cool end, temperature of warm end? What have you tried feeding, and how did you do so?

Ideally, you should not be handling them until they have started eating for you, and have had a proper chance to settle in.

[lavenderlolita]

Do you have photos of the snakes for reference? How old are they? What was their living situation before coming to you?

What is your habitat like for each snake? Temperature of cool end, temperature of warm end? What have you tried feeding, and how did you do so?

Ideally, you should not be handling them until they have started eating for you, and have had a proper chance to settle in.

the female normals are temporarily in a 20 gallon glass tank with hot and cool hides, a UTH, plastic plants and a soaking/water dish. temps are 75 on the cool end and 85 on the hot end. they feed on baby mice just fine in a separate tub.

the spider male in question is in a plastic tub about the same size as the tank, same set up. temps range from 78-90. he will not eat and hasn't eaten for me these two weeks.

[rebelrachel13]

Are you feeding live or F/T? What size mice? Might want to try rats.

Pics would be good. It's pretty easy to tell when a BP is malnourished. They will look like a triangle and their skin will be loose.

Try feeding him in-cage instead of in a separate enclosure.

[lavenderlolita]

yeah his skin is definitely loose.
and atm i've been feeding f/t crawlers I think they're called?
still new to the feeder world.
and everyone i've ever talked to told me not to feed in their enclosure because it would associate me reaching in with feeding so idk.

[Reddog]

If you have a smaller enclosure It won't hurt to try that, also place hides in with them, and what I do is get a fuzzy crawler rat and place in the tub at bed time and leave it over night. I have only had to assist feed once and its not fun for you or the snake.

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[MJT_23]

yeah his skin is definitely loose.
and atm i've been feeding f/t crawlers I think they're called?
still new to the feeder world.
and everyone i've ever talked to told me not to feed in their enclosure because it would associate me reaching in with feeding so idk.

Cage aggression is total bs... I'd feed in his tank, make sure the food is warm enough for him to sense it and try givin it the "zombie dance" if he doesn't take no harm in leaving It in over night. Hopefully he eats for you

[Reddog]

Feeding a live fuzzy will help also.

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[deathfromabove]

dont have much experience but if all else fails try live. I cant get mine to eat f/t at all. also since he wont eat at all leave him in the enclosure till he starts eating on a regular basis and gets his weight up. and try not to handle him i'm sure hes already stressed as it is.

[Inknsteel]

A picture of the spider would definitely help us to determine the real condition of the animal. If he's a hatchling and still small, I would try a live hopper mouse. You can leave a hopper in the tank with him for a few hours, even overnight and leave him alone with it. If you can really feel the internal organs, it sounds like a pretty dire situation, so the sooner the better. If he's really that bad off, you may need to make a mouse pink slurry and feed him from a feeding syringe. Again, this is where a picture would come in handy so we can tell you the appropriate course of action based on the real condition of the snake.