Weight loss in young one.

[whispersinmyhead]

Well here are my notes.

Gella's Log

03/14/2012 Gella came home. She is 7 months old and weighs 274g.

03/28/2012 First Shed

03/31/2012 Ate a small rat live (First Feed)

04/08/2012 Ate a small rat live

04/16/2012 Didn't eat. (Live)
Seemed interested and then scared by rat.

04/22/2012 Didn't eat. (Live)
Seemed interested. Tracked and then scared rat too big?

04/22/2012 Weight = 273g

04/29/2012 Didn't eat. No interest.
Belly is a little pink. Shedding?

05/05/2012 Didn't eat. (Live)
Weight 262g Belly doesn't look as pink maybe not shedding. 12g loss since we got her.

Is the 12g weight loss something to worry about? Damn I wish she would eat.

Temps correct. 92-79
Humidity correct. 50-65%
Didn't handle her all week.
She is using both hides.
Feeding late at night with lights off.
Only light a night is the blue LED lights. (Rope lights from Walmart. 12')

[RestlessRobie]

At that weight 12g could have been lost in a Poop I wouldnt worry just yet I had a 295G little guy go off feed for 3 months lost 45g and bounced back fine

[The Serpent Merchant]

At that weight 12g could have been lost in a Poop I wouldnt worry just yet I had a 295G little guy go off feed for 3 months lost 45g and bounced back fine

x2

[whispersinmyhead]

Thanks. I read that young snakes don't go off feed unless there's a husbandry issue. I just xan't figure out what I am missing. She is young at 7 months old. I won't be handling again this week. Is it possible te blue LEds are bothering her? She ate once with them. They are a lite brighter than the red heat lamp I was using but not much. Only thing is I can see the while cage now. I just hope it isn't me. I feel stupid for posting so much but it seemed like everything was perfect and ten BAM! She is off feed. Two feedings with no interest at now. It's like it is going down hill fast.

[Royal Hijinx]

I have a 300g male that has been off feed for a month, and he lives in a rack with everyone else, so no husbandry issues. He is just being a jerk.

What are the blue LEDs for?

[RobNJ]

Yeah, doesn't look like it's lost any weight...I would say the 262 grams is probably close to its true weight and that if anything has probably gained a few grams since you've had it.

[whispersinmyhead]

jinx667: The blue LED's are for night viewing without affecting temps.

Well the first rats she did eat were quite a bit larger than what I measured to be the proper weight so maybe those were just big meals and she isn't hungry. I would love to get her eating 5-6 meals in a row so I can start to convert her over to F/T. This rat is going to grow to be too big for her if I have to keep it much longer.

[slithering house]

i have four young ballpythons that went off feed then i changed them to a 28qt tub and now they have been eating great bp are funny sometimes

[el8ch]

I have two problem feeder girls, one around 300g and one around 400g. Both have only had one meal in the last 3/4 months.

If your husbandry is up and there are no signs of illness you should be fine. I would suggest that you don't handle too much until your snake is eating regularly again. Also, you can always offer a smaller prey item. I offered my 300g female a smaller pup that wasn't to mobile (she scares easily) and she took it after a 3 month fast. You will learn their habits and become more patient with problem feeding, thats ball pythons for yah.

Good luck with feeding.

[el8ch]

i have four young ballpythons that went off feed then i changed them to a 28qt tub and now they have been eating great bp are funny sometimes

.... and YES! I have found from my experience that Tubs / Racks typically help problem feeders.