ball python underweight and not eating

[Bogertophis]

I agree, this snake is dangerously underweight- but personally I'd tube-feed it, because I have lots of experience & success with that method & it's readily digestible for an underweight & dehydrated snake. -However, for you as a new owner to do that, it probably wouldn't go so well- this snake should really be in experienced hands, IMO.

From the photos, I doubt this snake can "handle" a live hopper mouse- I would stick with offering live fuzzies right now- if you feed too much, he won't be able to keep it down anyway. It will take a long time to actually put visible weight on this poor soul, so I hope you're very patient.

There's something wrong with anyone who'd sell a snake in this condition, & especially to a new snake owner!

I'd lower the heat by just a couple degrees- 93* IS too hot, & a high of 88* would be just fine. Remember that a snake's metabolism is governed by temperature- this snake is starving, & he's starving even faster higher temperatures, but it still needs to be warm enough for him to want to eat & to be able to digest. Therefore, a bit of moderation for the "high side" temp.- okay?

Trips to the vet at this point (unless the snake is truly sick) are likely to be counter-productive: it adds stress- which lowers his appetite & the chance of him eating. Even if the vet force-feeds him, there's a good chance he'll regurgitate by the time you get him home, due to vehicle motion, handling, + stress.

DO NOT feed in a separate container/cage- this adds stress & makes it less likely for a snake like this to eat. They eat where they feel safe & hidden, because predators can get them if they're out in the open & busy with a meal of their own.

Did you WARM the f/t prey right before offering? If so, how? This makes a huge difference for snakes like BPs that rely on their heat sensing pits to identify food. If you only tried f/t prey that wasn't warm, you might try again with better methods. Do you have feeding tongs? Did you feed in the evening, in a dimly-lit room? These things are important for success with most BPs.

Also- you want to be as un-noticeable as possible- the room should be quiet. BPs are ambush-predators- they're most likely to grab food in the evening, when peeking from a hide. If offering f/t from tongs, don't wiggle too much & don't approach the snake with it- that's intimidating & NOT what wild rodents do (they don't volunteer to be dinner, lol). You want to give a slight wiggle to the prey (not too much) & as if it's merely passing cluelessly near where the snake is watching- not approaching the snake. You want to see the snake pay attention, & hopefully follow it & feel brave enough to grab it. It would be ideal if you can get him to take f/t fuzzies for a while, to build him up. He can't possibly have much strength now, with as thin as he is in your photos.