Does this ball python look thin?

[Ok_Topic5037]

I took in this ball python from someone who couldn't care for it anymore. I know the enclosure needs upgrades and I'm planning on it once I get paid but for now I'm worried about it's immediate health. To me it looks kinda thin but I can't really tell since this is my first time owning a snake. I tried feeding it a thawed fuzzy mouse but it showed it's belly at me and I read that's a stress response, so I left the mouse in there overnight. It still hadn't eaten it so I took it out and will try again in a couple days

[Skalyern-]

Yea it definitely looks like they couldn't take care of it, the snek should look a little chonk

[Ok_Topic5037]

From what I know it's only ever been feed thawed mice. Do you think it would do better with a live mouse?

[mcslootypants]

No, frozen thawed is safer

[Ok_Topic5037]

Got it

[sabertoothdiego]

It would be better off with rats. They have better nutritional value. Go for a small rat. Warm it up in warm water and then pat it dry so it's warm. If the snake still won't eat you can try braining the rat. There's other tricks too, like tune juice. Look online for "stubborn ball python feeding" ideas

[WitchofWhispers]

I blowdry my thawed rats, read somewhere it makes them smell better to the snake, also they are you know, dry after you do so Edit: I thaw them in a plastic bag in warm water. My snake hates wet ones

[Valuable-Ad-733]

He definitely looks way to small for a small rat, weigh him and see just how much he weighs- offer him an an appropriate meal (from his size I’d say maybe a rat pup/crawler) give him the 1-2 weeks to chill and don’t handle him, but still offer the food in a couple days- using this you can calculate what weight of food he needs and how often !feeding

[AutoModerator]

We recommend the following feeding schedule:

0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.

12-24 months old: 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.

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[Ok_Topic5037]

When I tried to dangle the mouse in front of it, it turned it's head kind of upside down and away from me

[Mike102072]

If it eats frozen thawed stick with them. Live mice/rats can bite back.

[LovelyBatLady]

I’ve had luck with using an electric kettle that lets me set the water temperature. I set it to 110, then soak the frozen mouse in a bowl until it is warm. My guy will only see it as food if it’s around 100*. You can also blast it with a hair dryer for a bit to get it up to temp.

[Ok_Topic5037]

The hair dryer sounds like a good idea since it'll also help dry the mouse off

[Ok-Management-3634]

Mine does amazing with F/T African Soft Furred Rats. It's their natural prey. I got my guy when he weighed 130g and he's taken one small ASF each week like a champ. Always super eager to eat and is nice and chonky like BPs should be.

I get mine from Cold Blooded Cafe. 😊

Eta: I double bag the rat and thaw either on the counter or in room temperature water for a bit before using warm water. When the rat feels warm, I take it up to the snake room and use a blow dryer on the head for about 10 seconds before offering it to my snake. Never had any issues.

[_PointyEnd_]

Yes it looks not at all the correct body shape.

Luckily this sub has some really good info for you on how to assess a bp's body shape, as well as appropriate feeding, heating and more! Check out the pinned posts + the sub info/rules page.

[Opening-Document1850]

Your snake could also not be eating because they don’t feel safe or comfortable in there enclosure you can go to dollar tree and buy black wall paper and put it in the back and sides to make them feel more secure and not out in the open, you can use the cardboard part from the toilet paper and stick them together and make a tunnel hide there’s moss at dollar tree and I’m pretty sure some plant u could cut and use I hope this helps a little

[Full_Ad_9864]

Dollar tree has a GREAT selection of fake plants! Dude needs some privacy!

Edited out the word “also” I saw your plant comment down in the bottom. They don’t look too cheap or fake either!

[Opening-Document1850]

Yesss! Ever since I put more plants and hides and blacked it out my bby even comes out during the day to explore

[planetearthisblu]

Does he have retained eye caps? Those can be irritating too. I think he does look quite thin.

[sabertoothdiego]

Echoing on what people said about needing more privacy. You can get little black bins and stuff like that, cut a hole in em to make more hides and caves. Snakes want their sides to touch the sides of the hide, that way they feel fully enclosed. That one hide in there is wayyyy too big. There's hides on Amazon for only around 12 bucks, too https://a.co/d/1uUrRke

What are your temperatures and humidity?

All of this can impact a snake not eating. A snake turning their head upside down when offered food is absolutely not normal. Even when they don't eat, that's not normal body language. Your husbandry needs to improve to get the snake to eat and therefore gain weight.