Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My new ball python has been with me for ten days and is in the midst of a shed. As a result, she hasn't eaten. I know that she didn't eat for three days before I bought her. I'm fairly certain that she hadn't eaten for a few days previous to my getting her.

When I got her ten days ago, she weighed 435 grams. She passed a very small amount of feces and urine clumps two days after I got her. Tonight, she weighs 440 grams. My scale isn't super precise, but I'd expect the scale to show the difference between 435 and 440.

How does she gain weight when she hasn't eaten and has passed a little waste?

Thanks,

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Hydration would be my guess.

I wondered about hydration. If so, she's picked up ten grams of water since coming to my home. I haven't noticed her drinking, but I've mostly left her alone.

Thanks,

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

I am pretty sure its getting back to proper hydration levels. Shipping is stressful and could cause lots of hydration loss, increased breathing in a very dry container can do that quickly. Gaining 10grams or 2.2% of body weight in a properly humid cage is not hard to believe.

Thanks, it's good to hear that. Now, I just have to get her through the shed and get her to start eating.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

ditto to the other two posters ...

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gail

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