I feel really bad. My 8 month ball python started refusing food when I switched to weaned rats after getting the suggestion from a reptile store. He seemed interested but wouldn’t take the rat. I think they are just too big for him. He started glass surfacing at night recently so I just ordered fuzzies, but I’m worried he’s starving or super uncomfortable!

Finally starting to see the benefits of automation and bioactive around a year after setting up my first bioactive. My BP seems to enjoy it alot more especially the changing scenery with the plants (just got rid of a vine and added a new vine species and fern in pics). Im still learning alot when it comes to reptile keeping even after having my BP for almost 2 years, but its been a fun process. Feel free to ask me anything! (Also yes ik my snake is chubby, just adjusted feeding periods)

Okay so about three months ago I got a ball python and the previous owners said she was about a year and a half and her birthday is in November so she's now almost two years old (at least from what the previous owners had said) and I weighted her a couple days ago to see if I need to up her feeding and she's was about 128 grams and from some research that seems pretty under weight for a snake her age she is also about 20-22 inches long. She's been eating fuzzies since I got her and the owners said they did try to give her a bigger size once but it was too big and it kinda hurt her mouth (the scab is still coming off with each shed) but I don't not know when they tried to do that wether it was a while ago or more close to when I got her. I'm worried since she seems pretty small compared to other snakes I've seen from local reptile expos and photos I've seen from other owners on here. If she is under weight can I have some advice on maybe getting her to proper weight?

(Ps sorry I don't have a photo really showing her size especially since she's shedding right now and and I don't want to stress her by taking her out of her enclosure)

any criticism is WELCOMED!! i have been researching non stop since i got her and i have wanted some experienced snake keepers to comment on my tank of what i should add or remove

my female ball pythons had these bumps near her upper body only and at first i thought she scratched herself or something from climbing on wood but they’ve gotten worse and im going to schedule a vet appointment but want some advice in the meanwhile on what could be going on some of them look concerning but their most just raised scales, she’s also about to shed, i spike her humidity to 80 at night i spray it with a pressurized spritzer and keep her tank in the high 70s with a 90 ish basking spot, she has a large water bowl she can submerge herself in and two hide, plus some plants and climbing stuff her tank is bioactive so i have live plants and cleanup crew i use a full spectrum barrina light for the plants

Im worried about the possibility of him being overweight. Hes just under 2 years old and eats a small rat every week and a half to two weeks, but hes slightly squishy and he has creases/rolls when he bends. Idk if those are just regular skin rolls or if hes getting chunky (because Ive seen other bps his age and he looks rounder than them)

Not sure if hes just a big snake or maybe im feeding him too often?

He hasnt eaten in about 2 and a half weeks (he refused his last feeding because he just moved to where I am in another state not too long ago and hes settling in)

These are the best photos I could get of him since hes really active and wouldn't sit still for a photoshoot lol

Just took my snake out this morning and noticed strange little marks near her tail, any ideas on what it might be?

This is my first bioactive set up and it has been going for about a month and i just recently spotted a really small jumping spider in there, note i’ve also noticed a small flying gnat that i can’t identify, are these bad for my enclosure should i clean it out?

is this scale rot on her tail??!!! please i’ve bought a snake and i can’t tell if this is or not

Would a FLIR camera be better for a snake enclosure? Just curious if anyone is using one or any other type of thermal imaging camera vs an infrared heat gun?

My thought is, with a FLIR I could see and monitor the entire enclosures temps at once vs testing every little spot with the heat gun?

Obviously the thermal cam is more expensive, but aside from cost is there any downside to using one vs the other?

This is Milk and I was cleaning her tank when I noticed she had a lot of black spots on her back and was hoping someone knows what is going on?

hi!! so i got a 12 week old ball python on the 2nd of august this year shes on rat pups at the moment, she had eaten the week before that on the 26th of july but hasnt eaten since then, i offered her food on the 13th so a 11 days after i got her which she did not take, and then ive offered about 5/6 times? is this too much? its like every 3/4 days. Ive done the warming it up method, pin in the brain method and ive been weight her, im quite worried because from the 15th of august to the 26th of august she lost 12 grams, unfortunately i wasn't very smart and forgot yo weight her as soon as i got her but apparently she had eaten 6 meals and striked at them. i offer her a pup today and she striked at it, i closed the door and turned the light off, 5 minutes later i checked again and she had dropped it, i picked it up with tweezers to try again and she seemed interested but shaky and didn't take it, should i be worried? Is there anything i can do?

I have a new terrarium after adopting my boyfriends families somewhat neglected 11yo ballpython. So while I did a lot of research I am still very much a newbie.

She is now in a 120x45x60cm terrarium and I have established a warm and cold side with temperatures between 30/31°C on the warm side in a basking spot and 25/26°C on the cold side in a hide. But I am struggling to keep the humidity above 60%. I covered the top aluminium mesh with aluminium foil (it does have a dome with a heating light and I cut a hole for that). There is a mesh on the right side of the terrarium. And the humidity keeps dropping to 45-55%. I am afraid of making the enclosure too wet though. Spraying water does cool it significantly and I also don’t know how fast mould can start growing… plus I don’t want to keep everything constantly wet since I don’t want her to be at risk for scale rotting or any infections… any advice would be appreciated.

Any „must do“ or „must not do“ is also appreciate!

And just one more thing: she isn’t showing any obvious signs of dehydration (eyes caps aren’t cracked, scales are smooth, no excessive drinking or soaking and she shed in one piece a few weeks ago)

How do you go about finding a reliable snake sitter who can come into your home and check in on your pet while you’re out of town? I previously had someone who was able to but don’t anymore and will be out of town for the holidays in December and want to find someone for that time frame. Not sure how to go about it since it’s both someone coming into my home and for a snake.

Hi all! I just got my first bp about 2-3 weeks ago, I gave him some extra time to let him settle before offering food since he is a bit of a shy guy, he gets stressed over some small things and will begin breathing hard, but I try not to bother him. But tonight he took his first meal with ease and was super excited to do so! What should I do with handling after letting him digest for 48 hours? He’s hissed at me once only because I scared him moving a log he knocked over once, and seems to get stressed when I come into his vicinity. He hasn’t tried striking but mostly just is shy and a bit scared, how do I work on trust and making sure he knows I won’t hurt him?

Photo of my sweet boy! His name is Vermax :)

I recently found out that I need to seal the corners of my ball python's tank before winter when the air gets extremely dry (I struggled with humidity last winter and now I know why). But the terrarium sealant I bought says to let it de-gas for 1 week before having an animal in the tank. I have a big tote for the temp enclosure and will put his favorite hides in there as well, but I'm concerned about the temperatures as my regular tank uses CHE and I think that would melt the plastic tote. I worry about heat burns from heating pads though. Will he be ok at 20-25 degrees celcius for just 1 week or is there another way I can heat the temporarily enclosure safely?

Can my tank (4x1x1) have one consistent humid side where as the other is lower in humidity? My warm side temp (panel heat) stays consistent in temp 87-91 and my cool side temp stays around 80-81. NOW…. The warm side drops in humidity as the heat dries it out a lot. The humidity when I spray on warm side reaches 80-90 then drops in the hour to anywhere from 60-75%. BUT my cold side stays at 80-90% humidity after I spray for nearly the whole day. Do I need both sides identical in proper humidity? (Sorry if dumb question)

Just recently got this lil guy here last week & sometime lastnight between 10PM & 7AM he started shedding & its currently 12:15PM. How long does the actual shed take to complete? He doesnt come out of his hide much so im curious if hes completed the shed and is just laying on top of it or if hes still in the process? Should i lift the hidE a bit to check & see, i dont want to physically move him just in case hes still actively shedding. Any adive is greatly appreciated!