Helping You Help Me: Questions Answered

[Lady]

Some things I'm sure you would love to know when I ask my insane questions

1. How long have you had your ball python?
(First owner) Didn't say
(Second owner) Since mid January
(Me) Since February 8, 2013


2. How old (or how big) is your snake?
A little confused on this.
(First owner) Bought him at 8 months, around a foot, and about 200g, but don't know how old he is other than that.
(Me) Measured him recently (Tried my best to anyways) And he was around 3 feet. His weight will be coming soon.


3. Does it eat on a regular schedule?
(First owner) Ate anywhere from 2-4 mice every week and a half to 2 weeks.
(Second owner) Didn't eat with her
(Me) He hasn't eaten since I gotten him. Its a problem I have been working on.


4. How long since its last meal?
A while…. *Cries*


5. What type/size prey is being offered?
(First owner) Small or normal sized mice
(Second owner) Tried albino mice
(Me) Tried albino mice. Switching to rats.


6. How often do you offer food?
Every two weeks


7. What type and size of enclosure does it live in?
30 x 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 tank


8. What are you using as substrate? If it has depth, how deep is it?
Repi Bark. Want to change to Aspen though. About an inch and a half.


9. What type of heating do you use?
50W inferred bulb


10. Do you use a thermostat to control temperatures?
No. But intend on getting one.


11. What do you use to measure/monitor temperatures?
Temp & Humidity Meter


12. What are the surface and ambient temperatures in the enclosure?
80 - 95 degrees F


13. What is the average humidity level?
50 - 60 degrees F


14. How many and what type of hides does the snake have?
One half hollowed out tree trunk hide. Mac's Creatures & Critters Pet Refuge. A rock with a hole and propped up on his water bowl, but he doesn't use that very often. Intend to get plants.


15. Is water readily available at all times?
Yes. He has a water bowl.


16. Does the snake live alone or does it share the enclosure with anything else?
Lives alone


17. How often and for how long is the snake typically handled?
Every or every other night. For at least 20 minutes.


18. Does the snake have any medical history (old injuries or illnesses)?
Nope


19. Do you have any other reptiles? Have you brought in any new reptiles recently?
Nope


20. Is there anything specific or unique about your situation that we should be aware of?
Nope. Not that I can think of at least.

[BHReptiles]

Here's some things to try

• Clutter up the cage. I bet it's a bit big. Use crumpled newspaper, more hides, plants, etc. Cover at least 75% of the floor space
• I don't know if you're feeding live or frozen mice, but try live! Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time
• if your snake is 3 ft, it's probably an adult and is off feed do to the breeding season.
• Buy a scale and keep track of the weight. If it isn't losing weight, I wouldn't worry too much about the snake not eating.
• get some identicle hides for the hot/cool side - they will favor hides over thermoregulating
• your hot side might be a tad hot. Bump it down to about 90-92...but to do that you will need a thermostat or table top lamp dimmer ($10 at Home Depot).
• GET THAT THERMOSTAT FAST! You really, really need to get one of those. Buy a cheap one (Hydrofarm) off amazon. It's like $30.

Good luck!

[GoFride]

Excellent advice! I would also add; stop handling your snake until it has eaten a couple of times. Cover three sides of your enclosure so your snake feels more protected and can't see activity surrounding him.

[Lady]

Here's some things to try

• Clutter up the cage. I bet it's a bit big. Use crumpled newspaper, more hides, plants, etc. Cover at least 75% of the floor space
• I don't know if you're feeding live or frozen mice, but try live! Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time
• if your snake is 3 ft, it's probably an adult and is off feed do to the breeding season.
• Buy a scale and keep track of the weight. If it isn't losing weight, I wouldn't worry too much about the snake not eating.
• get some identicle hides for the hot/cool side - they will favor hides over thermoregulating
• your hot side might be a tad hot. Bump it down to about 90-92...but to do that you will need a thermostat or table top lamp dimmer ($10 at Home Depot).
• GET THAT THERMOSTAT FAST! You really, really need to get one of those. Buy a cheap one (Hydrofarm) off amazon. It's like $30.

Good luck!

• I'll work on getting him new/ more hides. I do want to get a lot of plants and such. I wasn't sure how much space he wanted, but he does spend most of his time in his hide and on his log so that makes sense.
• I'm feeding him live.
• How long does breeding time usually last? And why don't they eating during it?
• Getting a scale soon.
• The temp is usually 85. I just said up to 95 because sometimes it does get that hot, but it's usually not.
• Ok. I'm going to get a thermostat ASAP. That's on the top of the list.

I really going paycheck at a time. I'm taking him to the vet, which I'm really excited about. So I will get things when I can after I pay for that. I'm a college student so it's not like I get paid beaucoup bucks. I also have been having to pay medical fees that I wasn't planning on having so I'm working on getting him everything he needs with what I have. I think everything should be good from now on. Just waiting on that paycheck which I'll have very soon

Thanks for all your advice

[Lady]

Excellent advice! I would also add; stop handling your snake until it has eaten a couple of times. Cover three sides of your enclosure so your snake feels more protected and can't see activity surrounding him.

Alright sounds good. I'll stop handling him.
Is it because of stress or something?
His case has a towel which covers the cold side and 3/4th of the back. I used to have a fabric that covered move of it, but it kept falling off. I need a better way to keep it on and a bigger fabric as well.

[Lady]

2. How old (or how big) is your snake?

(First owner) Bought him at 8 months, around a foot, and about 200g, but don't know how old he is other than that.
(Me) Around 3 feet and weights 608g

[GoFride]

What time of day are you offering food? BPs can be fussy about eating during the daytime. They feel safer after it starts getting dark. If you feed in the evening, do you turn on all the lights in the room? Is a bright light shining directly on your BP? I'm trying to think of things like this, that could be making your snake too nervous to eat.

[Lady]

What time of day are you offering food? BPs can be fussy about eating during the daytime. They feel safer after it starts getting dark. If you feed in the evening, do you turn on all the lights in the room? Is a bright light shining directly on your BP? I'm trying to think of things like this, that could be making your snake too nervous to eat.

I always offer at night.
All lights are off except for his inferred.
He only strikes, but does not attack.
People are telling me it might be because of breeding season.
But I'm not sure when breeding season starts/ends.
I'm just all together worried about this.
I haven't been able to be at ease with him not eating.
He's going to the vet soon and I'm nervous for what he will say though I want him to just say I'm crazy and everything is fine.