Issues with adopted ball python

[bcr229]

@Craiga Thank you so much....... should I also wait the full 14 days between feedings or switch to 10 since it's smaller meals?

I would wait two weeks, then ten days for the meal after that if all goes well. Then start slowly increasing the feeder size while keeping a ten day schedule.

[Kodayin]

If you’re trying to get her weight up, I’d suggest every 10 days til she’s at a healthier weight

[Craiga 01453]

I would wait two weeks, then ten days for the meal after that if all goes well. Then start slowly increasing the feeder size while keeping a ten day schedule.

I agree with this 100%

[BelleoftheBallPython]

Thank you all so much for your advice! I got my beautiful girl into her new home and she has been successfully taking all her meals and is now on medium rats. She also just finished up her second shed with me and it came out perfectly! I'm so happy. I have not handled her again and have given her time to properly acclimate and eat and am planning to hold her again using the tap training hook method after the three day disgestion period I give her. Fingers crossed it goes well!

I actually just fed her about thirty minutes ago, and while I was blow drying her rat to warm it up after thawing, she was super excited for it and struck it perfectly and took it down with ease. My own concern is that while she was eating, she dripped a little drool and her mouth looked very wet. The saliva that dripped out while she was swallowing her meal looked runny but thick as drool is (thicker than water, but I wouldn't say it was viscous like mucus, but it also happened very fast so I'm not super sure.) and the rat was also a little damp since she dunked it in her water dish, lol. I spend a little bit of time observing her and sitting in front of her tank with her almost every day and haven't heard any wheezing, popping, etc. or noticed any open mouthed breathing, drooling or excessive yawning. Is it normal for there to be excess saliva during feeding, or should I be concerned with RI? She seems very healthy and alert with no other symptoms, and it happened while she eating, but I had never seen her drip a bit of saliva out while eating before... I'm a bit worried, but I've had her temps at 78-80 for cool, 82-85 ambient and 90 hotspot and the humidity 55-65 and at around 70 while she was in shed... Everything's clean. I just love her to bits and when I tried looking this up I couldn't find anything, so I thought I'd voice my concerns here!

Thank you guys again! This forum is a lifesaver and feels like home. <3

[ballpythonsrock2]

My own concern is that while she was eating, she dripped a little drool and her mouth looked very wet. The saliva that dripped out while she was swallowing her meal looked runny but thick as drool is (thicker than water, but I wouldn't say it was viscous like mucus, but it also happened very fast so I'm not super sure.) and the rat was also a little damp since she dunked it in her water dish, lol. I spend a little bit of time observing her and sitting in front of her tank with her almost every day and haven't heard any wheezing, popping, etc. or noticed any open mouthed breathing, drooling or excessive yawning. Is it normal for there to be excess saliva during feeding, or should I be concerned with RI? She seems very healthy and alert with no other symptoms, and it happened while she eating, but I had never seen her drip a bit of saliva out while eating before... I'm a bit worried, but I've had her temps at 78-80 for cool, 82-85 ambient and 90 hotspot and the humidity 55-65 and at around 70 while she was in shed... Everything's clean. I just love her to bits and when I tried looking this up I couldn't find anything, so I thought I'd voice my concerns here!

Thank you guys again! This forum is a lifesaver and feels like home. <3

This very normal nothing to worry about. When they eat they do saliva quite a bit. And they often like to get a drink of water afterward so have fresh water there before feeding time.

[Bogertophis]

What a wonderful update! As far as the "drool" I'd stay observant, just in case, but likely nothing to worry about...especially since she "dunked" her rat while eating-
the extra moisture combined with her normal saliva is likely all that you saw. It's always better to be very observant & ask, than to ignore & make assumptions. Sounds tome like she's one happy & well-cared for snake...I'm very glad she's in your hands...she "won the lottery".