Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever used Nurti-Cal on ball pythons to stimulate their appetite?
If not Nutri-Cal, what have you used?
I have 2 baby females that are slowly becoming my problem children!lol
They eat about every 3-4 weeks.

My vet recommended this stuff, but I haven't tried it yet. I want to get some feedback first.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.gmherps.com
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

This a great product, there are other products LIKE it, but I have always had trouble getting some cats or dogs to eat the other brands.

I've used it on kittens and rat terrier puppies that needed it.

They always love the taste of it.

I am not sure if it can be used on snakes, but I am sure your vet knows more then I do.

It is quite sticky and thick, so maybe it would have to be mixed with warm water and administered via tube feeding.

Try gerbils?
hamsters?
smaller animals...provide hide?
feed live?

I feed live.
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RicK @ BbI

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

yes, yes, yes, and yes.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.gmherps.com
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

good, good, good, and good
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RicK @ BbI

Ball Boutique,Inc.
Proud sponsor of this forum

I have used flagyl on several snakes and it seems to work. Thanks David
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1.0 Pied(04)(RDR)
1.0 Albino(04)(RDR)
0.1 Spider(04)(RDR)
3.2 Pastels(03's)(04's)(ASF,Graziani,Bell lines)
0.1 Yellow belly(unproven)(04)
1.3 Yellow belly(unproven)(02,03,04's)
2.0 100% HET CLOWN(04's)(MHMR)
3.3 100% het albinos(03's)(high contrast bell line)
0.1 poss Het Albino(03's)
2.0 100% het pieds(03's)(Vin Russo,CRE)
0.2 100% het pieds(03's)(04's)(RDR,TWL)
1.2 Poss het pieds(03's)(PETE KAHL)
2.1 Poss het pieds(00's)(01's) hoping to get PIEDS this year(Vin Russo, Pete Kahl)
25 Normal adult females
60 04 females
15 normal mixed 03's
20 Assorted weird ball pythons 04's

Babies can sometimes be difficult feeders. The best trick I've learned for reluctant babies is assisted feeding (not force feeding) gently place a p/k rat pinkie (or fuzzy mouse) in thier mouths and their natural eating/swallowing instincts will take over from there. Prior to assisted feeding try feeding them in a dark, secure place one with good temps and a hide, leave them be. I'd try every thing natural before going for artificial stimulants, you don't want your snakes hooked on drugs (LOL).
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I've found a very odd reflex in some of my balls. If they look like they are semi interested in eating F/T, but just not going for it, try to gradually move the prey item right up to their nose and ever so gently shake it just a little like you are almost trying to tickle them and get them to sneeze. Sometimes they will pull their head back and hide, but if you do it just right they will shake their head ever so slightly and reflexively bite and coil. Even if they previously seemed like they were shying away. This is a very strange reflex and not at all similar to normal feeding instinct. When they strike the animal in this manner it is almost like it is in slow motion (at about 20% the normal speed), but they will then proceed to eat. If you have a problem eater, maybe you can try this. You might think this sounds crazy, but it has worked for me on more than one occasion.

If anyone else has ever done this let me know,

Good luck

It's a simple trick I've used on some of my babies...sometimes works on adults but the results are generally mixed.
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Sometimes, things are exactly as they appear...sometimes.