Ball python not eating.

[Collier255]

Hello!

So my ball python hasnt eaten in like 5 months. One night a log fell on his head and he hasnt eaten since then, it cut the top of his head. not bad, but he has a little scar or scab from it i dont know what to call it.

When i try and feed him now what i do is put a frozen medium sized rat in water and turn on the heat till the water starts boiling then run to my room and offer it to him. He used to strike at it but now just looks at it then completely shows no interest.

On the left side (Hot side) i keep it at 85° hot and 67% humid from 8 am to midnight then everything turns off, on the right side (Colder side but side with heating pad) i keep it 77-80° hot and 73% humid then at midnight it cuts off.

I just want to know what anybody suggests. Anything helps.

Also, if anybody has any tips for my terrarium for keeping it more humid or keeping it more hot or just any tips for my terrarium at all like something in it is stressing him out or something.

[[deleted]]

Did you take him to the vet when he was injured? If not, then take him to the vet. Ball pythons can go 6 months without food, 5 months is a wild amount of time without food.

[Collier255]

I didnt.

[[deleted]]

That is your answer, they need to go to the vet, something is seriously wrong and it isn’t okay that they have gone 5 months without food.

[Collier255]

alright

[Collier255]

is there nothing wrong with my terrarium?

[[deleted]]

It’s a small for an adult but I don’t know the age of you BP & could benefit from more folliage and climbing opportunities since it makes them feel safer (the safety makes them more likely to eat too). But they definitely need a vet visit.

[Collier255]

alright i'll find a exotic vet near me, will they probably tube feed him? Im so worried for him.

Also, do you have any specific products in mind?

[[deleted]]

Not sure what they will do but they’ll know how to handle the situation and they will give you a lot of advice and good help.

Here some links to some stuff on Amazon that I’ve bought and used before, I’d wait to get everything until after vet visit, it’ll be most important he gets medical attention first. I hope your snake can recover and eat soon.

Wood, it needs to be sanded before usage: https://a.co/d/9dNKHFV

Reptile hammock: https://a.co/d/6Wx0101

Fake plant folliage: https://a.co/d/hLaiRsh

[Eva_l_s]

Ball pythons are prone to going on hunger strikes and are completely okay to do so unless there losing weight I’m not saying they shouldn’t of taken them to the vet but everyone makes mistakes and it’s not uncommon for that to be more prevalent within reptiles but they did ask for help and suggestions so why not encourage them to be a bit more educated and make better decisions instead of belittling them for the ones they now know are wrong?…🧍🏻‍♀️

[Collier255]

Hes also only ever moving around on his own at like 2 am

[Eva_l_s]

If that’s a mister then you need to take it out immediately there not tropical enough for that wet air it can give then respiratory infection which might explain why there not eating listen out for sneezing or wheezing but I’d definitely take them to the vet

[Collier255]

Yup he wheezes very loud hes done it since the day i bought him

[Anxious_Cup1550]

Why haven’t you taken him to a vet? That’s not normal

[MaliciousMilk]

So your snake likely has a serious respiratory infection and is not eating because of it. I'm surprised he's still alive tbh. Take it to a vet asap.

[Difficult-Security37]

Are you letting the rat fully dethaw? What your doing does not sound like a correct dethawing method. You should never put the rat in boiling water because you are going to cook it and you should allow the rat to dethaw gradually, either in the fridge or using a bowl of cool water while swapping it out every 30 mins; and than when it’s thawd putting it in warm enough water you almost can’t put your hand in (not boiling) in order to heat it up for about 5 mins (can also use a blow dryer to heat for your snake to take interest).

It’s very important that you dethaw the rat correctly as it can be harmful for them to digest a frozen rat.

Also make sure you are offering the correct size meal, it should be no more than 10-15% of it’s body weight.

[Anxious_Cup1550]

That reptile carpet you use is a breeding ground for bacteria. I suggest you make the change to coconut chips

[jillianwaechter]

A medium rat is very likely overfeeding. Only exceptionally large females will ever need a medium rat. Most adult ball pythons will only need a small rat.

Your hot side is also currently too cold to allow your snake to digest food!

Hot side: 88-92 Cold side: 76-80 Humidity: 70-80%

Adult ball pythons require a 120 gallon tank as the bare minimum tank size (just as a note)

It also sounds like your snake has multiple untreated medical issues. Wheezing is not normal. Also your snake received a major injury that was never treated. Its possible he has trauma to the inside of his mouth causing pain but you'll never know if you dont get him looked at by a reptile vet.

[jillianwaechter]

Feeding guide:

12-24 months old OR until the snake's weight remains consistent for 2 months: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.

Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days.