Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've never had this problem with a ball python before, but one of my 700g females is fat - fat enough that the skin is showing between the scales on the back 2/3 of her body. She's a great eater (obviously), and we just fell into the habit of using her as a garbage disposal when the other balls refused. I would have thought that she'd stop eating before she got fat, but I guess not. What should I do for her? Just resume a more normal once a week feeding schedule and let her grow into the weight?
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Astronomy Picture of the Day

i would feed her every other week so she uses up some of that fat that's built up.....also try warms baths weekly to see if you can get her to deficate....she may be a little backed up from the extra feeding. My friend had one like that he was a rat eating machine & my friend said a few times it would get backed up a little so he would feed once every couple weeks to get things moving along

maybe also try taking her out & play with her alot more this way she moves around & hopefully exercises some of that pudge off..lol

JUAT KIDDING.....

>>I've never had this problem with a ball python before, but one of my 700g females is fat - fat enough that the skin is showing between the scales on the back 2/3 of her body. She's a great eater (obviously), and we just fell into the habit of using her as a garbage disposal when the other balls refused. I would have thought that she'd stop eating before she got fat, but I guess not. What should I do for her? Just resume a more normal once a week feeding schedule and let her grow into the weight?
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>> Astronomy Picture of the Day
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- Joel Smith
Email Me!

Well.. if you think about it, she *is* on the atkins diet. Nothing but meat!
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Astronomy Picture of the Day

That's all I could think of...doh!

>>Well.. if you think about it, she *is* on the atkins diet. Nothing but meat!
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>> Astronomy Picture of the Day
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- Joel Smith
Email Me!

Then am I a vegetarian? I only eat vegies and herbavores~ no other carnivores.

hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Suddenly craving steak for dinner!
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Cheryl Marchek
AKA JM
Check out my website at:
The Red Dragons Den

Personally, I'd soak her once in a while to help move things along.

Also, I'd double check temps to make certain everything's ideal.

..... and I'd keep feeding her just like you are... at 700g she's a young one no doubt and she will continue to put on length. Once she approaches 2 years I'd think about cutting back.

...but that's just me.

Drop to once every 2 weeks.. your power feeding. NOT good for the snakes health. Obeast Simple to correct.

I feed my most agressive ball python (1.5 years old...about 3 feet and no current weight) 3 mice a week and the following week I feed 2 mice (I would not even consider that power feeding..but I am sure some would not agree..I mainly just want to not feed rats so i feed more mice). for the overweight one...there is no doubt it needs to be fed less though. and as far as being backed up...that same snake at less than a year (only feeding one mouse per week or less) went 12 weeks over the summer without a movement and I bathed her every day and I was worried enough to take her to a vet and get an enima (not recomended and very poor vet decision...pooping is not an emergency to use attention like that, especially when her x rays came out clean)...anyway, the enima didnt work and she eventually went later that week after spending all sorts of vet bill money. she is great weight now and pooping when she wants to. Good luck and just slow down the diet.

sorry..i don't know if that example helped too much. I just wanted to note that while soaking is a good idea and usually works, it may not especially if the snake gets stressed. and don't quit feeding too much because something needs to go in one end to come out the other. i dont know how big you said the snake was but one smaller than normal meal(to use tech terms)every other week should help you get the snake down and you should be fine.