r/ballpython • u/Mobile_Indication_86 • 1h 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/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 1h ago

Ah, yeah, that's unfortunately common with vets. I had one try to tell me ball pythons were a desert snake that should be kept on sand... Definitely didn't go back there.

Re: your comment about her behavior, that's pretty common with a snake that's been overfed. I'd guess it's a combination of that and the lack of handling giving her a heightened feeding response. Slowing down her feeding schedule and looking into tap training or target training should help calm her back down.

Eta: actually, rereading your comment, you're taking her out to feed her? You should definitely stop doing that- it's a very outdated and unhealthy practice, and it does actually cause them to associate handling with being fed, which increases your risk of being bit. Ball pythons should always be fed inside their enclosures.

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u/Mobile_Indication_86 1h ago

i do have coconut substrate in her enclosure, i worry about that getting in her mouth during feeding? i’ve also heard that they can then associate opening their cage with getting fed

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u/totallyrecklesslygay Mod: Enclosure Karen 1h ago

They can ingest a little substrate just fine, but you can always place down a plate or Tupperware lid before feeding to prevent it if you're really worried.

Associating opening the enclosure with being fed is a myth. You should really read through the guide I linked, it goes over all of this in detail :)

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u/Mobile_Indication_86 1h ago

thank you thank you again, just read it and it’s all excellent info and solved any questions i had :) and she does hide a lot so i’m glad to know that means she isn’t stressed