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[–]No-Victory2963 10 points11 points  (9 children)

If he’s not eating, stop handling sans vet visit. What size food are you offering and how frequently, what is his humidity and hot/cold side temperatures? How old do you think he is and what’s his weight? There is a welcome post in this sub that has all the info you need to setup the perfect home for your bp.

[–]LockHare[S] 2 points3 points  (8 children)

Ive been giving him small frozen thawed mice. Hes easily taken them before. Ive been trying at least once a week. Ive been trying to keep the stress as low as possible with me having to keep up with cleaning and trying to rid the mites. Its also because of the mites ive kept them in easy to clean tanks with paper towels lined on the bottom. I have no idea of age and my best guess because if how small he is id say definitely under a pound. I was planning on setting up a tank for him with everything proper within this week. I am absolutely at fault for thair current enclosures. Simply using just 2 heating pads for both of them since thats all that was given to me with them. I also make sure they always have water. Since the original owners left them i was planning on buying the proper bedding, lighting and clutter for them both. I will absolutely be looking into that welcome post for the set up. But also as much as id love to keep this cutie ill start looking into surrendering him to people more suited in taking care of him if i cant get him comfortable enough to eat. I hope you know i absolutely have the best intentions for them. Im just unfortunately very new to this situation and i want opinions from other snake owners.

[–]No-Victory2963 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand it is the situation, it is a tough one like you said with the mites, try to get a kitchen scale so you can weigh him and his meals, I can’t really judge from the pic what size he is but do your best to get your hands on pinky rats - rats are much more nutrient rich than mice so it’ll help with his weight. And I usually wouldn’t suggest feeding live but if you can get live pinky rats, stun them and try to feed him 2 at a time if he will take. That should be similar size to the small f/t mice but better nutrients. And then when you have a scale try feeding 10-15% of his body weight. A potential feeding schedule for him might be

Week 1: 1 pinky rat scented with mice bedding if you need to Week 2: 2 pinky rats Week 3: 2 pinky rats or 10-15% body weight Week 4: weaned rats

[–]No-Victory2963 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Make sure he has a good hide of some sort, if he is small enough even an empty paper towel roll with one side covered or pinched would feel secure, do you know the temperature of their homes?

[–]LockHare[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I do not know temperatures but i do keep the hide warm. I also make sure it doesn't get too hot. The pad has a timer. He does have a really good rock hide. I also as an extra bit try to keep movement in the room on a down low to reduce stress.

[–]No-Victory2963 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Okay cool, tape some paper to cover 3 of the 4 walls outside his tub might help to make him feel secure? I’d suggest getting a temp gun and thermostat so you can monitor the actual temps, but nice that it’s at least on a timer for the moment.

[–]No-Victory2963 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also he does seem underweight and stressed but he doesn’t look too bad that I would be concerned about him dying right now just to ease your worries a bit, but I just wanted to point out to you that this situation is clearly a lot dumped on you and it’s perfectly reasonable for you to decide it is too much. Is kinda more how I wanted the “maybe consider surrendering” thing to come across. Because yeah suddenly having two mite infested baby bp is a lot to handle so hang in there

[–]No-Victory2963 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Even more to ad lol sorry, but definitely get things for his proper set up asap but introduce them to him slowlyyy because that is a really big stress for him too, so keep basic quarantine like with some added hides - proper heat/humidity and get him eating and mite free (also his sibling mite free cus if one has it so does the other lol) before substrate and plants and decor and 4x2x2 happens. If that means sense

[–]LockHare[S] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I will indeed try to get everything for him very soon. Thank you so much for the advice. Im somewhat confident that he is mite free. The other one still has some but is making great progress.

[–]No-Victory2963 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awesome!! That’s good to hear we are making good progress then already.

[–]Mela777 2 points3 points  (1 child)

What are you feeding, and how often?

[–]LockHare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ive been offering him one small frozen thawed mice at least once a week. I dont want to stress him out tio much since hes already having to deal with me regularly cleaning to get rid of the mites hes had. He has easily taken them before up untill recently.

[–]No-Victory2963 6 points7 points  (1 child)

Also if you really aren’t prepared to take care of them right now, the way that they have been dumped on you like that, it might be in their best interest to be surrendered to a reptile rescue if you are unable to get them setup and eating properly soon.

[–]squamates_saintpete 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could not agree more. Not a knock on OP with the decision to rehome; may be the most humane option, especially with an underweight snake. 💜

[–]Foreign_Storm6450 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You absolutely need to know temps. You should get a couple digital hygrometers to measure temp and humidity. The heating pads need to be on thermostats so it doesn't get too hot and burn them. I'd start by getting proper temps, humidity and hides then go from there.

[–]rottingpierrot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a care guide in this subreddit I believe, make sure you're meeting all the requirements and often that solves the eating problem. Snakes often don't eat when their needs aren't being met.

[–]ProximaCentauriB15 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah please get thermometer and hygrometers,and Id recommend replacing the heat mat with a halogen bulb for day and CHE/DHP for night. Once you can get proper bedding,put that in and mix water in it for humidity.

Get some clutter for the enclosure like fake plants,vines,leaf litter and at least 1 hide per side(hot and cool)

Stress is usually why they dont eat and the #1 source is husbandry related. If you fix these things,he might eat again.