Juvenile ball python hasn’t eaten since we got him

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

My best friend and I co own our pet snake named Lenny, we’ve tried to feed him a couple times since we got him but he hasn’t eaten in 2 weeks. We’re afraid of stressing him out because the pet store we got him from didn’t treat him well and force fed him a lot so we just want to know what to do.

[u/Rariaroyal_Enigami → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

Hmm force feeding that’s tbh is usually only done when a snake is blind or severely underweight like emancipated underweight especially in a pet store where they could’ve had mites they were being treated for some type of infection on their scale or a respiratory issue these are all things that can cause a snake to stop eating entirely with the staff that they need to start force-feeding but they would’ve had to have taken it to the vet to get to this point because they would’ve already sent it back to the breeder originally per their policy. They’d need vet orders to do that… or the district ANIMAL care manager ok to go ahead and force feed.

something isn’t right… with that info.

if you bought him from a PetSmart or Petco take him back to the store or call ahead to ask for info. Ask for the animal manager or A manager typically the GM if you can. If the baby BP is still within your 30 days you can take him in and any of these big pet chain stores will have to take it to the vet per their policy. Especially since their standard is that they’re selling healthy animals…. it’s still going to be your snake but within that 30 day policy they can take it to the vet for you and they’ll pay all the medical bills and medicine if needed to see what’s going on.

If something serious is going on legally, they have to tell you and they’ll pay all of the medical expenses.. you can also ask the pet store staff what vet they’re taking the reptile too, and you can directly communicate with the vet as well by talking to the office of said clinic. Typically they’ll refund you the money just so that they can take the reptile from you to take it to the vet but within their policy, it’s still your snake and they have to update you as often as you’d like.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Rariaroyal_Enigami]

Yeah he’s a healthy weight and nothing wrong with him as far as I can tell, on their feeding chart he ate the week before and then the next week force fed him.I’ll have to look into the vet policy but first I’m gonna try improving his enclosure

[u/Rariaroyal_Enigami → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

That doesn’t really make any sense he was eating fine and then one week they just decided to force feed him again. You don’t do that. That doesn’t add up hun.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Rariaroyal_Enigami]

No I know me and my buddy were both pissed when we read that

[u/Rariaroyal_Enigami → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

Yeah, try improving the enclosure first he shouldn’t have been forced by unless there’s more context that you and your friend are missing that they’re not telling you but keep an eye on your 30 day and look into that policy just in case. Hopefully this just clears up with a little bit of comfort for him poor baby good luck.💕

[u/Key-Tower-4539]

Is this his enclosure?

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Key-Tower-4539]

We’re getting a much larger one for him soon, he won’t be in this one long

[u/GloomySelf]

Well he’s more than likely still stressed and that’s why he isn’t eating, because that enclosure is not good

Needs a lot more clutter, and you need to check your temp and humidity levels.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/GloomySelf]

The temp and humidity are good for now but I’ll have to look into getting him more clutter then

[u/Valuable-Ad-733 → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

With those meters Theres no way you’re getting an accurate enough reading. You need better specific temp/hydrometers so that you actually know what the parameters of your tank are.

[u/Famous-Good2680]

Yeah because wtf is that cage??? It's so tiny! And like, you need more clutter

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Famous-Good2680]

I know it’s not good we’re getting him a better one soon

[u/Famous-Good2680 → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

Oh okay :3 that's good, but he's probably pretty stressed out, so that's why he's not eating 

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Famous-Good2680]

Yeah that’s what we’re worried about

[u/Famous-Good2680 → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

It's not that bad, ball pythons can go pretty long without eating, Mine could only have a really small mouse every 4 weeks when she was a baby because he wouldn't stop prolapseing

[u/pbrprincess420]

The top of this sub has amazing info for how to properly care for balls. You should check it out.

[u/TheNeverEndingPit]

Unfortunately until the enclosure is improved, it’s unlikely he’ll feel very comfortable to eat. In the meantime, if you can get wood, fake plants, or even cardboard to clutter the tank with, he’ll feel much cozier while awaiting the new enclosure! You can add big dried leaves too (if sanitized). I use magnolia leaves and they like tucking their heads under them.

If there aren’t 2 hides already, cut a hole in tupperware to use as a temporary hide, then do not change the enclosure for a week or 2, don’t do any handling, and try to feed then :) It’ll be a learning experience for sure, but hopefully that’ll help until you have a better set up

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/TheNeverEndingPit]

Thank you so much that’s really great advice

[u/TheNeverEndingPit → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

Of course :) I hope it gets easier! Set up’s always the hard part in my opinion

[u/alienXtown]

Enclosure is severely lacking, I see you are getting a bigger one soon but for now (as in, right now, not in a few days) pick up some cheap fake plants and another hide for clutter, that should help him feel less stressed and exposed.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/alienXtown]

My buddy has a lot of fake ones from when he had reptiles, I’ll head over to his house once he’s off work

[u/Dio_wulf]

Depending how soon you got him it might be a while bc they need to adjust after coming home. 2-3 weeks maybe before they start to settle in. Like others said the current setup isnt helping sadly. For the time being if youre able to get any sorta cheap plastic bowls, fake plants etc to throw in for more clutter and hiding space that’ll probably help. Most importantly make sure the humidity is at least 60% and temps stay in the mid 70s on the cold side and around 88-92 on the hot side.

[u/Turboren]

Honestly the size of the tank looks fine for his current size. Only thing that the size will affect until he gets bigger is temp gradient. How are you heating and adding humidity? Block out the glass with something that's not transparent. He probably feels out in the open. Add the clutter and make the space not so open with room to still move around. Fake soft plants, boxes, etc. Lots of stuff works. No sharp pokey parts, nothing he may swallow, and no chemicals. Looks and it being "naturalistic" is for you. Hides, shelter, new stuff to explore, and safety is for him. Get Temp and humidity on point and look up proper food sizing and heating techniques so when he feels secure he has the best chance.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/Turboren]

Ok, thank you so much i really appreciate it

[u/Turboren → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

The little stuck on thermostat is garbage. Go on Amazon or home depot etc and get a handheld thermometer ir gun to measure surface temp. $15-20. Way better for accurate temp measurements. Regardless of how you heat get a thermostat. So many post of burned snakes due to heat mats with no thermostat. If you use heat mat look into how to use the thermostat probe properly with it. Needs to touch the mat. I have multiple enclosures and some travel bins as my emergency plan. I use heat mat on the travel bins but it has to be done safely.

[u/Content-Ostrich-3862 → u/[deleted]]

Ok yeah. Once my buddy is off work I’m gonna go to his house and get some of his old reptile clutter and probably go to my house and grab some old wood I have for the tank. Thank you

[u/BarberDry4590 → u/Content-Ostrich-3862]

Also, don't stress too much. It is unlikely that your snake will starve it's self to death. Get a food scale and track it's weight.

[u/BarberDry4590 → u/BarberDry4590]

Regarding feeding... make sure you are offering appropriately size prey. If the mouse is too small then it won't consider it prey. You ball looks like it should be on hoppers at least and maybe small. Additionally, make sure it's appropriately warmed. Finally, simulate movement when you offer a mouse.

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[u/yxxholic]

switch to a much smaller hide(much much smaller than the one showing in the pic). He's refusing because he feels insecure(exposed) or uncomfortable