Some people shouldn't own snakes.

[Seneschal]

Okay...my friend's younger brother recently was given a ball python by his father (I loathe his father; the man has a bunch of reptiles but keeps them on carpet which he rarely washes, multiple animals in together, etc.) and he has it in a 10gal with a water bowl, half log hide, carpet, a bunch of random sticks he got outside, and absolutely NO heat source.

They keep their house 65F.

But that's not the only problem; the snake in question is tiny; from my limited experience with baby-babies, it looks like it's only a few weeks out of the egg, and they have only gotten it to feed once; supposedly the person they got it from got it to feed once, but whether or not that's true is up for debate. The snake is visually underweight, and easily stressed; it's shy, and the boy keeps taking it out and holding it every day to "make sure it's tame." I think the little thing could fit inside of a normal chicken egg.

And naturally he won't listen to anything I say. So last night I brought some aspen bedding over, and made my effort to get it to feed (rat pinky, tongs, soiled rat bedding in a baggie to pre-scent, dead rat dance, the works) and of course failed, to everybody but my own surprise. I offered to take the baby snake for the summer since the kid's driving down to Orlando (3 hour drive) to stay with his dad for the summer, and told him I'd be willing to keep the snake for him and try to get it feeding for him, but he said he's going to take it with him.

I...am just...appalled. And he won't listen to me when I try to tell him he shouldn't take it out and should give it time to get used to the new cage, and that he definitely should get an UTH or a heat lamp or SOMETHING so it doesn't die...I don't know if there's anything to do. The only good thing in this situation is that the snake isn't wheezing, popping, etc. although the tongue isn't moving as much as it should, and it's still active.

Is there anything I can do? I mean, I could talk to his mom, but she doesn't even LIKE snakes. I just don't want the poor thing to die, and while I don't think the snake is going to need to be force fed---he's still active and stuff---and I think the only thing he needs is to be kept properly and left alone for a while, but I don't think he'll get that where he is.

I'm still trying to get the kid to let me take him for the summer, but I don't know if he will or not; his sister, my friend, is trying to convince him too, but...

Anyways, does anybody know any other tricks that might get him feeding? I found out after the fact that they'd gotten him to feed once on MICE hoppers, so that might be the problem; he might just be a mouser. And if that's the case then fantastic, as long as he's eating...but still. The fact remains that the kid isn't taking care of it right. I don't really know what I can do, or if there's anything I CAN do, at this point.

[littleindiangirl]

How old is the kid were talking?

[jkobylka]

it sounds like you know what to do, but unfortunately your hands are mostly tied. I've been in that situation and it always just makes me sick to my stomach... Sorry.

Justin

[joepythons]

Okay...my friend's younger brother recently was given a ball python by his father (I loathe his father; the man has a bunch of reptiles but keeps them on carpet which he rarely washes, multiple animals in together, etc.) and he has it in a 10gal with a water bowl, half log hide, carpet, a bunch of random sticks he got outside, and absolutely NO heat source.

They keep their house 65F.

But that's not the only problem; the snake in question is tiny; from my limited experience with baby-babies, it looks like it's only a few weeks out of the egg, and they have only gotten it to feed once; supposedly the person they got it from got it to feed once, but whether or not that's true is up for debate. The snake is visually underweight, and easily stressed; it's shy, and the boy keeps taking it out and holding it every day to "make sure it's tame." I think the little thing could fit inside of a normal chicken egg.

And naturally he won't listen to anything I say. So last night I brought some aspen bedding over, and made my effort to get it to feed (rat pinky, tongs, soiled rat bedding in a baggie to pre-scent, dead rat dance, the works) and of course failed, to everybody but my own surprise. I offered to take the baby snake for the summer since the kid's driving down to Orlando (3 hour drive) to stay with his dad for the summer, and told him I'd be willing to keep the snake for him and try to get it feeding for him, but he said he's going to take it with him.

I...am just...appalled. And he won't listen to me when I try to tell him he shouldn't take it out and should give it time to get used to the new cage, and that he definitely should get an UTH or a heat lamp or SOMETHING so it doesn't die...I don't know if there's anything to do. The only good thing in this situation is that the snake isn't wheezing, popping, etc. although the tongue isn't moving as much as it should, and it's still active.

Is there anything I can do? I mean, I could talk to his mom, but she doesn't even LIKE snakes. I just don't want the poor thing to die, and while I don't think the snake is going to need to be force fed---he's still active and stuff---and I think the only thing he needs is to be kept properly and left alone for a while, but I don't think he'll get that where he is.

I'm still trying to get the kid to let me take him for the summer, but I don't know if he will or not; his sister, my friend, is trying to convince him too, but...

Anyways, does anybody know any other tricks that might get him feeding? I found out after the fact that they'd gotten him to feed once on MICE hoppers, so that might be the problem; he might just be a mouser. And if that's the case then fantastic, as long as he's eating...but still. The fact remains that the kid isn't taking care of it right. I don't really know what I can do, or if there's anything I CAN do, at this point.

Sadly since his dad is a obvious idiot then the kid is more then likely going by what his dad says to do .Good going to you for trying though

[Seneschal]

He's fourteen...and yeah, I get the feeling he's just going to do what his dad says. How can his sister's friend compete with his dad?

Ugh...I hate being in this situation. I just wanna take the poor little guy from him and set him up properly.

[NightLad]

I feel for your situation.

Perhaps you can print out a BP care-sheet and give it to him. It is only a couple pages long. You can say that it is some on-the-road reading to help him with his pet over the summer.

If the father's really that terrible about how he keeps his pets, you could also place an anonymous call to your local animal welfare office. Some people respond better to hearing advice from a stranger rather than somebody they know.

Ball Python Care Sheet

Alternately, you might consider buying one of the highly recommended Ball Python ownership/care books and give it to him as a 'going away present' before he leaves for the summer. You can put a bookmark in there too, 'coincidently' placed on the 'heating and environment' chapter! His dad might be a know-nothing-know-it-all, but it is hard to ignore the instructions found in a book written by an actual expert who studies these animals.

Good luck!

[Seneschal]

Nightlad, that's a great idea! Thanks! I'll print it out and then try to send him here, see if he goes. There's always a chance, and I think maybe an entire forum telling him he's doing it wrong would help.

[ViciousBliss]

honestly if it's bad enough can't you call animal control or something?

i guess it's not an EXTREME case because the kid isn't abusing it so they'd probably poo poo you anyway... booo, what a bad situation. the lil snake is in my prayers. poor thing.

the snake in my avatar is from the same kind of situation. he was left with no hide under a heat lamp and didn't eat for 2 months. he was miserable. thank god i got the mother of the 10yo to give me the snake! goodluck with your rescue!

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

well... me being semi-young i undestand where he is comming from not wanting to listen...

i really dont know what you could do to pursuade him...

maybe bribe him?
l

maybe make a "care sheet"
but extreemly shortened so he would ACCUALLY READ IT.

or have him join on here...
maybe if he joined up on here, and hear everyone else saying, "hey fix it" it would help....

idk...

[Crazydude]

What about showing him all the different breeders, add them as favorites under a folder labeled Ball python, and show him all the morphs, how many snakes, and show him the caresheet, Saying all these breeders, with these crazy looking snakes worth thousands of dollars, keep them all the same way.

A pretty animal always is a good selling point,
NERDS site may be a good place to start.

Being near his age, im supprised he listens to everything his dad tells him, Personally, When I got my animals, my care is what i beleive and research, but im also independant on that stuff, and really am stuborn and a perfectionist.

If the caresheets doesnt work, shock value may help, find a picture of a ball python very weak and sickly, and say that his will look like that without following these care concepts. Not ideal, but id at least look into things if someone said that to me.

He sounds like him and his dad are just being Plain Ignorant, and stuborn and know-it-alls, and im sorry you are stuck trying to figure the situation out, I have a few neighbors like that, but not as bad, Id just like them to read a few caresheets and realize that maybe there adult dragon needs a tank larger then 20g, or something of the sort.

Just dont fret too much over it, you cant change the world, But its worth trying in some cases, If things dont work, at the very worst, the snake wont make it, and he may not get another, Sad but its life.

Hope things work out,
Ben