Very skinny ball python! advice appreciated.

[SarahLadd]

Hello everyone, new here and to balls (but not to snakes and other reptiles).

I picked up a super sweet tempered, beautiful, very very skinny ball last night. I need some affirmation that I'm doing everything I can to turn this around and bring her back up to appropriate weight. I probably shouldn't have gotten this snake, but I fell hard for her... She was calling to me and I just couldn't bring myself to leave her. So here we are. The pet store had her in an absolutely abysmal set up, which I'm hoping is the root of her weight problem as she's otherwise clean, healthy and alert.

So far as I can tell, she's around 7 months of age. I weighed her last night at 48 paltry grams. the pet store has been getting her to sporadically eat f/t fuzzies and pinkies (mice). I plan on getting her switched over ASAP to rat pups (Tips on that appreciated).

I have her set up in a plastic shoebox with heat wire set to 90f. Still adjusting the tub for air flow and humidity stabilization, but the goal is 70%, we're almost there. I gave her a large crock for water and a simple box hide, paper towel substrate. I've since taped paper to three of the sides of the tub. She's within 4 feet of a window for photoperiod.

When should I try feeding her? What should I give, more fuzzy mice until she's regularly eating? Should I have her in a bigger tub? Is there anything I can do better? I want to give her the BEST possible chance of recovery.

Here is a small album of pictures I took last night.

http://m.imgur.com/a/Pnldw
Thank you for any advice, it's much appreciated.

[nightrainfalls]

get husbandry correct, leave the snake alone for three or four days, and start small, then work up to larger mice. I would aim for feedings every five days, and would start with mouse fuzzies, moving to hoppers as soon as possible. I would not do rats just yet, because the snake is so thin. Get the snake eating regularly is priority number one. A trip to the vet for a check up may be priority number two. Priority number three would be moving to rats, but this snake will need to fill out a bit more before that is the best option.

Thank you for helping this poor snake.

David

[bcr229]

I would start with a live mouse hopper until she's eating regularly. Considering that she came from a pet store I would keep her well away from my current snakes and treat for mites.

I also hope you didn't pay retail for her as otherwise the store will simply replace her with another one that will have to be "rescued" in the near future.

[Miranda2]

Ive had two skinny bps that were given to me in the last 5 years who were non eaters.. Both times I waited a week and fed them a live hopper, neither refused live. After they've put on some weight then I switch them over to f/t. I think getting them up in weight is more important that worrying if they eat live or f/t. I would cover her tub partway with a towel and put someplace really quiet.
And dont handle her at all until she has had several meals under her belt.

The first rescue I had was male that was around the same weight as yours and was a year old. Looked like a hatchling, they were frying him in a tank with a 100 watt light and unregulated heat pad underneath. He switched over pretty easy and was adopted out.
The second was my newest addition, the albino Popcorn, he ate live hopper mice for the first few meals and now today for the first time took a frozen thawed rat pup, so Im super happy. I still havent handle him yet but now that he is getting so regular at eating I will probably start handling him when I change his cage.

Anyway just some ideas that worked for me.

[JoshSloane]

Seems like the typical pet store story. Good on you for taking her. Also hope you didn't pay retail. Once she has acclimated to her conditions I would start the food parade. If she is really thin you could offer her the appropriately sized mouse even every four days if she will take it. Definitely need to jump start her weight gain.

- - - Updated - - -

Seems like the typical pet store story. Good on you for taking her. Also hope you didn't pay retail. Once she has acclimated to her conditions I would start the food parade. If she is really thin you could offer her the appropriately sized mouse even every four days if she will take it. Definitely need to jump start her weight gain.

[SarahLadd]

Thanks for the advice so far. I need to check around for a source source for live feeders in town, if I can swing it I'll give it a try. At the moment I currently only own one other snake, a spoiled hognose, and he's been eating f/t for years.

I understand the moral implications of having bought a pet store animal that was kept in poor conditions. The folks caring for her meant well, they are just uneducated. I'd like to think I'll go back at some point and let them know what they were doing wrong to prevent subjecting another hapless creature to unwitting husbandry abuse, but as I am not what I'd consider a snake expert, I don't feel comfortable doling out a wagged finger and what have you. I struggled with the decision to bring her home for almost a week. I debate asking for a partial refund, but the extent of how really well and under weight she was for how old she is wasn't made clear until I was handed her records at purchase and put her on the scale at home. I feel poorly about it all, I really do. I'm not usually the kind of person to buy into superstitious mojo, but I had a bug in my brain that kept whispering to me that I needed her and she needed me. So now what? :/

[JoshSloane]

I hear you and I have been there. I purchased my black lab pup on a whim without even intending to buy a dog that day, and he has been my pride and joy ever since. Sometimes you feel a connection to an animal. No one would say you did anything wrong. Coming to this forum for advice was a great start. People here have a wealth of knowledge. Just keep in mind all of us are giving opinions not facts. What works for one might not work for another. Good luck!

[SarahLadd]

Home from work now. I went and checked on her and she was cruising around the tub all curious and active, so I thought I'd roll the dice. I thawed a fuzzy, wiggled the mouse in front of her nose and she struck it with the force of a thousand tiny adorable suns!
http://imgur.com/NUNTqE3

\o/

[DVirginiana]

In addition to the advice given, if you're still within the refund period and can get vet affirmation that the snake is in poor health you could go back and ask for at least a partial refund. It'd be trouble for not a lot of money probably, but at least they wouldn't profit off it. You could also use the opportunity to gently tell them some simple things they could improve about the husbandry. If it's not against store policy caring workers will usually try to do what they can.
When I adopted my BP from a chain petstore (too 'aggressive' to sell and wouldn't eat) it was pretty clear the person in charge of the adoption cared but just didn't know what to do. My husband and I usually talk to her whenever we're there to buy crickets or anything now, and we've had several conversations about alternate feeding techniques that can be tried for non-eaters. Unfortunately, the only technique that seems to work for mine is live-feeding which they aren't allowed to do at PetSmart.

[SarahLadd]

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd update on Chi here in this thread instead of starting a new one. I have been feeding her every 4 days and she is a very responsive feeder. I started feeding her small fuzzies, but she's taking good size hoppers now. Today she weighed in at 105 grams 48 hours after last fed, which means she's doubled her weight and then some since I first brought her home. She's shed once already as well, which all came off in one piece. My husband likes taking pictures, so I'll leave a few pretty pictures of a snake for you to look at.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I welcome any additional tips!

Here is an album of images taken today 06/14/15. http://imgur.com/a/grqeS
Here is an album of images taken 05/14/15. http://imgur.com/a/EnBzs