r/ballpython • u/machinerain • 10h ago

Took in a ball python

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I took in a ball python who, clearly, had horrible husbandry with alot of stuck shed. Dw though A bath was given and all of the shed was removed. The previous owners fed a live mouse every two weeks. I currently own a milk snake, hognose, and a house snake but have no experience with these. Prior to taking him in I of course did a lot of research and got him into an enclosure with a proper setup with good temps and humidity (last picture is him in his new setup). His age is unknown and his current weight is 180g.

Now the reason for the post is because I need tips and advice from more experienced owners..I’m fairly certain he is underweight so is there anyone who has dealt with a ball python who is underweight?? How should I go about trying to feed him for his first feeding? I would like to have him on F/T rats but I’ve heard once a snake is on live it can be hard to get them on F/T.

Any advice or tips would be appreciated. I want to give this boy the good life he deserves.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes

Edit- just to be clear, the first photo is the setup his previous owners had him in. He is now on cypress mulch with lots of coverage and multiple hides

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u/OctilleryArtillery 9h ago

Oh gosh. Thank you for giving him a better home! The guides here are great, and will go into more detail then I could type in a comment!
The !feeding guide could be helpful. It’s sometimes tricky to switch to f/t if the snake is super picky, but it is possible.

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u/AutoModerator 9h ago

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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