Posted by:
forkit
at Thu Feb 19 14:30:01 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by forkit ]
I hatched my first 3 baby balls last summer, and 2 of them went on to be quite hardy, eat and shed.
The other one unfortunately had never even shown a feeding response. After trying live feed, and dangling thawed(I tried every trick), I resorted to force-feeding. I know there is mixed feelings about this, but I felt like he was going to die if I didn't.
He perked up a bit, one time even seeming to open his mouth for it. I had been feeding pinkys every 3 to 5 days. This morning I found him with his mouth open, lying in his water dish.
Many possibilities here. He's just sick or has some internal deformity, He is trying to shed or he is trying to poop. When I found him in this condition I remember being surprised that he wasn't pooping for the last few weeks.
His neck and front of his body seem very thin, and right at the end of his tail he seems more bloated. He is barely responding to touch and his breathing is slow, though he did close his mouth since.
thinking he might be compacted, I just let him soak in a warm bath. Any other ideas on how to treat him? I knew I might get a sick snake, but I think he is worth saving as I've heard of force-feds going on to be normal snakes.
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 lethargic baby - forkit, Thu Feb 19 14:30:01 2009
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