Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend baught a pair of adult BP, both haden't eaten for 10 months since he got them, the male died, he gave me a call saying please save my fem.
I didn't realy want the problem, but felt I stood a better chance of saving it as I've got 3 wild caught adults. I've had in my collection, for 5 years, and know their habbits quite well.
The animal is just skin and bone, so I treated it for external parisites, and force fed it a small mouse, put it in a cage with a secure hide.
I've had her for three days and decided to offer her a hopper, to my surprise she grabbed it straight away, I offerd her a second and she took it too. I can't beleve it was so easy, I'm so happy as I didn't wan't to deal with a snake dying under my care.

My question is should I feed her more or should I back off untill she digests these ?
If she had her full weight she could eat 15 or more of these hoppers with ease. I just dont want to over do it, but on the other hand I want to feed her as much as I can while she is in the mood.
Thanks

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I would give it 1 very small rat or 1 adult mouse a week for the first few weeks. Hoppers are not really big enough to give an adult much much of a meal IMO. It probably is a good idea to keep the meal small, but I think hoppers are a bit too small. I had a similar problem with a wc female. She did not eat for 14 months so I finally force fed her a small rat. After thet she began eating pretty much weekly for the next 6 months. I also think it would be a good idea to get a fecal done on her when she passes these first couple meals.
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John Vandegrift

Thanks John.
I ended up giving her 4 hoppers, thats all I have on hand. I'm not going to bother with a fecal, I'm just going to go ahead and medicate her, with gentle .There is only one reptile vet in Taiwan, where I live, he is, hard to get an appointment with, and is very expencive. A fecal will cost over $100, I'm bulding a large collection, getting new snakes weeky, so fecals are not an option. I just medicate all my new snakes.
But I'll wait till she is in the clear.

I'd take it easy! If it's skin and bones, it hasn't eaten in a long time! Wait 2-3 days, then go with multipile small meals, like you did! When you notice weight gain, increase volume!

like every one said, dont over due it. she is fragile right now.

and also. if your increasing your collection yet cant afford any type of vet care maybe you shouldnt be expanding to quickly and set that next 100$ you would spend on a snake away just in case.

,.Frank.,

Thanks for the feed back.
I never said I couldn't afford any type of vet cair. I just treat all my new snakes for external and internal parisites, wether they have them or not. If I have a sick snake I do send it to the vet.

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