Weight Gain/Loss Issue

[grim reaper in NY]

I'm curious if anyone here has had a problem with their Ball losing weight, rather than gaining it, even though it's eating regularly and is otherwise healthy.

I have a Pastel Ball that has lost some weight over the past couple of months. He is eating great though and is active and healthy otherwise. I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced this and what, if anything might be wrong.

Ideas???

[Kaorte]

How much weight? How much does the snake weigh currently?

If the snake is loosing a considerable amount of weight considering the amount of food going in, it probably has some sort of internal parasites.

[Freakie_frog]

How much weight? How much does the snake weigh currently?

If the snake is loosing a considerable amount of weight considering the amount of food going in, it probably has some sort of internal parasites.

Agreed..things like tapeworms or the like will cause a snake to eat you out of house and home and then not gain a gram of weight..

I'd get the vet to do a fecal float done just in case.

I have also heard the things like renal failure will cause them to have stunted growth..

[jlawson]

He/She (You said he but have it listed as a female in your sig lol) may have a faster rate of digestion. What is the feed schedule? One every week? If so, you could try to bump it up to one every 4-5 days. It may be something just as simple as that. I'm sure others will chime in.

[grim reaper in NY]

I am feeding him 2-3 hoppers per week. He eats very well and has not missed a feeding. According to the scale last night he is weighing in at 176 grams. His digestive system seems to be in good working order as well. He has regular bowel movements and his urate output also seems to be consistent with what he eats.
He is shedding regularly and his sheds are one piece complete with eye caps, so he's even healthy in that regard. I may be over protective, but I just want to make sure he's doing good. He's beautiful and the prize of my collection so far.
Oh...he is a male too. I just hate trying to keep that danged 0.1, 1.0, 1.1 and so forth straight.

[Freakie_frog]

Depending on the "hopper" I can tell you that 176 gram snakes in my collection get something the size of an adult mouse..every week..It may be that your is getting just enough food to maintain its weight. and nothing more..

[jlawson]

Agreed with the above post...try an adult mouse every 5 days...this should put the weight on. It may look big, but trust me, she'll get it down. If you dont notice any difference after that, I would then suggest a trip to the vet...

[grim reaper in NY]

Depending on the "hopper" I can tell you that 176 gram snakes in my collection get something the size of an adult mouse..every week..It may be that your is getting just enough food to maintain its weight. and nothing more..

Hmmm...That may be the case. I have been going by the size of the snake and I have found that an adult mouse still seems to be a bit too big. That's why I've been making sure he has access to the hoppers to ensure he does get enough to eat...

[Freakie_frog]

Again you an I may be calling hoppers different things.. to me a rat hopper is one that is not bigger than a quarter..I feed all of mine rats that are as big as my thumb..

[rabernet]

Hmmm...That may be the case. I have been going by the size of the snake and I have found that an adult mouse still seems to be a bit too big. That's why I've been making sure he has access to the hoppers to ensure he does get enough to eat...

My 180 gram lesser is eating weanling rat pups that are the size of large medium mice. I only feed hopper mice to my hatchlings for the first two or three meals and then move them up gradually on rat fuzzies and then pups.