Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings

I just wanted to check in about my two ball pythons who aren't eating as to when I should start worrying and what would be a good strategy to start them back on food again. I know it's typical, and I've had these snakes most of their lives...but I still worry.

Hopey is a 5 year old female (wow--already?) 3-4 feet est. and in good muscle tone. Skin fine, reactions fine. No external signs of anything wrong. Was eating medium rats--her last was December 1. She shed 12/15 and 4/19. There have been some urates, but no real [bleep], though it's harder to tell on the Jungle Mix/EcoEarth bedding I have her on. Room temp is kept 79-82 degrees, and she has a basking area. Admittedly, humidity may be an issue. Sometimes when I tap on the glass and make scurry noises,she reacts, but not enough to show she's really hungry.

Izzy is a 17 year old male, 4 feet est., and has historically been a bit of a fat bastard. Also in good muscle tone. Skin tone and reactions fine. In his last several sheds, he's had problems around his vent and there have been small amounts of bleeding. I put him on the Jungle Mix/ EcoEarth bedding to help with humidity,but I'm still probably not getting the balance right. He gets a pink belly when I get it too damp,so I err on keeping it dry. Same room temp, also has basking area. He also has not been too responsive to tapping on the glass. He was eating large and med (alternating) rats, last was October 4. He shed 1/17 and 5/10. There were urates in Jan, March and on May
12.

Both snakes went mostly off their food last year at least Jan- March, but I was hoping to have fed them this month.

How many more months should I let them go before I take them to the vet for a check up? What would be my best strategy to encourage eating-- is it worth getting a small live rat? Should it be stunned or allowed to run around for a bit(supervised)?

Sorry for the lengthy post--- just wanted to give a close to complete picture.
Thank you for your time, and I appreciate any input.

Antigone

I think these long "fasters' have some signal deep in their instink that is based on Seasons. Its like their waiting for a enviromental clue. I would try a man made rainy season. If you could time it with a real storm outside placing the enclosure by an open window to "feel" the barrametric pressure drop and then continue a simulated rain in a shower you may be supprised. A fan in/near a window helps too when its storming outside at night. I work with Asian tortoises now and use this same keeper made rainy season trigger to start nest building, breeding, feeding ect. The pressure drop part is very important but hard to reproduce, so keep a eye on the weather. Even though you have had them for years your worry is really your desire to understand them. If you still care this much after all this time, means you are in constant persuite of perfection, improving on something until it can not be inproved on any futher. It is highly comendable that you are still pushing the learning curve on one of the most commonly kept snakes in the pet trade. No one has ever explaned the reason for fasting of these snakes in all this time. Maybe it will be you. Let it rain* e.claptin Vic Morgan.

emysbreeder has offered some good advice on how to perhaps trigger a feeding response. There are other tricks, and I'm certain you'd probably find a larger list of these in the ball python forum.

Have you been keeping track of your snake's weight? Usually a 10% loss is when it's time to step in and start interferring. With adult snakes that have a history of fasting, I "might" be inclined to stretch this a little higher (12-14%) but the fact of the matter is that fasting reptiles shouldn't be losing a whole lot of weight because they minimize energy output.

I would begin by triggering a season change like emys suggested, and if this doesn't work, try other tricks, starting at minimally invasive tactics. Other things to try is altering the time of day you offer food (evening, or even "late night".) Perhaps the abscence or addition of a nocturnal light may address the problem. Trying a live prey item might work, or perhaps a smaller prey item. Or a different one (like African soft furred rats, gerbils, hambsters etc). Remember that stress will be a factor so don't make a dozen changes all at once. Be patient.

If you run out of options and time (because you are seeing a weight loss or lowering of body condition), then you can try assist feeding. This is where you take a smaller prey item and gently manaeuver it's nose into the mouth of your snake. The goal is to work it deep enough where the snake takes over and continues to swallow on it's own. I would not suggest force feeding or tube feeding unless it's absolutely necessary, and at that point, a trip to the vet would probably be in order first.

One last thought; you changed the substrate type since they last fed, perhaps changing it back to what they had before may trigger a feeding response(?) There are other ways to get humidity, and it can also be concentrated into a hide, with the rest of the cage being drier.

Good luck,

Ian

...for you and others reading this thread. When I discussed assist feeding, I should be sure to say that this should only be attempted on snakes that are still acting healthy and alert beyond the anorexia. A snake that is too weak or otherwise compromised so as it cannot swallow or spit out the prey, could very well die from respiratory and/or cirulatory problems.

Ian