Slightly odd behavior...

[CarrieAnnx3]

I've had him for two days. They asked me to bring him in today to check up on him and how he's doing. Seemed a bit odd, but I went with it.

I'll head out first thing tomorrow and grab him a pinkie. That's what the place that sold him to me was feeding him, anyway.

I'll do everything possible to give him the rest and food that he needs. Fingers crossed, guys.
Keep Riley and I in your thoughts.

[bcr229]

His temps and humidity are perfect, based off the research I've done, cool side being anywhere from 79-83 and the warmer side being 89-91, humidity fluctuates between 50 - 65%.

What kind of a thermometer are you using to measure temps? How are you heating the enclosure?

ETA: Mouse and even rat pinkies are too small a meal for a BP, hatchlings can eat rat fuzzies at least, if not pups.

[CarrieAnnx3]

I have two digital thermometers and two needle thermometers. One of each on the cool side and one of each on the warm side. Heat is currently being done via heat lamp. I will be getting a UTH as soon as possible. I keep the cage misted and the hygrometer that I have beeps if the humidity goes below 55%, so I get up at night and mist as well.

lll have to remember that when I go in tomorrow. Thanks!
just checking, though, would those be good ideas with how thin he is?

[Pythonfriend]

I've had him for two days. They asked me to bring him in today to check up on him and how he's doing. Seemed a bit odd, but I went with it.

I'll head out first thing tomorrow and grab him a pinkie. That's what the place that sold him to me was feeding him, anyway.

the good old story.... people working at pet stores that know nothing about the animal.

he/she needs no additional stress. only food. and either they lied about the feeding, or the pinkie was just too tiny. any reputable breeder would keep this one until it is in shape. heck, any reputable breeder would not allow a BP to get into such a condition.

you have your goal: TRIPLE its weight, and im not kidding. dont feed it too often, a 5-day-scedule is ideal, but on feeding day, they can eat one food item after another. look at the picture section of this forum to get a feel of how the body should be proportioned. this forum will help you a lot, many users here keep several hundreds or more.


EDIT: it seems you have temperature and humidity under perfect control. focus on food, but that means 1 feeding day, 4 days off, go for a 5-day cycle. so, basically, when he/she first eats, you can relax a bit. one thing you should get if you dont have it already would be a kitchen scale that measures in grams, i would get one that has a resolution of one or two grams and that goes to a maximum of 2 kilograms or 5 kilograms. then you can track the weight of the snake and can check how heavy the food items are.

[CarrieAnnx3]

Triple weight.
5 Day schedule.
Got it. I officially have a notebook sitting next to my computer for all of this information. Hah.

Should I give him two pinkies or move up to fuzzies?

[CarrieAnnx3]

Update:

Put him in his tank about ten minutes ago... He did this before I put him away...


He put his head into his hide and hasn't moved since. I'm legitimately worried about him. :/.

I've been reading on some older threads that say that their hatchlings exhibited the same behavior and, not long after, passed away. I don't think my heart could take that.

[Pythonfriend]

Triple weight.
5 Day schedule.
Got it. I officially have a notebook sitting next to my computer for all of this information. Hah.

Should I give him two pinkies or move up to fuzzies?

mouse or rat? basically for hatchlings a rule of thumb is: somewhere around 10-15% of the body weight of the snake every 5 days. in this case, i would increase the upper boundary to 20%. when the BP is in better shape and older, switch to a 7-day scedule of 10-15% of its body weight in food. then it depends, as a pet they dont need much as adults, as breeders they need a lot.

Update:

Put him in his tank about ten minutes ago... He did this before I put him away...


He put his head into his hide and hasn't moved since. I'm legitimately worried about him. :/.

i take the optimistic approach and would blame the malnourishment. implying that this will get better and the behavior will be more natural when he/she gets in shape. otherwise you will be stuck with a lovely odd BP . which really isnt too bad . worry about this issue when the BP is in perfect shape and still shows it. but then, to my knowledge, nothing can be done about it. who says pets need to be perfect, as long as they are healthy.

[CarrieAnnx3]

I stress myself out over my animals. Especially young ones. I'm THAT person. Ahaha.

my husband is going out first thing in the morning to get him food so I was curious to see what I should have him pick up. I don't want my daughter seeing that the snake eats live food. She is four, so I don't want to scar her.

No place around me sells young rats, from when I was calling around before I got him.

Fingers crossed. Thank you so much.

[bcr229]

Should I give him two pinkies or move up to fuzzies?

One rat pup or mouse hopper. Leave him alone to digest - only open his enclosure if you need to spot clean, mist, or change his water. Repeat feeding in five days.

[blk02ssmonte]

I agree rat fuzzie or mouse hopper. Walmart has scales and they are about 20 bucks or so depending on what ya get. When you get a UTH make sure you get a thermostat for it cause they do get hot!