New Blood python/ I think we were swindled

[cherriepie]

Sorry to bother everyone again, we ask a lot of questions, but we don't think we are experienced enough to dish out advice just yet . Anyway, we just bought a Borneo blood python at the Tulsa Expo and the guy said that he had put him in "hibernation" and that the little guy had been off feed for about 5 weeks. We talked to someone who said that an eight month old should never go that long without food. We tried to feed him last night, he wouldn't eat the f/t mouse. We left it in there over night thinking maybe he was shy, but I checked on him a few minutes ago and he had buried the mouse in his moss. Should we try to feed him f/k? The guy could have lied to us about that, too. Any suggestions on how we can get him to eat would be greatly appreciated. He is beautiful and we were going to try to find him a girlfriend, but we are afraid if he doesn't eat soon he won't make it. Help us please!

[telefrag]

considering bloods dont actually "hibernate". Not to mention , why would anyone cycle, or "hibernate" an 8 month old animal?.

Make sure your keeping him/her nice and warm (upper 80's with a nice 90-92 basking spot) and the humidity really really high (Like almost 100%) and give the snake plenty of places to hide.

Leave him alone for a few days, and try a f/t at the entrance to his favorite hide spot.

Sorry to hear of the trouble with the snake.

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[Ravnos]

I would also suggest covering the cage. I've dealt with a few problem feeder bloods, and almost always they want complete darkness to eat.

Rav

[LdyDrgn]

Bloods are prone to skin problems if kept on wet substrate 100% of the time. You need to put together a humid hide (opaque tub with hole in the side, damp cypress or sphagnum moss on the bottom) and place it over the heat pad. This will help provide the proper humidity throughout the enclosure as well as provide a place for it to sleep. It will also help when it comes time for it to shed.

[John_White]

Keep an eye on the eye caps. Retained or unshed eye caps can be a problem.

[thetupak]

how are you thawing out the mouse?

[cherriepie]

We are thawing out the mice in Ziploc bags in warm water. Our setup is exactly as described by LdyDrgn, except our hidebox. It is a dark red plastic bowl and has wet spagnum moss over the heatpad inside it.