Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a ball this is about 7 year old. My brother gave her to my daughter last spring. She was really thin and only about 3 1/2 feet long. She ate great until last November. i took her to the local reptile store and the guy said she should start eating in Febuary or March and that Ball are bad eaters. I have one of my own and she eats fine and never had a problem. I have tried every thing from hamsters to little mice to rats that are almost to big. She is now 5 foot 7 inches and she weight 8.5 lbs in December. I just weight her last night and she has LOST 2.6lbs. She is really doing bad and I don't know what to do. Please help.

have you had a vet look at her?
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

no that is the next step after you guys.

Please take it to the vet.

This story came through a little while ago:

http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2005/May_05/05182005_03.asp

WAUKESHA FREEMAN (Wisconsin) 18 May 05 Woman has minor injuries after pet python bites her (Brian Huber)
Brookfield: A Texas woman is lucky she didn’t taste good to her pet python that bit her Tuesday afternoon.
The woman, whose name was not available this morning, was bitten by the snake while in Brookfield visiting relatives, said Robin Barry, community outreach director for the Elmbrook Humane Society.
"Apparently, the snake had not been fed in three months, the woman was from out of town and there was a dog around, and it was a stressful environment for the snake," Barry said. "First she was bit, and the snake wrapped around her arm very tightly."
The woman was taken to a hospital but suffered only bruising and broken blood vessels. Police issued no citation because officers could determine "no violation of the law," said Brookfield Police Capt. Phil Horter. City prosecutor Joe Kershek said he was unsure if the city had any ordinances dealing with snakes, and had no knowledge of the case.
Barry added there was no threat of rabies since snakes don’t carry rabies, and there was never any concern that the woman needed anti-venom. Humane workers told the woman the snake would eventually loosen its grip on her, which it did, Barry said.
Barry did not have details as to the snake’s age and size, as no personnel were dispatched to the scene; workers counseled the woman over the phone.
Barry said humane workers advised the woman to feed her snake at least every other week instead of three months apart, and also counseled her to use dead food instead of live rats, as she had been feeding the snake.
"I don’t think she realized she was caring for it improperly," Barry said.
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

From looking at her she doesn't look like she is overly thin. But its hard to tell with just a photo. How are the temperatures in her cage? Are you feeding her at night? Is she showing any interest in the food? Do you know if she is CB or WC? How long did your brother have her be for he gave her to you? Sounds to me like shes having a hard time going back on feed I've seen WC that had that problem but not really CB. Keep offering her a live mouse once a week if she continues to refuse, then a vet check may be in order.
-----
Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

This photo was taken of her last December. she is a CB and my brother recued her and her bother from a freind. I have been trying once a week to get her to eat since january. she just is not intrested it food. I even tried leaving a rat in her tank for a couple of days.I am just at my wits end. i have never had a snake behave like this. Do you know of a good vet in southern california?

Depending on where you are at; I'm in OC and go to a guy in Anaheim:

Tom Greek
Yorba linda Regional Animal Hospital
714-921-8700
-----
Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

Thanks!!!! i live in Brea.

don't go to a vet...he will just tell her to stop smoking.

np
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

It happens; this week I finally had two female CBB yearlings take food since last October.

They were both pounding rats every 5 days before the winter fast, but finally decided to take mouse hoppers which are way too small for them.

I also have a CH male that has only eaten 3 months per year for the last 4 years.

Unless it is getting thin to a point of health issues, all you can do is wait till she is ready to eat.

I wouldn’t leave a live rat in the tank for two days though; nothing good can come from that. It will stress the snake, and risk a bite.

TomChambers