Help my Pastel BP wont eat!!!

[Ballsdeep1107]

Hi Everyone!


My husband and I bought a Pastel Ball Python from a local PetSmart, BEFORE we knew about the abuse done to the animals that are sold there. Anyway, we have this ball python and it refuses to eat. We have been assist feeding it since we got it about 2 months ago, but it is losing weight at a rapid amount. He was 59 grams when we brought him home. He weighted in at 52 grams this week. He is setup the same as the rest of our snakes. He isnt very active. He isnt in shed. We are at our wits end trying to figure out whats wrong with it. We believe it is a male. All of our other snakes eat great! Great food response and sometimes even a little defensive strike or two. But our Pastel has absolutely no food response, hardly ever sticks out his tongue. Im supper concerned and worried for this little males health and vitality! Any and all advice and help would be REALLY appreciated! THANK YOU!!

[BPGator]

Can you describe his enclosure? Temperature, humidity, hides, etc.

What are you feeding him? frozen or live? mice or rats?

How long did you have him before you started assist feeding? How many times have you fed him like that?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Waiting for 2 months before worrying is a long time for an animal that size that is being assisted.

Do this to a T http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-hatchling-101

And I mean to a T

[Ballsdeep1107]

[IMG]FullSizeRender.jpg[/IMG]He is in a 4-5 gallon terrarium, on coconut husk (ECODIRT) bedding. He has a hide, and small water dish. Temp on the "warm side" stays at 87 degrees F, cool side at 78 degrees F. Humidity is at 50%. He was being assist feed at PetSmart, F/T mice. He has been assist fed every week for the last 5 weeks. We have 6 other snakes who are thriving, and growing as they should. Cupcake is our problem child. When we bought him he was malnourished, we had several success assist feeds (note not force fed) but the past few attempts have had no result. Cupcake is not in shed, we have tried holding off for a few extra days, scenting with rats, leaving the mouse in for a while and coming back later. Our concern is that now that he isn't eating even with assistance that he will not thrive, and continue to drop grams.

[Ballsdeep1107]

It's not like we haven't been worried from the beginning, we have exhausted all options except for a Vet which will be our next step in all of this! Just trying to get feed back from people who have experienced this!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The vet won't be any help it a common issue with new owners and likely husbandry/stress related again do this to a T http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-hatchling-101

[Jeanne]

[IMG]FullSizeRender.jpg[/IMG]He is in a 4-5 gallon terrarium, on coconut husk (ECODIRT) bedding. He has a hide, and small water dish. Temp on the "warm side" stays at 87 degrees F, cool side at 78 degrees F. Humidity is at 50%. He was being assist feed at PetSmart, F/T mice. He has been assist fed every week for the last 5 weeks. We have 6 other snakes who are thriving, and growing as they should. Cupcake is our problem child. When we bought him he was malnourished, we had several success assist feeds (note not force fed) but the past few attempts have had no result. Cupcake is not in shed, we have tried holding off for a few extra days, scenting with rats, leaving the mouse in for a while and coming back later. Our concern is that now that he isn't eating even with assistance that he will not thrive, and continue to drop grams.

Its likely husbandry issues.. Tank..way too small and hard to really regulate temps properly bc its too small (i kno this bc I tried this years ago w a hatchling in a 5 gallon, he was actually too hot in tht cage)....

What do you use to measure temps and humidity in this 4 to 5 gallon tank you have it in? Tell us all about your set up so we can try to help. And your pic above didnt wrk for me..cant see it. But if you are using round dial style gauges..trash them, they are crap... It was impossible for me to get a temp gradient like what you say you have in that small tank because its too small. So I am curious what gauges you use, how u heat it..etc.

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[Jeanne]

And how many hides does it have..they shld have 2.

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[Micki]

Have you tried a live baby mouse? Have you tuna scented a fuzzy? Have you brained a pinky? Are you offering the food before assisting? Is it hotter than body temp and dancing around the cage(never touching snake, snake comes to mouse)? Have you tried leaving it in the tank for awhile in a quiet dark place? Ive heard African soft fur is a good way to tempt a picky python ( admittedly never tried it).

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[Jeanne]

Hate to say it...but scenting a rodent w TUNA, a fish, which isnt even part of a ball pythons diet at all ever is not gonna work. They are not fish eaters.

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