Well, I actually found this snake. I work at a university environmental health and safety department and one of our jobs is to take care of unwanted animals found on campus. I got a call this past summer from the people who were cleaning out the dorms that a snake had been found. When I went over, I discovered it was a ball python (probably abandoned or escaped from a former student) so I picked it up and brought it home. I went to the local pet store and bought all the equipment they recommended to keep him healthy and happy - with the exception of a hygrometer. He's set up in a ten gallon glass aquarium with some kind of bark substrate used as bedding. He has a large water bowl, a hiding rock and a heat lamp. I try to mist his cage every day to provide the needed humidity.

When I first brought him home he was kind of nippy, striking at me almost every time I put my hand in the tank to pick him up (I wasnt informed at the time that one does not feed a snake in the enclosure in which they live - once I started putting him in a separate bin to feed, he settled down and became quite a friendly little guy.

As for eating - he ate the second day after I brought him home - a fuzzy mouse and had eaten every week thereafter with no problems at all. It's only been lately, when I noticed he had begun to shed, that he's been refusing food. He seems interested in it, nosing around and "tonguing"...but no striking at all.

I'll try to get a picture sometime this weekend to post, if that will help. In the meantime, I'll start calling around for an exotics vet. I never really considered that a snake could lose weight! The thought just never crossed my mind - but then, I'm new to this type of pet. Thanks for your time and information! Like I said, I'll try to get that picture taken and up this weekend!

(Oh, I'm located in Pennsylvania, USA)