Help!

[jarnold80]

I am not sure where to post this as I am new. I just got my first ball python 2/4. She is really pretty and dark, and a juvenile. I got her for my classroom as we are working on food webs and energy pyramids in science and I want my students to realize they don't have to be afraid of snakes. I was told she has last eaten 2/1 succesfully and they had been feeding her on Sunday nights. Friday when I went home she was doing well, eyes normal. I came in yesterday 2/8 to feed her and her eyes were milky and she would not eat. She has been eating Fuzzies. I made sure the mouse was warm and used the tongs to dangle. She flicked her tongue at it a few times and moved away from it. I tried to get her intersted for 30 minutes. She would not eat. i tried again this morning and she would still not eat. I am getting concerned bc it has not been 8 days since she last ate. Any suggestions????

[DVirginiana]

Milky eyes (and pink belly, but that can be hard to spot if you don't know what you're looking for) are a sign that she's about to shed. In a few days her eyes should go clear again, then it won't be long till she sheds.
A lot of snakes won't eat when they're in shed and some will. Part of it could also be that she's still nervous from being in a new place. Let her be for a week; no touching, handling, keep foot traffic near her enclosure to a minimum. Only go in her tank to change water or spot clean if she goes to the bathroom. Then try again. If she hasn't shed by that point you may just want to wait till she sheds before trying again.

[trevor88]

Its possible she is going into shed if her eyes are turning a milky white kind of color.. Lots of ball pythons will refuse to eat when in shed, its nothing to be to alarmed about... What are the current temps, humidity at ?

[jarnold80]

Its possible she is going into shed if her eyes are turning a milky white kind of color.. Lots of ball pythons will refuse to eat when in shed, its nothing to be to alarmed about... What are the current temps, humidity at ?

the temp is holding steady at 85 degrees and humidity is at 55% right now.

[Daigga]

the temp is holding steady at 85 degrees and humidity is at 55% right now.

Temps are good, but I would bump up the humidity to 60-70%. 55-60% is fine regularly, but you're going to want it to be pretty high going into a shed.

[jarnold80]

Temps are good, but I would bump up the humidity to 60-70%. 55-60% is fine regularly, but you're going to want it to be pretty high going into a shed.

thank you!!

[LivingwithBalls]

Also I want too add that if you just got her she may not eat because of the stress. I know mine didn't!


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[jarnold80]

One of my students has a ball and a couple of corn snakes. They told me the same thing. Should I wait until next Sunday to try again? Two weeks seems a long time for a young bp. She is about 18 inches long. I would post a pic but it shows posting from a url and I don't have pics on a url.

[bcr229]

Even a young BP can miss a few weeks of feedings with no ill effects.

Get a digital kitchen scale and monitor his weight. If he loses too much then you can be concerned. Not eating during shed is typical for many BP's.

Heck you could make it part of your class project - weigh the feeder, weigh the snake, see how much of the feeder the snake turns into growing versus output over time.