Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I posted about this male albino ball a few days ago, but things are looking more serious than I had thought before. He just looks skinny. His spine is prominent, folded skin, especially in the neck and tail areas. He just does not look like a healthy ball python, and it has gotten worse in the last week. He arrived last thursday at 41 grams, currently he's 37. Any advice on what should be done would be greatly appreciated. Could he be dehydrated? would a liquid nutrient feeding be helpful or just too stressful? when should I start considering assist feeding?

I'm beginning to feel as though something just isn't right with this snake. If he looked anything like the other baby ball pythons I've dealt with, I wouldn't worry at all about being a stubborn feeder. He just looks...skinny.

Thanks, any input is much appreciated.

you can always assist feed. if that doesn't work you can always force feed.

good luck!

Pitoon

yeah, I know that, but I'm already considering assist feeding at this point because he looks so skinny...when should I seriously consider putting him under the incredible amounts of stress that an assisted feeding will cause?

both situations are stressfull, but i don't think "assist" feeding is on the same level as "force feeding"

with assist feeding all you are doing is taking the pinkie and placing the pinkie in the mouth of the snake. let the teeth grab onto the pinkie and wait to see if the snake will eat on it's own after that.

force feeding is just that you are forcing the pinkie into the mouth down to the stomach.

i think if eats after the assist feeding and the snake gets that meal in, stomach juices get to work and it should start eating on it's own after that.

good luck, i know how much stress you are going through right now. just hang in there i'm sure everything will work out in the end.

Pitoon

If you havent soaked him yet - that would be a good idea to help get him rehydrated.

Good luck with him!
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
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0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

If you are uncertain about assist or force feeding take to vet. Either way it is time to take action now!

I agree with this.. If you haven't tried soaking him go ahead and do that to get him hydrated, if it is as bad as you seem and he looks very sick and is losing weight then I would take him to the vet if you have a good herp vet..

Have you tried with the live hopper yet? That worked for me, he threw up after the first one, I waited a week and then he took one and it digested just fine.

GL man, I know it can be tough..
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1.0 Het Albino Burm
1.0 Albino Ball
1.1 Pastel Balls
0.1 Spider Ball
0.2 Het Albino Balls

Seeking bigger cages for the family

Careful with soaking my buddy lost his silver streak this year by soaking him. It was honestly only in there about 10 minutes when we looked back at him he was dead. So be VERY VERY CAREFUL.
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Damian Macioce
www.strongholdreptiles.com

The act of soaking doesn't kill snakes. Drowning kills snakes. Rehydrating doesn't kill snakes.

If you use too much water, and make an already weak snake swim swim swim, it can get exhausted and die.

When soaking a weak or very small snake, offer something above the level of the water to rest on. For baby snakes, we include a clay hidespot overturned in the water, allowing them to rest, yet still in the water.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I know soaking doesnt kill snakes, I hope you dont think I thought he died from osmosis LOL. But thats a good idea toput them on something above the water. He was in maybe an inch Im guessing but hey thats natural selection only the strong survive.
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Damian Macioce
www.strongholdreptiles.com

also need to take into consideration the temp of the water, it may seem like a nice warm bath to you but remember snakes body temps are detimed by their surounding temps. Could have been a little on the warm side and cooked him with out knowing you were to hot. Better to be a little cool then to warm.

matt

The guy that this happened to was Jared Carr hes been keeping snakes since early 90's so I hope he knew what he was doing but you know thats a good idea that may have happened.
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Damian Macioce
www.strongholdreptiles.com

I would assist feed it now. There's no telling if the breeder was truthful when he told you it ate 4 times. It's possible that it hasn't eaten at all and needs to eat before it's too late. Considering it hasn't eaten for you and looks extremely skinny like you described, I would have my doubts that what the breeder said is true. Spine, skin folds, not good.

There maybe some other underline issues with it. I mean for an animal to lose 10% of its weight (4 grams of a total 41 grams) in just a few days that doesnt sound right to me. Do you have any pics of the animal.
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Damian Macioce
www.strongholdreptiles.com

4 grams isn't that much and I would say he most likely ate something at one time and it finally passed the line.

matt

I would not have missed a 4 gram poop.

Dude, if the little guy is like you descried and you are worried then go ahead and assist feed the animal. I had 1 baby out of my last clutch that I still have to assist feed. The others from the clutch are strong feeders but this one just wont feed on her own. Good luck with your baby and keep us posted.

W. Smith

I am sorry I have not looked over your previous post but did you lock him with a hopper mouse over night? I would try that before assist feeding. If you have and had no luck go for assist but make sure you know what you are doing. If you don't get someone trained.

matt

I left him with a live fuzzy for over 6 hours, but no attempts at all. I'm going to attempt assist feeding tonight. I will let everyone know how it goes. Thanks a lot for all the advice.

just for future not sometimes it take more then 6 hours, if you leave them over night it helps because balls are nocturnal and more active at night. Also sometimes reducing the cage size when left with a fuzzy will help as well. The whole idea behind this method is that the fuzzy irrates the ball to the point that the ball says you got to go buddy!

Hope it all goes well,
matt

What you describe sounds VERY serious. I have babies hatched on August 20/08 that weight over 100g , one of them 177g already.
I would take it to a vet to make sure he is healthy and only malnourished. Discounting any disease, he needs to eat SOON, so assisted feeding seems to be not an option, but a necessity and if he is too weak you might have to force feed him or even "tube feed" him. I wish you the best, but first, take him to a good vet right away and take it from there. Soaking him seems a good advice he seems to be dehydrated also.
Hope this helps.

A picture would help.

It sounds to me like you got swindled with a bad snake.

I wouldn't bother with assist feeding pinkies, I would be force feeding thawed, wet rat pups. They go down easy, yet they contain enough calories and nutrition to get the system running, metabolism engaged, and energy for recovery.

When we force feed baby balls, I use one rat pup every 3-4 days, for 5-6 feedings. After that cycle, I offer a live rat pup again.

You need to jump start the life systems here, and soon, a small pinkie is not likely to cut it.

Best of luck.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Yes, send a pic, and keep us informed!

Ok, I got some great advice and decided to assist feed a small fuzzy. It took a couple tries, but he got it down. Hopefully the worst is over, and he'll begin eating on his own soon. Thanks a lot to everyone that replied.

glad to hear you got a meal in there, I would try offering agian in 4-5 days to see what he does.

Best luck!
matt

awesome!!!!! now just keep that belly full provide good belly heat and you should be good to go.

post some pics!!!

Pitoon

GOOD!, now keep trying every few days and keep him warm. And keep everybody informed on the progress!

I will definitely let you all know how he progresses, but he already looks better than before. I hope he starts eating on his own soon, but am now confident that I can continue assist feeding if that is needed.