Tiny rescue ball python: I may need help

[Cheesenugget]

Why do you think that the breeder was wrong about her hatched date and the decision to euthanize?

If it was hatched in April, that breeder invested about 6 months of food, time and other resources to get it to eat and stay alive. And to put it to sleep after all that... I can see why.

Some babies of all species are born to this world that simply 'fails to thrive.' It won't gain weight, even when forced fed (which I think the breeder did do to keep it alive this long but it was not growing still), it won't show interest in wanting to eat, its immune system is usually a mess, its internal defects that you cannot see are probably there, and the external defects you do see.. Well, the ones that are born to make it may also appear on the outside perfectly healthy. And when it wants to eat, it eats very well... You get hopeful.. And then they crash hard. That is just their body's way to saying, "I can do no more."

If you want to save her, she needs an experienced hand, like a rescue. Kind intentions are great and all, but completely worthless if you don't know what to do, how much of it and when it is time to stop. What you don't want to do is prolong its suffering. Starvation sucks... And babies are supposed to want to eat, and grow fast with proper nutrition.

In light of this, if there are no rescues available to help, or you choose to keep it, follow the sticky made by Deborah on how to get a baby to eat in the forums.

Honestly though, not trying to be negative but I had done enough foster work with baby animals to know that sometimes, you can do everything in your power and it will eventually pass anyway, for reasons you may not completely understand. That is nature, not all babies are meant to survive, and no amount of vet medicine can stop that.