Sorry if this thread is long; this is my first snake! I got him about 2 months ago.

He's 18 inches
Weights 1.9oz (54g)
I have no idea how old he is.
The seller just told me that it's a baby male banana pastel.


During the day, he's climbing up along the walls trying to escape.
At night he sits inside his hide with his tiny head peeking out.


I rarely ever see him fully inside his hide. He either has his head peeking out or half his body out.
Even when he goes to sleep


When I first got him, he was extremely underweight. I made an appointment to take him to the vet three weeks ago. I was able to get him to eat 3 days before his appointment. He was still a little on the underweight side so they recommended that I try and feed him live In a separate tank, and after an hour, move him back into his tank?
But I heard that was stressful for a snake? So I'm not sure if I should do that or not.

I also don't have any pet stores by me that sell live feeders.
The seller I got him from fed him f/t, so that's what I feed him now.
I offer him fuzzies, but I only had success with pinkies


He has only eaten twice for me since I got him and It's been three weeks since he last ate.
Every time I try and feed him, he completely ignores the food and crawls up the tongs.
Sometimes he does show some interest, but he never eats it. He just goes back into his hide and peeks his head out

I almost got him to eat last week. It was the first time he struck and coiled for me, but he dropped the fuzzy and went back into his hide.


If anyone has advice on how I can get him to eat? Or if I need to change anything at all? Please let me know.
I just want him to be healthy and feel safe.


Another thing, I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing? But I never see him in a ball form. He's always just spread out


He's in a 36gallon enclosure.
I use UTH connected to a thermostat. I have it set to 95.7f
A ceramic heat emitter for the ambient temp.

Temp gun readings:
Hot side:93-90f
Warm side: 86-80f
Cold side: 77f

Ambient temp: 80-76f
Humidity:60-65°

I have a sheet over the top of the tank so he would feel more secure.
He has 5 hides
2 towards the hot side, one in the middle, and two on the cold side.
plus a cork bark log (not sure if it counts as a hide)



He looks really underweight to me, and I'm not sure if I should leave him completely alone for a week with his tank fully covered and then try and feed him?
Or take him to the vet to get him force-fed.
Force-feeding is the last thing I want to do, but I'm worried about his weight