hatchling borneo not eating and somewhat wrinkled

[tamousw]

Good evening everyone. I posted a couple of weeks ago about a borneo short tailed hatchling that I purchased. I noticed that his skin seems somewhat wrinkly too me. I do not know if this is normal or not. He is about 6 weeks old now and has not eaten a meal since I have had him. The store where I bought him from said that he ate three mice the day before I bought him and that was exactly two weeks ago. I have him in a 10 gallon tank but I am going to switch him to a shoe box size rubbermaid tub to see if that will encourage eating. When I called the store with my concerns the gentlemen said that he could be getting ready to shed, but I read that it could take months before his first shed. He is active, and drinks water, I am just concerned about the wrinkles and him not eating. Any theories?

[EAC Reptiles]

It could very well be a shed and possibly a bad shed going on. Some pics would would make for a better assessment.

[bwt501]

At 6 weeks old it's most likely not a shed. The guy you bought him from is also either a liar or an idiot or both. A four week old Borneo would just be taking his first meals and I doubt he took 3 mice at once. It sounds like he sold you a snake that hadn't eaten at all. So here's what to do.
Get it out of the 10 gallon and into a shoebox size tub. Temps at 80. Higher temps turn hatchlings off and troublesome ones will feed more readily at the lower end.
Hides. A simple deli cup with a hole is great, shredded paper and At this age you can still keep him on semi-damp sphagnum until he feeds. This will keep dryness at bay and it will provide security. They want tight secure spaces.
Keep him like this for a few days, no handling then offer a live rat pup or hopper mouse. Offer at night when quiet, lights out, no other activity.
Keep us updated.

[tamousw]

Thank you for the information, I will try the suggestions that you made and I will keep everyone posted.

- - - Updated - - -

I suppose some pictures would help. I will add some A.S.A.P.

[tamousw]

Thank you for the information, I will try the suggestions that you made and I will keep everyone posted.

- - - Updated - - -

I suppose some pictures would help. I will add some A.S.A.P.

[Kara]

Ouch...that snake doesn't look like it has ever eaten, and certainly hasn't taken 3 mice in one setting. It also looks like a blood or possibly a blood x Borneo, the pics are a bit ambiguous. Either way, right now the priority is to reduce stress & get that little snake feeling comfortable enough to eat. Lon gave you some great advice above, so please try to keep handling & other interference to a minimum until your python is feeding consistently.

Best of luck!

[gaiaeagle]

We were having similar problems with our new male blood python. He refused the first meal with us. We changed his tub to provide him with more places to hide by changing him from newspaper to reptile bark and not handling him over the week. He again did not seem interested in eating. I ended up assisting him by opening his mouth and putting the head of the f/t rat in. He latched on and took the rest down by himself. I am really hoping that come feeding day this weekend that he will have figured it out and will be feeding on his own.

I hope you get your baby to start eating. I know how worrisome it can be when they don't eat.