Welcome to the site, don't let the loss keep you from trying again.

You might look for a herp vet in your area that you can call on incase of an emergency. I don't have a reliable herp vet within 7 hours of me so I do all of my own check ups (I work in a small animal clinic that specializes in cats and dogs) but I keep the numbers for 2 vets that I can cosult with by my phone incase I or my family need to confer with a real expert.
www.herpvetconnection.com or
www.arav.org are both good places to look.

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Thanks guys...

I'm feeling slightly better today...it's a little odd..not running in to check the temp and humidity because I was so religious about it....but I guess i'll try again soon.

Thanks for the vet links moshpitrockchick, i actually found a couple. like you they're a few hours away..but at least I can get advice over the phone if I need to....

What do you mean by "better prepared"?
Before you go beating yourself up thinking it is something you may have done there is something you should be aware of.
Ball pythons are notorious for not feeding well, particularly the imports. It is possible that this hatchling snake had never fed. Some of them just don't make it. Sad but true. Our local herp shop will not even put a BP hatchling out for sale until they have eaten at least once.
All pet stores are not so consciencious.
Please don't let this put you off of them. They are great snakes.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Welcome to HC Network! Sorry to hear about your first experience with your snake. You said you had it only 4 weeks correct? Well, the next time you get one, I would leave it completely alone for a week before even handling it so it can get used to its new cage and environment. You also mentioned only having blank newspaper in the cage...did she have a hide as well? And I figure you had a water dish in there. Your snake could have already been ill or a nonfeeder like suggested. Dont knock yourself out over it....definitely try again....it will be worth it...good luck!!!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

thank you. yes, i had her around 4 weeks. She had a couple of hides, she had one at the cool end of her tank and then one at the warm end as well. She also had a rather large water dish with a hold in the side so it could serve as a hide as well in case she wanted to soak.

I talked to a lady that had purchased one from the same pet store that I had and she said that hers hadn't survived the first week, so i'm thinking it could have possibly been that the snakes are ill there. I've been trying to get in touch with the owners so I can warn them of the potential of sickness but they're never there when needed, or they're avoiding me because they know what I want...

either way, i think I will try again. but this time i'm going to a herpcenter that's a few hours away so that they can hopefully point me in the right direction of a suitable store or breeder.

thanks for all the advice though everyone.

Hi xxxjimxxx,

First I want to welcome you to Herp Center! PLEASE do not beat yourself up over this! It seems to me like you did everything right! Not every creature born will survive. It very well could have been the runt of the litter and it was meant to happen. Please try again, and please "keep the faith"!

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Smile and the world will think that you are up to something!

Steve