Building muscle back

[padiente]

Kitty (my ball) does not have the muscle tone that he should for his size. He went stupid and wouldn't eat as much as he was supposed to for months. He simply refused. He is almost three and 1/2 feet long and he wouldn't eat more than 2 mice a week for over 6 months. The vet wanted him on medium rats, but he wouldn't eat them. Suddenly he took 5 mice in a week, then a small rat the next week, nothing the following (in shed), a mouse and a f/t small rat the next week, then a prekilled small rat this past weekend. I am still trying to get him to move up to medium rats, but we will try small rats for a few more weeks. He needs to build back muscle tone. Some one said something about sprinkling protien powder on the rats to help build him back up, has anyone heard of this? Does anyone have any other ideas on how to get him to "beef him up" as it were?

[wolfman38]

I would continue feeding him the small rats until he looks like putting more weight on. But stay away from mice, they don't have the noutrishinal(sp) value as the rats do. If he want take the rats try scenting a rat with a mouse. I would also try feeding him a "large" small rat and see if he will take it. With any luck you can get him to eat medium rats. Mine is on medium rats and growing like a weed. Hope that this helps.

[padiente]

I will try that. He is just so squishy. It makes me sad. Would exercisinghim help? What about putting him in a biger enclosure?

[Smulkin]

What size is he in now - and how does that compare relative to his size? THough they may not do much but chill in their hides by day (mostly . . ) by night they do like to get out and about. I also wouldn't dust your rats with anything, but do try bumping up to the rats - and as wolfman suggested scenting with a mouse is sure to ease the transition.

[Brandon.O]

as far as i know snakes dont really NEED exersize

believe me within a few meals he should gain some weight, My baby did, when i got her ,her skin was really loose and she was very skinny now she is a little fatty

[padiente]

He is about 3.5 feet long. His length is ok, his girth is not. His leangth really isn't that great either, but I am less worried about that than his girth. At the moment he is only about as big around as a small rat from petco, which is what he is finally eating. His skin is loose and his muscle tone is horrible. I can tell he is not as strong as he was. I will try to give another rat tonight, his 4th. Still small, but I will try on the larger end. If he can take that then I will go buy a bunch of medium ones and try them next week. Any other ideas

[hhw]

But stay away from mice, they don't have the noutrishinal(sp) value as the rats do.

That's a common misconception... adult mice actually have more calcium, not nearly as much fat, and only slightly less protein than adult rats. Of course, the size of the prey is a big issue, but 2 adult mice a week is perfectly adequate, especially considering this is a male we're talking about. Growing to a large size isn't necessary (for breeding purposes anyway). Actually, reducing caloric intake has proven to result in increased longevity in every animal for which this has been tested. So, I would not be worrying too much about him eating only 2 mice a week, and I'm very surprised to hear that he is "underweight" if he has been eating those mice steadily (unless those are some tiny juveniles). With that said, it is definitely preferable to have him on rats, as (obviously), they are a more appropriate size for a 3.5 foot ball python. I would just gradually increase the size of the rats you feed him... he's obviously unaccustomed to anything as big as a medium rat, especially having just come from mice. But, if he'll take rats already, it should be simple enough to up the size on him so I wouldn't worry one bit.

[padiente]

yeah, he is kindof skinny, his muscle tone is not good, I cannot figure it out