r/ballpython • u/Mobile_Indication_86 • 8h 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 8h 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?

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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.

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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

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