My wife and I are both teachers and coaches at the local high school. One of my wifes softball players wanted to get a snake and I suggested a ball python. I told her to pick out one with clear shiny eyes, good muscle tone, and an overall healthy look. She did so, and I helped her to set up a cage for it with some equipment I had used when my ball was a hatchling. The snake refused to eat for 3 weeks and began to lose weight quickly. I helped the baby along by opening its mouth and putting a fuzzy in. It swallowed the fuzzy rather quickly. This went on a couple of times after it refused to acknowledge either live or fresh killed fuzzies or hoppers. The last time I opened its mouth I noticed something odd that I had not paid attention to earlier. I think I may have found the reason it is not eating on its own, there is no tongue in its mouth. I ahve checked now multiple times, and even checked the location of my snakes tongue for reference. It truly is just not there.
What should I do with this animal? It will never be able to eat on its own, and I don't think she is to the point of feeding it this way for 20 years. Any help would be appreciated.
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2.4.0 D. azureus
0.0.8 P. bicolor
0.0.7 D. auratus (polka-dot)
0.0.3 D. auratus (blue)
0.0.4 D. auratus (kahlua and cream)
0.0.3 D. auratus (El Cope aka Giant Turquoise)
0.0.5 D. tinctorius (Interalanis)
Shannon
