Off Feed

[kcomstoc]

So I know it's not unusually for Balls to go off feed especially during the winter months but I'm a little scared because it's my first time having a ball. I got him last fall and he has been a great eater ever since I got him except maybe one time he didn't eat, but the next week he did. Well now he's been off feed for a month (I know that's not a long time for snakes), I offer him a new rat every 10 days or so but he just flicks his tongue and doesn't strike.

His last shed wasn't that great because we didn't get the humidity up high enough so it came off in flakes. We let him soak after a couple days of him trying to get some of his scales off that hadn't shed with the rest of his body and after the soak the rest of the shed came off. But we noticed that his eyes looked weird, like they were shattered (like glass). It doesn't look like a retained eye lid or anything like that because I can't seem to find an edge to it.

I'm hoping when he sheds again it'll fix it, but could this be the reason he isn't eating....even if his vision is slightly impaired by it he would still strike if he's hungry right? Also if he starts losing weight, how much weight is when I should see a vet? Any advice would be welcome, I feel really bad that his shed wasn't that great this time, we've been keeping the humidity higher ever since.

[Eric Alan]

How much did he weigh before he went off feed? How much does he weigh now? How long did you have him before he went off feed (Fall 2014 or Fall 2015)? What is your setup like now? Temperature/humidity/pictures?

BPs use their vision pretty much last in the "checklist of senses" that kick in in order to eat, so even if it is compromised any, it shouldn't be affecting the feeding response much (if any).

[kcomstoc]

I've had him for a year so yes Fall 2014 to Fall 2015 *or winter now I guess* He last ate November 18th and he weighed about 1193.7 grams then he was supposed to eat the 28th but he was in blue (which before hasn't been a problem, he usually eats in blue but not this time). Then he did a few bowel movements and he was last weighed the 20th of December and he weighed 1168 grams so he lost about 25 grams which seems like a lot.

I don't think husbandry is the cause of going off feed, it's been the same since he moved to his bigger tank which happened quite awhile ago back like in March 2015 he hasn't had a problem with eating since we switched him to a bigger cage. He has a hidey on the hot side and water on the cold. There are UTH on the hot side that is controlled with a thermostat, the humidity is normally around 40% though we've been trying to keep it higher. We have a 30 gallon tank though I want to upgrade it to a better/bigger tank.

[Eric Alan]

I've had him for a year so yes Fall 2014 to Fall 2015 *or winter now I guess* He last ate November 18th and he weighed about 1193.7 grams then he was supposed to eat the 28th but he was in blue (which before hasn't been a problem, he usually eats in blue but not this time). Then he did a few bowel movements and he was last weighed the 20th of December and he weighed 1168 grams so he lost about 25 grams which seems like a lot

25 grams isn't even a blip on the radar for an ~1200 gram animal. You have nothing at all to be concerned about.

For future reference, it's a good idea to compare your BP's weight apples to apples. That is, make sure you're notating "empty" weights (after they deficate and before they eat again). That way you will know of it is actual body mass or just rat/poop weight. My guess is that he hasn't lost any actual body mass at all in the last month.

As far as when to start being actually worried, losing 10% of their actual body mass is a good starting point. It does depend on the specific animal and their body condition though.

[kcomstoc]

Thank you I guess I'll just wait it out with him, I wonder how long he'll wait to eat again?

[Eric Alan]

Thank you I guess I'll just wait it out with him, I wonder how long he'll wait to eat again?

You're very welcome. Who knows how long it'll be - they can go off feed for many different reasons. Until then, use the time to make sure your husbandry is dialed in and to dream about the next addition to your collection.

[kcomstoc]

You're very welcome. Who knows how long it'll be - they can go off feed for many different reasons. Until then, use the time to make sure your husbandry is dialed in and to dream about the next addition to your collection.

I would like to but I don't have the room for another right now, I would really like to get Firefly settled in all the way first with his final home. Like I said I really really want to get him a better/bigger enclosure first and then maybe someday I'll get another one.

[kcomstoc]

So he lost another 20 grams....I'm going to try to feed him tomorrow but I don't know if losing more weight is bad. He seems fine and very active and doesn't look like he's losing any weight but he did.

[Albert Clark]

So he lost another 20 grams....I'm going to try to feed him tomorrow but I don't know if losing more weight is bad. He seems fine and very active and doesn't look like he's losing any weight but he did.

That amount of weight still isn't significant. Were you able to correct the humidity issue? That would be a reason for him to go off food. The proper humidity is very important in a ball pythons life. Improper, could be the reason for the eye issue. Try to get in there and correct that bc snakes are capable of going without food for some time with no ill effects. Consider making a humid hide with 100% cypress mulch or sphagnum moss to help with the problem humidity levels.

[kcomstoc]

That amount of weight still isn't significant. Were you able to correct the humidity issue? That would be a reason for him to go off food. The proper humidity is very important in a ball pythons life. Improper, could be the reason for the eye issue. Try to get in there and correct that bc snakes are capable of going without food for some time with no ill effects. Consider making a humid hide with 100% cypress mulch or sphagnum moss to help with the problem humidity levels.

The humidity is higher I'll try the cypress mulch thanks