Ball Python Shedding and Feeding Problems

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TheOneThatGotAway

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 7, 2007
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NJ, USA
Okay, so lately my juvenile ball python Ramses has had a couple problems.

First was the shedding. The last 2 sheds came off in pieces rather than one single sleeve. His tank humidity is at 50 - 60%, varying slightly from day to day, and the cooler end of his tank is at 70˚F (no thermometer at the hot end yet). He's got a water bowl that he can fully submerge in. Nothing's gotten stuck, because i always help him out, but it's very time consuming to do so.

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Second, he's stopped eating altogether. He used to get one pre-killed fuzzy every four or five days. I stopped feeding him a couple days before we moved, since that'd put a lot of stress on him. As soon as we got him set back up in the new house, he stopped taking food. He's still as active as he always was, if not moreso, and doesn't look thin at all.

There's a couple things I think that could be contributing to this. One, obviously, the new house and new surroundings. Still, he's been here since the end of January. Second, we lost the feeding box he was used to. The new one we've been using is kinda big, and I know snakes like tight spaces. Four, maybe he's too big for fuzzies (he's about 2 ft, give or take)?

We put him in his feeding box and jiggle the fuzzy in front of him with a pair of feeding tongs. He shows interest in it for a few seconds, following it and flicking his tongue at it, and then he either shies away like he's afraid of it, or just moves away and shifts his focus to getting out of the box. We've tried four or five times now and we can't afford to keep buying mice that won't be eaten.

A couple things we've thought of were going back to Petsmart and getting the carrying/feeding box he was used to. Dad also suggested trying a live mouse, which I'm usually totally opposed to, but if it'll get him eating again, I'm willing to try.

So yeah. How do I fix these problems? Could they be related in any way? Could he be sick? Should I take him to the vet asap?
 
do you have a pic of it,a few pics,so we can see its girth to length ratio. Does it drink water if you guide its head to the water bowl. This is the time of year Balls go off feed for a month to Ive had one go a few months without eating. Balls are known for that,also,you need to check the hot side temp, cold and humid make for crap sheds also. All my Ball problems whent away once I got the humidity up and kept plenty of water to drink and get that dang hot side dialed in. Look at where they are from,thats the best way to re evaluat your set ups,where is the animal from, whats its seasons like. I think its pretty damn hot in Africa. Balls will make you want to give them a kick in the balls sometimes I know,get the above stuff correct first and remember they are know to go off feed for long periods. They have a slow metabolic rate compared to corns and such so dont stress on that unless its skinny and lethargic. Check real close for mites,they stress snakes out also. When it was eating,how did its stool seem,well digested?
 
I don't know if this will solve your problem, but it really isn't necessary to feed your BP outside of his enclosure. Doing so can cause increased stress....even if he has eaten outside of the enclosure in the past. Also, I second what Jason said. He was spot on with his advice. Usually when a BP goes off feed it is due to stress or something wrong with his environment. If you post some full tank pics, maybe we can be of better help. Also, it is definitely a must to get some temp readings on the warm side of his enclosure.
 
in addition to what everyone else said; a moist hide box is always a good idea. fill a tupperware container with damp sphagnum moss or cypress mulch and cut a hole in the top. if snakes don't have somewhere secure to hide, they get stressed out very easily.

also try warming the mice in warm water, some bp's like warm prey.

stop handling it until it eats too to avoid further stress. good luck!
 
You need more humidity. You didn't describe his set-up or how you are heating him. I'll assume he's in a tank?
You need to cover 3/4 of the screen top. Home Depot sells clear plastic sheets that work nicely. Mist the interior daily, and move his water bowl under the heat source. The moss filled hide is a good idea too. ONce you get humidity up he will shed better.
I'm not a fan of moving a snake to a seperate tub for feeding. Not sure how this technique came about but it defies logic, IMO. He hasn't gone a long time with no food so don't worry (My Dumeril's is currently on 2 months without eating). I think he's too big for fuzzies and also recommend avoiding live food for as long as possible.
 
Brooklynella;3982971; said:
I'm not a fan of moving a snake to a seperate tub for feeding. Not sure how this technique came about but it defies logic, IMO.
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me neither, it unnecessarily complicates things. people do it so the snake doesn't get accustomed to biting at anything that enters the cage (like hands!). feeding in a box supposedly removes this feeding response. i never reach in a tank with my hands, i always use a hook or glove first to remove a snakes, then i handle them, and everyone is happy!
 
I never feed outside either,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I want once the snake is out of its cage,OUT of its cage while Im holding it and petting it and calling it cute little names, for it NOT to be thinking about food anymore, who cares if a snake is agro in the cage, thats why God made snake hooks, or gave us balls to just grab it. The end.
 
Okay, thanks guys.

About the enclosure: His tank is about 2 ft tall, a foot wide, and a foot and a half deep. He's got a flourescent hood covering half of the screen top (which slides open rather than lifts, and can only be slid from the outside), and in the winter there's a heat lamp on the uncovered side, but it gets warm enough in the summer for that to not be necessary. The front of the tank opens with lockable double doors. In the tank, he's got his big water bowl, two suction plants, a stiff vine across from the top back left to the front bottom right corners, and a little rock cave. Yes, I am aware that he needs a bigger tank soon, but at the moment, we barely have enough money to fix our laptop. If the "big enough so they can stretch out" rule is any good, he'll be okay for a little while. Also, everywhere I've read said 60% is ideal humidity. What should it really be at?

As for the feeding: Yeah, I did take him out, following my fellow BP-owner friend's advice, to avoid tank aggression. I don't even know where to get a snake pole. And his mice are already thawed using warm water. I've never given him a cold one. He's not getting any live unless he starts getting too thin.

I can't post pics now, since I'm at school. Will do when I get home.
 
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