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

[Kira]

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

Fixing husbandry issues is the main priority here. OP came here asking for advice and we found husbandry issues that need to be addressed. Not sure how telling someone that they need a thermostat and to adjust their humidity is trying to "co-own" someone's snake.

[Trisnake]

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

Curious what you mean when you say "co-owners" of the snake. I've seen you use that vocabulary on a couple different threads, generally in response to other members attempting to convey knowledge and advice to those owners (new or otherwise) that may benefit from it.

I think your perspective on our comments and the motives behind them needs some tweaking.

[MissterDog]

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

Not sure how a statement like that is productive in any way or helps OP, which was the entire point of this thread. I may disagree with donnadudette2003's perspective on the issue at hand but at least they contributed with the intention to help.

[SPIDERBALL]

Curious what you mean when you say "co-owners" of the snake. I've seen you use that vocabulary on a couple different threads, generally in response to other members attempting to convey knowledge and advice to those owners (new or otherwise) that may benefit from it.

I think your perspective on our comments and the motives behind them needs some tweaking.

Cuz you people should think about how y'all are answering some people. Its one thing to give advice. Its another to give it like your giving an order. You don't exactly own other peoples snakes too.

[MissterDog]

Cuz you people should think about how y'all are answering some people. Its one thing to give advice. Its another to give it like your giving an order. You don't exactly own other peoples snakes too.

If OP seemed to be benefiting from the advise given and thanking us for it, is it really an issue? As a fellow keeper I'm sure you know how vital having a thermostat is and why it's important to encourage others without one to gain access to one asap. OP even agrees with us and we are trying to work together to convince their parents how to work with them.

If anyone wants to have a say in how they are receiving advice it's OP, not you.

[Sunnieskys]

Cuz you people should think about how y'all are answering some people. Its one thing to give advice. Its another to give it like your giving an order. You don't exactly own other peoples snakes too.

We all know reading other people's post we all put different emotions to the words that may not be how the original poster meant. Let's just all step back, help each other, and get back to the original OP's concerns. We all love our animals, worry, and want what is best for them.

[Albert Clark]

Cuz you people should think about how y'all are answering some people. Its one thing to give advice. Its another to give it like your giving an order. You don't exactly own other peoples snakes too.

Well it's entirely possible that you are misinterpreting what's being written and what is trying to be conveyed. The basic needs of ball pythons are correct temperatures and humidity if you ever expect it to eat and thrive on a continued regimen. We all mean well but have a vested interest in the animals well being , health and longevity. No orders, just consideration suggestions.

[Trisnake]

Cuz you people should think about how y'all are answering some people. Its one thing to give advice. Its another to give it like your giving an order. You don't exactly own other peoples snakes too.

I agree with you in that some people can be pretty firm off the bat about some things, such as unregulated thermostats or other such HAZARDOUS situations, but it shouldn't take much to understand those comments are out of concern for the animal and intended to make sure the owner/poster understands that there is a potentially dangerous problem with how they are caring for their animals.

Nobody is trying to own other peoples snakes; most of us are plenty entertained owning and caring for our own. Perhaps understanding the difference between a malicious thrashing on someone's practices and a firmly written note of concern would benefit you in understanding our positions and intent. I understand sometimes emotions are hard to discern through a computer screen. But this site harbors a community of people who strive to help and educate each other, and as far as I've noticed the people you have been "defending" in these threads have actually been thankful for the advice.

Now that this thread is thoroughly derailed...

[MissterDog]

Following up on Trisnake's suggestion, OP is it possible your parents would be open to sitting down with you and going over the how's and why's of proper husbandry? It sounds like they might be willing to get a thermostat if they understood exactly why. Or rather, if they are willing to understand.

Explain how this is really important to you and you are taking the care of your pet very seriously and how it would mean a lot if they understood where you are coming from.

Maybe on your next visit you can give them some flash cards or care notes that explains the reason why they need to do what they are instructed to do?

[zina10]

Well, pretty much all that needed to be said, has been said By the good and caring BPnet members. You guys rule...

A little side note...
Perhaps we DO "co-own" the other snakes on these threads "in a way". We certainly care about them, and their owner, enough to take the time and effort to type out all we can think off that could help in the situation. Many times you end up typing the same things, over and over again.

At times it can get a bit of tiring (can't think of the actual word I want to use, I'm german, lol) to the more experienced keepers. Yet here they are...still typing out the same things again, still CARING, still helping. Some can sound sharper then others, but this is because most of us have seen the heart breaking pictures of snakes with their entire belly a crusty and infected burn. Or other problems and injuries due to husbandry errors. I look at it this way...if people didn't care, they wouldn't post. If they sound like they really want to impress the importance of certain issues, well, its because the issues ARE important and we wish the snake and their owner well.

So yes, all the great and caring people here, you all co-own my snakes (no taking them home, though..LOL) I feel honored whenever someone takes the time to point something out to me or to help me. And when I had a overheating heat tape emergency, I took the criticism about what I could have done better as I should have. Humbly. Because everyone was absolutely right.

Being downright rude and condescending is never good, though. But I have to say, I have rarely seen this go on here. And it was by members that seem to have popped up and then disappeared again. And I have seen no rudeness or anything of that sort on this here thread, either.

To the OP. Do you think your parents would be interested in joining a thread ? We could help them "step by step" when they come across questions and issues. Most likely something in the routine is just a bit different enough to have spooked the snake. When worried, they usually don't eat. Most likely its a relatively easy fix.

The way a rodent is presented is important. The time of day is too. Perhaps making sure they present at night, leave the (dead) rodent by the hide and then LEAVE THE ROOM (or cover the cage) and completely leave the snake undisturbed might help. Not checking whether it ate, until next morning. Even if the rodent cools off before its eaten, many snakes do like to have it left and then to be undisturbed. Many will eat, even a couple hours later...

Good luck to you