Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering whats the best way to rectify dehydration? My ball is starting to get dehydrated and even with bathing it doesn't seem to be getting much better. He also is only eating off and on. His last meal was 2 weeks ago and even that he barely took. Could this be because he is dehydrated? My last question is how old does a ball have to be to be probed? Mine is about 2 feet long and about 10 months old. Thanks a lot for all the help.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 border collie/german shepard (maya)
2.1 cockatiels (sydney, ozzie and petrie)
1.0 chinchillas (ziggy)
1.4 mice (charles, callia, miette, disa and unnamed)
0.2 rats (miakoda and adoni)
0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion (brom)
1.0 betta (grim)
25 random fish
0.1 tarantula (hariett)

First and foremost, rectify the PROBLEM that's causing the snake to become dehydrated. Ball Pythons don't "normally" become dehydrated for no reason.

Other than that, unless its drastically dehydrate, which I assume its not because you said "its becoming dehydrated" (how you know that is unknown to me) I would assume the usual raise the cage humidity and feed F/T items that were thawed in warm water would suffice.

First what I meant by becoming was that it was not severe and nothing that he needs to be rushed to the vet for. Second the problem has been rectified for some time. The humidity in the cage was too low but it has now been back to normal for about a month. About the f/t mouse, if you had payed attention to the post I first made you would see that he is not eating well, let alone taking f/t. It took me about a half an hour to get him to eat one live and in november he was striking a live as soon as he could see it. I also don't appreciate the way you responded to my previous post. To me it seemed as if you were insinuating that I was taking improper care of my ball python and didn't know what I was doing. This is my first snake and I am doing all I can to take proper care of him and having someone atomatically assume that I'm not smart enough to change a condition in the tank that is unhealthy for him is not something that I like.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 border collie/german shepard (maya)
2.1 cockatiels (sydney, ozzie and petrie)
1.0 chinchillas (ziggy)
1.4 mice (charles, callia, miette, disa and unnamed)
0.2 rats (miakoda and adoni)
0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion (brom)
1.0 betta (grim)
25 random fish
0.1 tarantula (hariett)

little defensive aren't we? Not to jump on you or anything, but there was NOTHING offensive about the response you got.
Yes, you said the snake was on and off feed. That means nothing in regards to whether you are feeding live, fresh killed, or A frozoen thawed. The individual was simply suggesting that if you feed a f/t meal, the water that would be left on the prey would add to the intake of water for your snake.
They did nothing to suggest that you did not know what you were doing. You asked a question and the answer you got was a good one.
Now, let me ask you two questions.
1. How do you know the ball python is "becoming dehydrated" and how do you know it does not need to see a Vet.? (I guess that it two questions in one)
2. Why ask a question if you are not prepared for the answer?

I really am not trying to offend you, but if anything, I think your reponse to the response you got to your question was out of line as compared to what you felt was being rude before hand.
There is a BIG difference between you feeling like someone was insinuating that you did not know what you were doing and someone saying so. On the other hand, and it is perfectly ok not to know something, but if you knew the answer would you have asked the question?
Good luck with the snake.
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@cox.net

I apologize for my response. I'm just really frustrated right now with everything thats going on in my life and a response that didn't seem to help me at all just pushed me over the edge. I believe he was becoming dehydrated because he has dry scales over his nose just like he had when I got him and he was dehydrated. Even if its not dehydration it will be fixed soon. A friend of mine who knows a lot about snakes moved back and I'm going to take him to her. Thanks for the reply and again I'm sorry.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 border collie/german shepard (maya)
2.1 cockatiels (sydney, ozzie and petrie)
1.0 chinchillas (ziggy)
1.4 mice (charles, callia, miette, disa and unnamed)
0.2 rats (miakoda and adoni)
0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion (brom)
1.0 betta (grim)
25 random fish
0.1 tarantula (hariett)