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My Hatchling wont eat please help!!!

gsrept said:
When was last time you kept a ball at 80-90% humidity. Also snake could be soaking for many reasons.
Click to expand...

My point was: We don't know what's wrong. The snake could be soaking for many reasons, I agree...but what kind of device is she using to monitor temps/humidity? That could have a big impact on the outcome.

I am not saying that your advice is wrong, I was simply using your post to show the range of advice she is getting.

btw: I keep my snakes in humidity that high...have for years, haven't had any issues at all (but then I keep their racks very clean, so that might have some impact, also I know that humidity isn't uniform throughout any container some parts may be more humid than others...just saying.
 
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Maybe the OP is using one of the gagues that measures humidity and temps, and she meant the temps were 85/90? Which, IMO, is a tad hot and could explain the soaking.
 
FireStorm said:
Maybe the OP is using one of the gagues that measures humidity and temps, and she meant the temps were 85/90? Which, IMO, is a tad hot and could explain the soaking.
Click to expand...

That could be. :shrug01: Lacking information from the OP, I wouldn't know.

But I do know that giving a newbie such a wide/diverse range of advice/suggestions without any foundation, or explaining how that kind of situation would apply, may result in more stress on the snake as the OP tries to accommodate/fix issues based on suggestions.
 
SheaRC05 said:
I tried to upload the photos and its not letting me? Anyways. Petco was out of the good metal ones so i got a cheap hermit crab meter
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Ouch,

Go to lowes, get a temp gun. Saves you headaches. Dial and the cheap digital thermometers are worthless.

If there is condensation on the tub, humidity is high enough IMO. Get the temp gun that way you can get the temp for both hot and cold side. Cost $40 and worth the investment if you are going to keep BP's.
 
I used to live in Baltimore, MD. If you can make the trip to VA, I have a tank with a plexiglass top. It's yours if you can come get it. The plexiglass helps hold in humidity, and it's long enough (without being too large) to have a heat pad at one end http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-undertank-heater-uth-6-x11 (I think there's one on the tank)

You will also need to get a temp gun as mentioned above by Chad http://www.reptileuv.com/reptileuv-mini-temperature-gun.php (do some research, there may be cheaper ones out).

Even if you can't get to my location to pick up the free tank, which is (IMO) PERFECT for the BP owner who doesn't want to worry about humidity, you can do some research and find those same items. I know that PetSmart sells glass tops and tanks.

So to have a perfect environment, or as perfect as possible if one wants to have the snake on display one needs:

Tank with plexiglass top (fitted and locking capabilities)
Temp gun
Substrate (no Pine or Cedar)
2 or 3 small hides (check out some reptile stores)
fake greenery (make the place a little crowded and cluttered so that the snake feels comfortable coming out of his hides).

This is the basics of what's needed to successfully keep a BP.

I am not sure about a crabshack..lol really. The ones I've seen are so small, I don't know how they can be heated effectively and still provide a cool end. If you are heating the kind of crabshack that I have in mind you may eventually bake the animal.
 
With our wedding coming up in a few weeks i wont have time to make the drive. We will be at repticon in timonium if you go to that next sunday.. And i ment the hermit crab humidity gauge / temp gauge
Ill be sure to check out some temp guns
 
SheaRC05 said:
With our wedding coming up in a few weeks i wont have time to make the drive. We will be at repticon in timonium if you go to that next sunday.. And i ment the hermit crab humidity gauge / temp gauge
Ill be sure to check out some temp guns
Click to expand...

You're grown! LOL Here I was thinking you were probably a teenager. :eek:

I don't go to reptile shows anymore. But you have enough information to be able to find the stuff you need. Good luck.
 
haha yeah. Im just a newbie to balls. Have leos. Rosy boas . Had red tails. Corns.
I havnt peeked in but i can hear the hatchling moving around more since i did the few things mentioned.
I knew balls could be picky eaters. And i did alot of reading. But you never know. All my other snakes would eat like champs three days after i got them lol
 
So I gave her updated new hides. And a bunch of silk folage. ( about five days ago) and no contact what so ever. Should i attempt a feeding? I havnt looked in so I dont know if she has shed
 
If it goes on much longer, you will want to try assist feeding. You will probably need another set of hands for this.

You will need a pinky/hopper. (I would use a fresh killed pinky)
Hold the snake behind the head firmly, obviously not hurting it. They are tough though.
You then want to have to get the mouth open, many people use a qtip.
Once you can hold the mouth open, you want to put the pinky into the snakes mouth head first.
At this point, some snakes get the idea and will try to coil up on it and proceed by themselves. If it does not, you will want to slowly and easily use the same qtip to start pushing the pinky into the mouth. This should be a slowww process. Gently keep pushing the pinky into it's mouth until you either see it beginning to help you by trying to start swallowing it, or you will have to push the majority of the pinky into the snake. Once all but the back legs and tail of the pinky are moving down, it should finish on it's own...again, if it does not, you will have to push it all the way. Once the pinky is fully in it's mouth and throat stop pushing.

Look up a video on youtube for a better understanding, there are lots of them on there.
Search: Assist feeding a ball python.
 
Assist Feeding is not something this person should be thinking about just yet. (and YES on the vet if that's the way it has to go, as the OP does not seem to have any knowledge in that, and could use the help)

We don't even know if the snake has shed yet....is anyone really suggesting assist/force feeding this animal before its even had it first shed???
 
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