Unhealthy Ball Python- new to BPs

[Bruce Whitehead]

Sorry this is REALLY bothering me.

Tell this person that a snake does not need to have its food rammed down its throat like that. I have assist fed hatchlings and it does not need to be that drastic... key point, assist feeding rather than force feeding.

Any snake that is not set up properly cannot be expected to thrive, so until that is accomplished (and they are doing a VERY poor job of it) then the decision to assist should not be made.

This snake should be in complete isolation with minimal distractions. I will not even rant about them keeping it in a screen top cage with lights on it.

If this snake is anywhere public they need to move it out of the public space and into a private space. I would even suggest they drape the enclosure completely and give the snake darkness.

BPs are shy nocturnal snakes.

Do they know the age of the pinks they are feeding? Any pinkie less than a week old does not have adequate fat stores. They may be traumatizing this snake for minimal benefit.

Right now maintenance feeding is sufficient. That means giving the snake enough food to survive.

Every five days is TOO OFTEN.

I hope that helps.

If you are serious about helping this snake, then get your enclosure set up ASAP and get it out of that store so it can begin acclimating.

Bruce

[pitbulls4me]

I am up for the challenge. I have the money to do so and if I dont have it at the moment I can get it. I will go and get the supplies listed. As for the complete setup, what are good heat sources to get? If I get a plastic tub the lights are off limits, I read about heat pads burning them.

Is there a link on here where i can view how to set up a tub properly or someone who has one that can share a picture so I know what I am looking at doing? I will also do some searching on here.

They go by proper standards and proceedures that a licensed vet gives them and thats what they go by. I am not sure the age of the pinkies as they are shipped to the store in bulk. Hopefully I can get this poor snake soon. If I cant have it I talked to the store manager about having the snake humanely euthanized as I dont see them fit for caring for it or it finding a good qualified home. Hope everything turns out good. I will keep you updated. And again I can not thank you enough for your help.

[rabernet]

Here's a baby tub - replace the green box in the left of the picture with an identical plastic flower pot saucer hide as the one in the right of the picture. Note the digital thermometer/hygrometer to measure temps and humidity.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Good to hear Tina.

I agree, if they cannot care for this snake then it needs to euthanized.

I will dig for some pics as well. Cannot do it right now, but will get on it ASAP.

Bruce

[pitbulls4me]

Here's a baby tub - replace the green box in the left of the picture with an identical plastic flower pot saucer hide as the one in the right of the picture. Note the digital thermometer/hygrometer to measure temps and humidity.

What kind of heat source do you have for that? And where would be a good place to get one...or two i should say since I have have to have two..? What is a good size tub to work with? A tall tub or the shorter longer ones?

Also we have another ball python who is also in a 20 gallon long tank with the heat lamps and UVB lamps on top. He seems to be doing fine, eating, shedding and defecating just fine... is that not a good set up? How could we modify the glass tank for him. He is a bigger snake, atleast 2 1/2 feet long, his owner left him when they moved out and boyfriend is stuck with him.

[rabernet]

That particular tub came from Dollar General. It's a 15 quart tub. But I do house my babies now in 6 quart Sterlite shoe box tubs. You can get them for $1 each at Walmart.

I heat mine with flexwatt, controlled by a Ranco thermostat.

You can use a UTH from a petstore and put it on a thermostat as well, and it might be easier for someone with one or two ball pythons.

Tanks were too much work for me, personally - I like how the tubs hold heat and humidty, but there are countless members that successfully keep their animals in tanks.

Juveniles (about a year old) are kept in 30 quart tubs and adults in 41 quart tubs.

[pitbulls4me]

UTH meaning under the tub? Sorry I am new to all this, we just always had dogs and my salamanders are easy as pie! Some place like petsmart would have the UTH thing you are talking about? And do they have thermostats at petsmart as well or would I go to wal-mart or home depot for that? I apologize for all the questions I am just trying to learn as much as I can before I bring him home.

[rabernet]

Yes, UTH = Undertank Heater.

Petsmart does carry those, and rheostats, not thermostats.

Thermostats will always be your biggest single investment, but worth it, to make sure that your UTH does not overheat and potentially burn and even kill your snake.

You can purchase thermostats from Rich at Reptile Basics - http://www.reptilebasics.com

Rheostats have to be constantly adjusted, especially if you have fluctuating room temperatures (most people's ambient temps in their homes do drop at night by several degrees). Thermostats are set at one temp and keep them at that temperature.

[pitbulls4me]

Alright I got the weight of the snake today. I called in and had them weigh it. In November he weighed 100 grams and today he weigh 118 grams. To me that doesnt seem like a lot of weight gain in 3 months but I am new to snakes.

Also can you have two heating pads on the same thermostat or no?
Does a digital thermometer for fish tanks work for measuring temp in the tank?

I told them no more force feeding him. I am printing out what you all have wrote and showing the manager what experienced people have said. Thanks again!