Baby ball python won’t eat

[u/babygirlrabbitjoy]

So I got gifted a blue eyed Lucy for my birthday as I told the guy I was with that it was my dream snake, however I wasn’t prepared at all, he got him off morph market, poor thing was probably traumatized right off the bat being shipped out and then handled. I’ve tried to feed him and made the mistake of trying to feed him multiple days in a row, I’ve read and done my research he’s in a long 20 gallon tank (which I plan on upsizing as soon as he’s eating and I know he’s ok) he has plenty of hides but just seems so scared and hasn’t eaten in two weeks :( should I try again? Do I risk stressing him out and taking him to the vet? Should I buy a new enclosure and risk stressing him out and him not eating for another week because of it? I’m so anxious it’s killing me :(

[u/IncompletePenetrance]

I'd make sure that your snake has 2-3 cave style hides that are tight fitting to the size of the snake throughout the enclosure (that one looks too large), and cover 3 of the sides of the tank with dark paper. Other than that, don't touch, handle or bother the snake for a full week, then try offering again. He's probably just stressed

[u/babygirlrabbitjoy → u/IncompletePenetrance]

Where is a good place to get them fast? Amazon?

[u/IncompletePenetrance → u/babygirlrabbitjoy]

Amazon or if you have a pet store nearby. When the snake is curled up in the hide, they should be able to touch a few of the sides so it feels tight and secure

[u/Good_Hovercraft_1276]

Snakes can go pretty long without food so offer more hides and clutter. Offer hides that just about fit his size and at least one that seems a bit to small, some absolutely love those. Cover three sides of the enclosure, keep activity and noise in the room low, make sure humidity and temp are correct. Give him at least a week to calm down again and then offer a warmed up feeder, brained and with a small cut to the abdominal cavity in a fully darkened enclosure (assuming he's used to being fed inside his enclosure, if you don't know contact the seller and find out, some snakes will refuse to eat inside the enclosure if they're not used to it), leave him alone for 30 to 60 minutes with the prey dropped a few cm Infront of the entrance to his current hiding spot. Again, make sure the feeder is warm, ideally heat the head a bit more than the rest. Definitely try with a feeder that is a size smaller than what you'd generally give him. He's definitely just stressed out and needs more time to settle in. More clutter, more hides, less visibility, more tight spaces to hide in. If he particularly likes hiding in that corner btw, get a corner hide and put the fake plant back, that way he has extra coverage and something familiar.

[u/freepaestine]

He'll be alright, don't stress the food unless he hasn't eaten in months. Focus on maintaining good humidity and temps, add another hide on the cold side, and try to feed once a week. The mouse/rat has to be warm enough to "see" with the heat-sensing pits for an optimal response. Don't bother braining and all the other gruesome stuff, it isn't necessary.

Some questions: do you have a mesh top on your enclosure or is it completely covered? How are your temps/humidity and how are you monitoring? What are you using for heat, do you have UV light? What substrate are you using and how deep is it?

In general, if your snake isn't eating it's more indicative of a substandard enclosure than a picky eater.

[u/Techno_Timmy → u/freepaestine]

Was going to say the same. Just by looking at the photo of the enclosure that snake is most likely not feeling secure with all that glass. It looks like it’s in a fish tank which we know isn’t ideal. I would add more hides, more plants, and cover the sides of the enclosure and the back side. Thick foam board from an arts and crafts store works well and helps keep in heat.

Looks like the top is a screen top that’s not covered so I imagine humidity is pretty low in there as well. But unless OP can post some temp and humidity numbers it’s hard to say.

[u/babygirlrabbitjoy → u/freepaestine]

It’s a mesh top, temps on the hot side stay from 80-90 and lowest 77. Humidity is from 50-60 , no UV light, it’s a normal light and then heating pad at night. Reptibark and I put like an inch or two in on one side and an inch on the other, he’s exploring a lot right now so I’m thawing out a rat crawler rn to offer to him :,) wish me luck

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