Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. Please bare with me as I start from the beginning. When I bought my snake 10 years ago, I knew nothing about them. However, I quickly learned that mine was wild caught and was not eating. I took him to the vet and he was anemic.I needed to give him shots, and oral medications. He was so thin, you could almost touch your fingers together when pressing on his sides. Anyway, that was 10 years ago. Since then, he started eating, and has been very heatlhy and active.

I posted about a month ago about a mouse I gave him that looked like it had some sort of growth on the side. I was told my snake should be okay, and I think my problem now really has nothing to do with that mouse. In the past month or so, he appears to have lost a LOT of weight. He still eats and is active, and drinks water, but he is getting really really thin again, like he was when I first got him. He has problems shedding too, but he always has. Anyway, I feed him about once every 3-4 weeks. He is about 4 1/2 feet long, and eats two mice per feeding (sometimes he won't eat a rat). Is it possible he has tape worm? Why would he get so thin, yet still remain active and still eat at feedings? Should I make his feedingas ever two weeks and see if he starts to gain weight again? Do I need to see a vet?

Thanks for your help. Anything to save my poor Fenton.

I would think for an adult ball a couple of mice a week would be about right or at least every other week as some are slower digesters than others. But if he's eating well and still losing weight, then it would sound like he may have worms, a vet visit and fecal wouldn't hurt.
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Tosha

8.13.0 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

Okay, so since I feed every 3-4 weeks (and always have in the past 10 years, except when he was very young), should I start feeding every 1-2 weeks at the most now? How long should I give it to see if there is any weight gain?

Most of my adults are on a 1-2 week schedule I do have one that is on a 3-4 week schedule and she's growing as well as the others, that's just the schedule she chose (she is also eating biger items). If he's eating well and has still had a dramatic weight loss, then I'd take him to the vet just to be on the safe side. But also feeding him more often will help him retain his weight, he may be digesting those mice in a couple of days and then he's living off of his fat reserves until you feed him again. Again all balls are different, they prefer different schedules, different foods and metabolise differently the trick is to find a schedule that your snake is on and go with that. The of course, like a typical ball he'll go off feed next winter and have a completely different schedule next year (LOL). Hope this helps.
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Tosha

8.13.0 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

Actually, Fenton never strops feeding in the winter, but I do feed him a bit less. Like a human, does their metabolism change every so many years/ Could it be that 3-4 weeks at one time was fine and now he may need it more often? I figure that since I leave for vacation in 3 weeks, I will feed him tonight, again over the weekend, and then again the next week and then the dsy we leave for vacation. That gives him 4 feedings. I usually give him 2 mice, but might try one mouse tonight, two mice next week, one rat and so on. That way, by the time I get home, if it looks like he still didn't put on weight, I will take him to a vet.. Does that sound like a good plan? He does drink fine too, and he is active, so I don't think he is very ill, if he is at all. Thanks for everything!

I asked a question on this site about a month ago as to why it is not a good idea to put a ball back on mice after getting him/her to eat rats. One of the reasons I was told was that one rat is about the same as four mice so it is easier. I was only feeding my two balls 1-2 mice per week, thus underfeeding them. When I picked up some more mice and rats I was told by someone from a VERY well known snake breeder that one mouse per week would be like feeding a man one baloney sandwich a week. So I guess I would start feeding him more if he will take it and then see what happens.

Oh, and can worms kill him? I mean, I am sure they can, but how long would it take? This might sound really selfiash, but i am going on vacation in 3 weeks, which I can't really afford, but I fear I would not be able to get him to a vet until after then, unless it became very necassary to go immediately.

If you aren't going on vacation for three weeks get him to the vets before you leave. No offense, but personally I'd choose my snakes health over a vacation. Just my " critter lovin'" opinion.

Quig

I agree with you 100%, however, I just spent all my savings booking this vacation less than one week ago. Not to mention the very next day my husbands car landed in the shop with an extremely expensive bill. My husband is going to look at the snake tonight. If I have to, I can use a credit card, as I hate to cry broke, even if that is how I feel after booking this trip. I would just like to try and avoid the credit card too if I can.

It would help to know his weight, I have a 10yr old BP that I recently adopted that was fed mice on a 2-4 week basis that was only 916g when I got him. He immediately switched to rats for me and eats every week, he is now, not even a year later weighing in at 2200g and is sleek and healthy looking. I would suggest offering every week. Yes there are BP's that are miserable eaters and just take forever to put on weight, I have 3 like that but I still offer on a weekly basis. I would also suggest offering something larger either 200g rats or 2 or more mice a week.
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Nita Hamilton
4.13 Normal BP's, 1.0 Het Orange Ghost BP, 1.0 Het Pied 1.0 50% poss Het Orange Ghost BP's

I used to have a scale to measure him, but since I got married and moved, I have no clue what happened to it. I can tell you he was very sick when I first got him, which is why I got the scale. Once he started eating again, he got very healthy and muscular looking. Now, he is looking a bit limp, although acting healthy still. I am wondering if maybe I am not feeding him enough, which bothers me to think I was starving him!!! I was only doing 2 mice every 3-4 weeks for the past 8 years or so. I feel like a terrible person. he lives in a nice 40 gallon breeder tank with plenty of plastic plants, rocks, a hiding cave made of rock like material, and driftwood. He has always been very happy, but now is starting to just look sick, even if not acting like it, but he is a snake. The only signs I can think of would be not eating, but he does still eat. Come to think of it, lately, after I feed him, I notice like 2 days later he is acting hungry again. I always said "I just fed you!", but now it might just truly be that he was hungry again. I am now going to feed him once a week, at least for a few weeks to see if his body weight goes up. He is a small ball python too. He is only about 4- 4 1/2 feet long and is full grown, but was very sick when I got him which could have stunted his growth. The doctors were shocked that we "saved" him many years ago, so i will do what I have to for him now. Even if it means using a credit card to get him to the vet.

Try feeding him more often and maybe rats instead of mice, just to see if he'll take them. Switching up to rats would probably put weight on him, negating having to take him to the vets. Sorry if I sounded like I wanted to break you.

Quig

Not at all. I completely understand where you were coming from and you had no idea what kind of "money" situation I was in. I see you as an animal lover, like me, and I would probably have said the same thing to you. After all, none of us can properly say what is wrong, so a vet visit is the best idea. I would just like to try my best to wait until i get back, but he will be at the vet before then if needed. he once had a difficult time going to the bathroom (had a hard time getting it out) and he was at the vet that same day. I was so scared something was wrong. And if my husbands car didn't "break"........... But no, I didn't take what you said the wrong way at all. I am showing him to my husband when I get home from work (leaving now) and I will see what he says. He knows how much I love my snake and if I have to break myself even more, I will. He is like my child (we don't have kids yet). So it would be awful if this was a sick baby and I said, "I will wait three more weeks.....". I would just like to monitor him for a couple more days at least. And switch to rats, starting tonight, like you suggested. we just had a problem where he wouldn't eat rats, but I do give them once in a while and he seems to take them now, so I should be okay. Thanks for listening to me ramble on. I will keep you updated!!!

I DO understand about broken cars.

And they always seem to break at the worst moments. well, they do say, "when it rains, it pours", right? But seriously, I absolutely love my snake and would not let any harm come to him. I will be monitoring him very closley, and if nothing changes, or if he starts to look worse, I will take him to a vet immediately. Beings he is still eating and acting normal for him, I would like to try feeding more before rushing to vet. But if even by the time I get home from work, he looks worse, he will be at the vet tomorrow. I like to think I am a good parent, and I love him more than anything. I wouldn't be able to stand it if I ignored a problem and hurt him more.

...old age taking its toll...not all BPs live to be 40 years old...

...tapeworms are possible but they usually manifest by a failure to gain weight...this does NOT SOUND like your snake's history...

...old snakes dying of old age also exhibit easy skin-tearing so make note of that...

Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City

Okay, I got home last night and went to take him out to show my husband how thin he has gotten. Well, I got near the tank and he instantly snapped at me (and hit the glass). So he is obviously very aware and healthy acting, and hungry. The only other time he would snap at me when I walked by was many years ago, after he was sick with anemia, and was starting to eat again. He just always seem very hungry, and I fed him a lot because of this until he gained some weight. I spoke to the vet about this, and he said it is common if we have other "natural" foods in the house, like lizards and frogs. We do, but not in the same room as the snake. Anyway, I didn't take him out, but instead went to the pet store and picked up two mice. He ate them right away (and was even wagging his tail as he was getting ready to strike). I did think it could be old age, as I know in the wild they usually only live about 10 years, and he was a wild snake, and very sick when brought in to capitivity, although I don't know if everything changed once I got him eating. I do know that he is probably 11 or 12 years old, and that could be taking a toll on him. But, he was definitely hungry and not showing any other signs of sickness other than his weight loss, which could just be the lack of food. I will keep working on this and hope to put some weight back on to him. Even if it is age taking its toll, the last thing I want to do is starve him to death!

Now, his tempertaure is about 87-90 in the tank, and the humidity right now is just over 50. what should that be at? Our new home is very dry and I have a humidifier running in the room, but if I need to get it up higher, I will. Thanks for all your help!

I'm glad he ate, but still try rats next time just to see if he'll take them. I have a pair of Balls that are 12 years old now and show no signs of old age, if that can be determined in a snake LOL. I would just try and feed him larger food items. It may very well be the whole problem with the ol' guy

Quig

Thanks Quig! In fact, I had every intention to get a rat, but since I am broke until payday (due to major shopping for vacation over the weekend), I only had enough on me for two mice (onr rat is more than two mice). This Friday, I am getting a small rat for him to see what happens. I figured last night that two mice was at least better than nothing, right?

He was so cute wagging his tail too.

LOL, like I said, I understand broke./ I'm bettin' he'll take one though.

Quig

I know he will, especially if he is very hungry. He has in the past, but then, there were also times he wouldn't at all. That is why i stuck with mice, because he ALWAYS took them. As far as broke, I had $3 and some change on me thinking the small rats were $2.99, but they were $3.99 and the mice were $1.59 each. At least I know for next time!!

LOL, that's the other problem. Even feeder rats aren't cheap. I've been tryin' to get some bred but every time I get young'ns The snakes get hungry and they wind up food.

Quig

And rats breed a lot!!! I understand the fancy rats and mice costing more, but feeder ones should be less money. I will admit, I don't mind feeding him mice, but I think rats are kind of cute and I feel bad, but that is part of the food chain, right? Gotta get over it.

My husband was cleaning by the snake's tank last night, and he snapped at him!! So even though I fed him on Monday, he still appeared to be hungry yesterday. I am doing another really good cleaning of all the other reptile cages in our home this weekend. I am wondering if maybe the snake can smell something that I can't. I know they have great senses like that. On Friday, he will be getting a nice juicy rat. I would think if he was sick, he would show some signs, but instead, he is acting extremely healthy. I will keep you posted!! Thanks to everyone who has responded!