snake being really shy lately...concerned

[giaach]

(WARNING) Long post:

So i got my ball python november 11 which was a sunday... Anyway everything was fine, I fed her that Thursday and she took the meal instantly. The Friday after Thanksgiving I fed her again, and again, she took the meal with no problem. Then on the following Tuesday she regurgitated the mouse, which was quite strange seeing how it had been almost 5 days(food should have been gone) That thursday (the 29th) I took her to the vet to make sure everything was okay. She was perfectly healthy. She started to shed this past weekend and by monday morning she had shed all her skin but her head. I waited till tuesday and gave her a bath to try and help. Her eye caps and everything came off except a bit of skin near and around her heat pits. I tried feeding her that tuesday night and she wouldn't take the meal. I assumed that she would be hungry seeing how it had been almost 2 weeks with no food. Well Im gonna hold off on introducing food to her till next thursday but in the mean time, I've noticed that she is hiding a lot more then when I first got her. She used to come out at night and crawl around (explore) and now she hardly ever comes out of her hide. I dont know whats wrong, my temps and humidity are perfect and still I dont know what the deal is. Help me out, I'm concerned....
Also, I followed everybody's advice and guides to a T I have two hides, a UTH and heat light, thermostat, digital thermometers/hydrometers w/ probe, water and everything else. So I cant imagine it being some related to her environment.

[jdmls88]

thats ball pythons for you, lazy, all they do is lay around all day occasionally take a peek around and then back to laying around. Also they dont move much after meals so they can digest

[giaach]

thats ball pythons for you, lazy, all they do is lay around all day occasionally take a peek around and then back to laying around. Also they dont move much after meals so they can digest

so basically now that she is used to her little world, she decided to take it easy... alright, as long as she eats next thrusday I'll be content.

[tigerlily]

Did the vet perform a fecal float to check for parasites? Also, is it a vet that is familiar with reptiles/ snakes in particular? (just want to double check that healthy prognosis) Did the source of your bp give you any history on it's feeding history?

If you can safely assume that the snake is healthy, then I would remember to introduce a smaller than normal prey item when you do feed. The regurg is very traumatic to their little systems, so it's better to start small and work your way back to a normal sized meal. I'd keep a very close eye on the little one until you have a few more meals that stay down.

[giaach]

Did the vet perform a fecal float to check for parasites? Also, is it a vet that is familiar with reptiles/ snakes in particular? (just want to double check that healthy prognosis) Did the source of your bp give you any history on it's feeding history?

If you can safely assume that the snake is healthy, then I would remember to introduce a smaller than normal prey item when you do feed. The regurg is very traumatic to their little systems, so it's better to start small and work your way back to a normal sized meal. I'd keep a very close eye on the little one until you have a few more meals that stay down.

The vet did perform a fecal float test and yes defiantly qualified when it comes to reptiles. He was the head vet at the Toledo zoo for over 20 years. She wont take f/t so i have to give her live mice and no one around her carries live pinkies,fuzzys, or hoppers, just adults. But the mouse i bought to feed her is actually pregnant so if she has them by next week i could always feed her a live pinky.
As cruel as it may be....

[tigerlily]

It's not cruel. It's just a fact of life. It may be hard, but not cruel.

I would definitely NOT feed off the pregnant mouse, since it will be even LARGER a meal than your snake is used to. I'd look into finding the smallest mouse possible then.

[giaach]

of definatly! After I noticed that she was pregnant i knew she had to be spared shes WAY too big. I gotta hand pick one next time i got get a feeder mouse, that way I know its the right size.

[jdmls88]

start breeding mice!