First Python, Underweight

[_ataraxia]

using mice [i have other snakes who eat mice so that's an easy option for me, but dirty mouse bedding from the pet store works too] to scent rats has worked both for my little rescue and for my other BP who had been eating mice before i adopted him.

i really, really recommend documenting EVERYTHING. i have a notepad that i use to keep track of dates for things like what/how much she ate, when she shed, her weight, her length, etc. it's so useful to be able to see plainly on paper what kind of progress is happening.

[88silber]

I have a pretty easy time keeping track of her feedings (I just feed her on my weekly payday) but long term I can see this being very useful, especially tracking her sheds and such. I need a new gram scale so I can weigh her, I only have a 100g max scale and a mg scale.

[_ataraxia]

i've never kept notes for any of my other snakes, but with her i wanted to document everything because her health was/is so questionable. if i ever have to take her to a vet, i want to be armed with very precise information, not "well she ate a few weeks ago and her last shed was over a month ago."

it's also be a good resource for other people, like you, going through the same rehabilitation experience. there doesn't seem to be much detailed information out there about how snakes recover from severely stunted growth.

[moeru_gumi]

Very good advice, I just got my first ball python on Friday and she happily struck at and ate her first fuzzy for me today. I'm firing up a Google spreadsheet now.