Ball Python Won't Eat Unless I Feed Him But I can't Live With Him Right Now... Help?

[MissterDog]

What age did you get the snake at? Are you the only human it's interacted with since a very young age?

I suggest spending time with your parents and the snake at the same time. Having him rest on you for 10 mins, then on one of them for 10, then you, then the other of them, then you, then tank.
Your snake knows your scent specifically. They will react to your pheromones and the chemicals you put out when it's around. While you're with your parents and the snake make sure that you keep yourself in a mind over matter calm or you may spook him. Even the simplest emotions we have can be portrayed in those clouds we put out.

I'm really into snake therapy, and a lot of people might not get it, but... If you're interested I have some ideas (theories really, since we don't know exactly what goes on in their heads).
One way I have helped a snake bond with a human (if only for trust) is actually vocal training by singing to them. Snakes "hear" through vibrations in their skull and skin. Some people who are nervous would probably prefer to hum. During your 10 mins of personal time with each of you, while holding the snake (preferably around your neck unless you're not comfortable), hum or sing a gentle song or your favorite nursery rhyme. The snake might not understand the language, but they are rather smart and do notice patterns, Which music follows. I've noticed that snakes that learn their humans vocal chord vibrations adapt to being calmer around them rather quickly, because nothing else it interacts with does this strange thing.

It's harder to work on this now that you're already out of the house. I think that's why we're all kinda grasping at straws for advice.

Another idea... is if he has bonded to you and your scent and it's their scent that is throwing him off of eating because of lack of trust, the possibility of one of them wearing a shirt of yours with your smell on it while feeding him might help. Maybe a hoodie or something that doesn't get washed every time.

I wish you luck. if you'd like any more ideas feel free to ask.

I think OP would be better focusing on enforcing their basic husbandry first before introducing new bonding theories to the family? I think the key problem at hand is their snake is not eating while in their parent's care. If husbandry is off and there is possible over handling with other stress factors in op's absence, I don't think it really matters how well their ball python has "bonded" with anyone. Be it now or in the future.

[donnadudette2003]

I know I know. Put the village crazy lady back in her box, who let her out?
Why not both?
*I'm definitely not saying don't try to fix the husbandry.

[Kira]

I know I know. Put the village crazy lady back in her box, who let her out?
Why not both?

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The issue is most likely with husbandry, not with bonding so we are just trying to refocus the topic back on OP's questions.

[MissterDog]

I know I know. Put the village crazy lady back in her box, who let her out?
Why not both?
*I'm definitely not saying don't try to fix the husbandry.

I'm sorry you feel that way. My response was aimed to help keep things on topic for OP with what is relavent. Figured it would help make things less confusing is all

[donnadudette2003]

I'm sorry you feel that way. My response was aimed to help keeps things on topic for OP with what is relavent. Figured it would help keep things less confusing is all

I think having the snake calm around the parents is relevant. If in the end the tank hasn't changed, the only thing that has is the human interacting with the snake.

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[MissterDog]

I think having the snake calm around the parents is relevant. If in the end the tank hasn't changed, the only thing that has is the human interacting with the snake.

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I don't completely disagree with human interaction having a play with this, in fact I've even included it as a possible problem/solution. I'm just concerned that, since OP needs to fix the basics of their husbandry and their parent's participation with understanding it, it's probably best not to focus on bonding yet. Your suggested methods to calm their bp may or may not contribute to doing the opposite, depending how handsy their parents are or how they perceive what a calm snake is, so op may need to be mindful about that.

I just think it's better we don't over complicate things for op yet.

[Albert Clark]

Its very important not to equate bonding and a rapport with who's feeding the animal. That is all basically a form of anthropomorphic behaviors not established in reptiles however controversial. The real issues here are correcting the husbandry (unregulated heat source and ineffective humidity percentages) just for starters. We have to remember these are captive animals with wild instincts who need their basic environmental needs met first and foremost. So let's start to correct that.

[SPIDERBALL]

I think having the snake calm around the parents is relevant. If in the end the tank hasn't changed, the only thing that has is the human interacting with the snake.

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Just sit back and let the co-owners of the snake rule.

[royalreilly]

Thank you all for your help and advice! This got a lot of comments over night so I'm just going to reply generally to some of the things that were said

@Kira - He does have heat lamps, yes. I know they don't need light but it keeps the air temperature warm enough. There's a white light and a red light and the lights are switched every 12 hours so the red light is on at night so that nights is slightly cooler for him. The substrate is coconut fiber but even when thoroughly misted and with a humidifier the humidity seems to usually be a little low. When he starts to show signs of shedding we crank the humidity up, though. I'm going to check with my parents to see how much they're handling him, too. They might be holding him too much before or after trying to feed him.

@MissterDog - My parents don't see the thermostat as vital. Overall my parents have participated in my care of him over the last few years but they definitely don't understand as much as I do. It's an unfortunate situation because I have little control as well as the fact that I didn't plan to leave for school until a few months ago.

@donnadudette2003 - When I got the snake it was probably a few months old. I don't know the exact age since it came from a chain pet store but it was pretty young. I'm not the only he's interacted with. My parents actually enjoy taking him out just to lounge on the couch or whatever. But I am the only one who feeds him. He's fine around even strangers but he never grew out of his shy baby stage. It's never been a problem so I've never pushed him. He's never tried to strike at someone but he is incredibly shy. He comes out of his ball but he is very shy about anything being near his head so when people are holding him he often gets spooked and jumps back. I think maybe since I'm the one who always feeds him he trusts me and associates me with being fed. It's hard to tell how far snake psychology goes but I think he knows that I'm gone and might be a little upset that his main caretaker isn't the one taking care of him anymore.

@Albert Clark - I know that correcting the husbandry should be my top priority. Thank you very much.




Thank you everyone for your help and advice! I know that I need to get a thermostat for my baby. I'll also try to help him get used to being fed by my parents

[Trisnake]

Perhaps pointing your parents the way of a few care sheets will help them understand both how to better care for your ball python in your absence AND how important a thermostat is to not only the safety of the snake, but the safety of the home. They may be surprised to hear an unregulated thermostat can be a fire hazard; they HAVE caused fires before from improper use. See http://arachnoboards.com/threads/zoo...a-fire.295434/

Though that is an extreme example, there are far more numerous reports of unregulated UTH's burning holes in themselves, cracking the glass of vivariums, sparking, and overheating animals/causing burns. A ~30ish dollar investment for a cheap rheostat (like the one linked in an above post) could save you (and your parents) a good bit of grief in the future.

Just a thought on how to convince them on the thermostat I hope your ball starts eating for you again. Perhaps moving him to a tub set up would help-- they're a lot easier to maintain proper husbandry in than a tank, and putting one together doesn't cost much, especially if you already have the UTH, thermostat, and thermometer.