I got ripped off :(

[ClarkT]

Melissa,

I'm sorry you got a bum deal. I got ripped off by a guy in West Haven, right by you. That one hurt, but I found a better deal and recovered.

I agree with the idea that you should check the husbandry out. He has obviously eaten before.

Good luck with him. Sorry you dealt with a Utard. There are a lot of them out there.

[Melissa88]

He was housed with other snakes when i got him. It looks like he tries to eat it but his mouth wont open. Should i not have them togther? I have seen some info on they are fine and some say not to.

[sarahlovesmiike]

He was housed with other snakes when i got him. It looks like he tries to eat it but his mouth wont open. Should i not have them togther? I have seen some info on they are fine and some say not to.

I originally housed my rescues together because they had always been together and I was worried if I separated them I would have problems. My female used to do the same exact thing, killing it and rubbing her nose all over the prey but leaving it because she was insecure about the other snake. I got them to eat but I would have to take one snake out to feed the other, so I eventually gave up and moved them both to tubs. So that would be my advice. Even though she was previously housed with another snake he might just be insecure because it's a new environment and because he doesn't really "know" the new housemate. Buy a tub, get him eating regularly and then decide if you want to introduce them again (I don't recommend this).

[ladywhipple02]

He was housed with other snakes when i got him. It looks like he tries to eat it but his mouth wont open. Should i not have them togther? I have seen some info on they are fine and some say not to.

I agree with the above post... get him into his own cage, something a little smaller, maybe a little darker. When you feed him, try putting a blanket or towel over the enclosure.

He probably isn't opening his mouth because he doesn't want to. I'd say you have a shy little guy on your hands there.

[J.Vandegrift]

How long are you leaving the mouse in the cage after he kills it? Next time I would try watching to make sure he wraps it up and then turn off the lights and leave the room for a few hours. I bet he will eat it eventually. You would have to get the other snakes out of the cage to do this, but they should not be in there with them in the first place anyway.

[blackcrystal22]

Ball pythons really do not need cage mates.

Eventually, it usually causes some sort of problem.

Separate them, then see how he does. That kink doesn't look like it's from trauma, but it could be... It's probably from a birth defect.

[h00blah]

i agree with the general consensus. give him a seperate and secure enclosure (he should be in QUARANTINE).. leave him alone for a week and try to feed him.

sorry about the bum deal, but trading a healthy pinstripe for a one eyed black pastel is a ripoff but you agreed to it...

read the care sheet on this forum. also, i would follow the advice given on the forum.. keeping snakes housed together works well for some, but not for others. there are more negatives in housing 2 snakes together that outweigh the convenience of having to buy a separate enclosure. follow the advice that people are giving, and give him his own place..

always QT

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

Just my two cents...get a moderate sized tub, put him in, and try feeding him in there. Like other have said, separate the snakes and when the little one-eyed one feeds, put a towel or something over the enclosure. Snakes that are shy like a little privacy. Remember that for a snake, eating and shedding are times when they are EXTREMELY vulnerable in the wild, so they instinctively get a little edgy if they feel threatened at those times.

[mrmertz]

Unfortunately unless there was a guarantee of some sort in writing you are out of luck in so far as having recourse.

"Let the buyer beware."

I agree with the recent posts about housing and all. Give it a try.

[Big Gunns]

This really sucks for you Mellisa and BG isn't defending the guy who sold it to you...BUT....you did know it had one eye when you bought it. BG isn't sure what the guy told you, but you could assume that it may have some problems.

BG isn't sure why you would do this trade, but you did. This animal looks like it's gonna need a leeetle extra care to keep him alive. If you go to the BOI like people suggest, you'll probably leave with a bigger headache than you already have(BG agrees with Smitty here)...especially with this deal considering you knew it had problems to begin with and it has now been a month.(why did you wait so long?)

You can try and assist feed him for a while and hopefully he'll figure out how to eat on his own.

Oh yeah. If you are trying to feed them together you are asking for trouble....and a possible injury which will surely be brought up on the BOI. BG doesn't care how it was housed before. It's not a good idea.