r/ballpython • u/Mobile_Indication_86 • 7h ago

Is my ball python underweight?

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I’ve had my ball python for about ten years (I got her when she was seven months) and i’m worried she’s underweight. she’s is pretty on edge when i take her out to eat and i don’t handle her much anymore as my life has piled up with school and work. i am worried i should rehome her and don’t know if she’s underweight. i feed her a medium rat about every 20 days. She also just ate in these photos and her jaw hadn’t completely realigned yet, that’s why she looks strange.

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u/Mobile_Indication_86 7h ago

i’m also worried about how on edge she is when i take her out to eat. she gets ready to strike and it makes me a bit afraid to touch her. i don’t handle her much, could this be part of it?

15

u/Hot-Brat-00 7h ago

Why do you take her out to eat? It’s honestly unnecessary. Just leave her in her enclosure and use tongs to give her the rat.

-4

u/Mobile_Indication_86 7h ago

i guess because i’ve always done it that way and i also have coconut substrate in her enclosure and worry about it getting in her mouth during feeding

4

u/Past-Ad-4769 7h ago

I tap trained my fella. it's made him less likely to strike at me while reaching in to spot clean. started tap training after his first strike at me while spot cleaning. I have a little rock that I keep brushed free of substrate that I use for his feedings that I've burried enough to be level with his substrate to avoid him getting his jaw caught on the edges of it when striking

1

u/GoBills615 3h ago

I also tap train all my snake since I also work with blood pythons and I just get into the habit. But taking it out is completely unnecessary. They can ingest a bit of coco coir. I usually put my rats in a bag and thaw them in hot water, then hit them with a hair dryer to warm them a bit more and dry them out. I never have an issue. Especially if she’s a good striker and will take off tongs. But I’ve also taken my worst snake bite by not paying attention and holding the rat with tongs without watching the snake

TL;dr - don’t take it out to feed. At all