Python not eating and opening mouth

[ineedsoap16]

Hi all I got my Ball About a month ago. She has not eaten since. I have her temp in the mid 80's a hot cool variant. To my knowledge she was eating small frozen pinkies a coupla times a week before I got her. When We fisrt brought her home she had eye caps from her last recent shed so we soaked her and the came right off. She does open her mouth quite a bit more than I am used to, although I have not yet had her to a vet. I attribute this to her mild temper (the reaseon she was given to me was nobody at the store handled her and developed a bit of an attitude). She only does it when being handled so I don't think it a mouth problem. Any ideas?

P.S. Sorry for all the issues in one thread.

[LadyParvati]

It sounds as if she's feeling pretty stressed from the move and handling at this point. How often are you handling her?

And when you say she was eating "small frozen pinkies," are you talking about rats or mice? Either is probably too small; pet stores (if that's where you got her) generally underfeed. How big is your BP (length & girth)?

[Aaron_S]

You should have a hot spot of about 90 degrees for your snakes. Mid 80's for the ambient temperature.

Also, the snake should be eating something larger than pinkies! Hopefully they were talking about rat pinks, at least they are a bit better than mouse pinks. Switch to adult mice, once a week, the larger prey item may entice the snake.

Opening of the mouth, kind of worries me. It could be a respitory infection. Does she do this while in her cage often? Anything coming out of the nostrils, like mucus?

Also, I would not handle the snake except for cleaning reasons until it eats a couple weeks in a row.

[LadyParvati]

Opening of the mouth, kind of worries me.

Yeah, I know what you mean, Aaron, but they do say, She only does it when being handled, so it appears to be stress related rather than an infection. Maybe they'll give us some more details about this related to your questions.

I hope we also get some more information about the snake's length & girth soon so we can offer more appropriate feeding information.

[gonesnakee]

I'll echo Aaron here. Kept too cool & underfed. Plus stressed out. OK lets talk BPs. Hotside 90-95F coolside 80-85F. Always have fresh water in a dish big enough to soak in & require some humidity & extra humidity when in shed. ZERO HANDLING until feeding well!!! If it is already eating/eaten rats don't feed it mice. Keep it on rats rather than having to switch later which can & will be difficult. So you need to raise your temps & stop handling it for starters. Offer it the same type prey it ws feeding on unless it was pinky mice than go with hoppers or really big fuzzies. Feed at night in its enclosure & leave the snake undisturbed with the prey, overnight if required. If FT prey is being used heat it right up to 95-100F + & offer it quickly as a tease feed & then leave it. Whats this snake got for hides? Should have one on the hotside, one of the coldside & one in the middle if possible. Whats it housed in? Provide full details about all conditions when asking Qs & you will get more informed answers. Mark

[ineedsoap16]

First, no more handling, second I believe they were feeding her multiple mouse pinkies at a time at the store. She is about 16 inches (will know better after shed) and about an inch thick. The temerature is going up. She had one hide in the hot end but know has one in each. Fresh water in a large bowl is a yes. She is in a 20g glass aquarium. She doesn't seem to be a breathing problem. No mucus or foam in the nostrils.

[gonesnakee]

She could just be hissing at you as well IE: open mouth. I have a Super Pastel BP here now that hisses at me all the time with its mouth open just a little bit. Mark

[Aaron_S]

Once she is done the shed, offer up a hopper mouse since she's been on pinkies. Or a very large fuzzy. Follow Mark's instructions upon feeding the snake in his earlier post.

[ineedsoap16]

Thanx guys.

[ineedsoap16]

She has eaten twice since I last posted. I offered a small live mouse at first and it took a while but she took it. I tried a second feeding yesterday with a large ft mouse and she took it immediatly so I think were in the clear as afar as feeding goes. We are moving to small rats from here on out. Since she's been warm enough and feeding I have noticed no mouth opening. When do you think its ok to begin handling/socialization again?

[Aaron_S]

I would wait until after the next feeding. Then about 3 days after you've fed her, you can start handling.