Young ball python not shedding or defecating!!HELP PLEASE!

[VioletSky]

I got my ball python over labor day weekend (about a month ago) and feed her(assumed gender) one thawed fuzzy every four days. She has only defecated once since I got her but she still has 7 mice inside her. She is still very eager to eat so I'm assuming that she knows best but I'm still concerned. Another thing I'm concerned about is that fact that she hasn't shed yet. I checked the sheet that was give to me when I bought her and she hadn't shed when she was at the store either (the got her July 24th, 2012). Since I've had her, I've noticed a small dry patch on the top of her head. She's had it since I got her but it's slowly spreading but about 1-2 scales a week. Does this mean she's trying to shed?

I keep her in a 20 gallon tank that is between 80-87 degrees and between 50-70% humidity most of the day. The tank dries out while I sleep. I'll wake up and the humidity will be about 20% but I'll immediately dampen the towels and put them back on top of the tank. Without the towels, the humidity is at 10%. She has a hide and a water dish that is constantly kept full and is rinsed regularly to prevent bacteria growth.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong or if I'm over reacting?

[KatStoverReptiles]

I think you're over reacting. Young pythons are very efficient when it comes to food and don't poo very often. That being said, how big is she? A fuzzy mouse is quite small even for the smallest of babies. She should be getting a prey item that's about as big around as she is every 5-7 days.

I'm not sure what you mean about the dry patch. When a snake is getting ready to shed, they will often have a red stomach (almost looks sunburnt), become dull looking, and eventually get opaque (or blue) eyes. Then they'll clear up for a bit and poof! shed.

[VioletSky]

She is a little over a foot long and the fuzzies I feed her are about an inch and a quarter long, not including the tail. I've heard about the mouse being as big and she is at her widest point but I don't know how wide she really is. I can't tell if it's really her or if it's just the mouse I gave her. In regards to her scales, her underside is a bit pink in some sections but I think it's just because she's bending as I hold her. Her colors are still just as bright as when I got her minus the small patch of scales on her head. The end of her tail is a bit flakey as well. And her eyes are still clear.
This is my first snake/reptile so I'm watching every little thing that goes on and worry a lot.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Checkout these 2 threads, they go over the basics:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

I would say that you are feeding rodents that are too small, that would account for the lack of poop, and shed. Almost all BP's can eat mouse hoppers right out of the egg, and they quickly need larger rodents.

[KatStoverReptiles]

On the width, as long as you get close it's OK. She should have a little bit of a bulge when she's done eating.

You can take a string and run it around her and just mark where they meet, then you can do the same thing to the rat/mouse to get an idea of size.

[VioletSky]

Thank you both for your help and advice! I still have 4 fuzzies left in the box. Since they are too small, should I feed her more often to compensate for the size or just wait until I run out?

[The Serpent Merchant]

I wouldn't feed any more often then 4 days apart, but you could try feeding 2 at a time.

[VioletSky]

ok, thank you again!

[BHReptiles]

One thing you might think about doing is switching her to rats. I assume you are buying the mice from Petsmart? (I ask because I know they sell mice in a box) I have a female who won't eat rats, so I'm feeding her medium mice right now. Depending on how big she is, she'll need small or medium mice. The small mice are called Hopper mice (even though the box says small mice) and the medium mice are really weanling mice. My girl is about 100g right now and I have her on weanling mice until she finishes the box and then she'll already be up to large mice. As an adult, she'll need SEVERAL jumbo mice. I would try switching her to small rats after you've given her jumbo mice and you notice that they are simply too small for her. Hopefully she'll take the rats no problem. The good thing about rats is that you don't have to feed quite as many in one sitting. I would recommend getting her on rats sooner rather than later, but Petsmart/Petco only sell small adult rats and none of the small sizes.

That said, if you have access to a local rodent breeder, you can always buy from them. I personally order my rats online. I anticipate how much my snakes eat and bulk order so I'm only paying shipping once. It's a lot to shell out at one time, but it will last you for a while. I have a 160g girl on rat fuzzies (almost big enough for rat pups) but in my freezer I have rat pinkies, fuzzies, and pups. When she outgrows the pups, I'll be purchasing larger rats and larger mice for my mouse eaters. I'll also be selling my leftovers so they don't go to waste. Just something to think about.

[snowcolt]

O.o
i fed mine the sunday after i got him which was 1 week. i feed him a hopper. he used the bathroom between that period

i fed him friday. he used the bathroom between then also.

someone told me to up his feeding. instead of 1 hopper. offer him another one.