When should I consider visiting the vet? (losing weight, small)

[crosskira]

Hi everyone!

Background:
So since getting everyone's advice I've stopped stressing and gave Mochi lots of space. I stopped holding him completely except to clean his cage once. He has a very secure cage and my husbandry has been good. He hides during the day and comes out around 9pm every night and roams around.

I've had him for a month and he has not eaten. The first week and a half I handled him and since then I stopped and haven't handled him since. I had f/t medium adult mice at first that he took no interest in. I tried rat pups that he looked more interested in but never would strike. I'm going back to adult mice, large this time, and am going to have darker ones on hand to see if he prefers that. I've also completely covered the front of his cage with a towel, so now all four sides are covered, and I'm going to give him space until I get the mice this saturday.

My concern:
How much weight is too much weight to lose before I have to take him to the vet? He's 7 months old (I believe) and I'm guessing around 130grams (136g when I last weighed). He's lost around 15g so far and he's just so tiny.

I'm trying the towel thing and then the mice. I'll try live after that. However, at what point should I decide it's too much weight-loss and take him to the vet? (if he continues not to eat).
-concerned madre

[John1982]

I'd wait until after at least a live rat and mouse attempt before even considering the added stress of a car ride and exam. You could take a fecal in though.

[GoingPostal]

Have you tried live mice? Because that would be my go to before a vet, chances are that is simply going to stress the snake further, especially if you get one of the many that sees snakes but probably shouldn't.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

15 grams depending on how and when you weight your snake and whether or not a bowel movement passed may mean nothing.
Now if the animal eats on a regular bases (an appropriately sized prey) and looses weight as John suggested the first step would be a fecal however if the animal does not eat your issue is more of a feeding behavior than a medical issue.


The problem with most vet is that they have limited hands on experience when it comes to snakes, and they definitely have very limited experience with behavioral issues such as food refusal.

The first thing I would do if you have not done so is this to a T (except for the food size) https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101 (no all snake will thrive in a glass setup no matter how much decoration there might be)

You have to be willing to try many things (including live) to get your animal to eat because there is no magic pill that will make it eat if the problem is husbandry related, and in 90% of cases of new owners experiencing feeding issue it is husbandry related.

[Zincubus]

Maybe worth you listing your set up ..

Size of container / type of heating / warm end & cool end temps etc etc ..

How did you offer the mouse - by tongs or did you leave in with it .. That type of thing .

The more info the better to be honest ...



I've sent you a PM a regards feeding ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[crosskira]

Maybe worth you listing your set up ..

Size of container / type of heating / warm end & cool end temps etc etc ..

How did you offer the mouse - by tongs or did you leave in with it .. That type of thing .

The more info the better to be honest ...



I've sent you a PM a regards feeding ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks everyone! I have him in a two foot, short cage. All three sides are covered (currently covering the front as well now), as well as I cover half of the top with a damp washcloth to help with humidity. He has two identical hides that he fits snugly into. I have two identical fake plants on the hot and cold side that he LOVES. There's a water bowl in the middle.

I have a UTH which I can control with temp, and a CHE with a stand. I have an AcuRite thermometer/hygrometer and I keep the ambient temp 78-85 and hot side around 91 and cold side 79 or so, which I use a temp gun to gage.

I mist when necessary.

I live in a bigger city and there are a few exotic pet vets around the area with good reviews, and even more exotic pet vets in neighboring cities, where they know about snakes! However, that would be my last resort.

I just want to gauge at what point I should be concerned enough for that.

[Zincubus]

Thanks everyone! I have him in a two foot, short cage. All three sides are covered (currently covering the front as well now), as well as I cover half of the top with a damp washcloth to help with humidity. He has two identical hides that he fits snugly into. I have two identical fake plants on the hot and cold side that he LOVES. There's a water bowl in the middle.

I have a UTH which I can control with temp, and a CHE with a stand. I have an AcuRite thermometer/hygrometer and I keep the ambient temp 78-85 and hot side around 91 and cold side 79 or so, which I use a temp gun to gage.

I mist when necessary.

I live in a bigger city and there are a few exotic pet vets around the area with good reviews, and even more exotic pet vets in neighboring cities, where they know about snakes! However, that would be my last resort.

I just want to gauge at what point I should be concerned enough for that.

Sounds pretty darn good to me !
The only slight thing I do differently is having the water on the cool sides - only because I've never seen any of mine drink from bowls on the warm side ... I can't abide warm water myself oddly enough

[ElliotNess]

Put a live rat pup in there at 8pm and leave it all night. I have a couple smaller ones that prefer a live "drop" feeding than being bothered. I have a couple that will let the rat crawl all over them with the tub out but 5 mins after its closed, the snake once again is all alone.

Where are you located? Have you sought local help?

[purepearl]

I recently went through a phase with my little one where I brought him home and he refused everything that I offered for about 5 weeks... he was about 65g and dropping. I put a live fuzzy mouse with him in a smallish paper bag, taped it shut and left him in there in his cage for about 30 mins... came back, mouse was gone. Maybe try something along those lines to encourage him?

[crosskira]

Put a live rat pup in there at 8pm and leave it all night. I have a couple smaller ones that prefer a live "drop" feeding than being bothered. I have a couple that will let the rat crawl all over them with the tub out but 5 mins after its closed, the snake once again is all alone.

Where are you located? Have you sought local help?

Okay that's is VERY helpful! I am located near Ann Arbor in Michigan. I am getting my mice/rats from a mice/rat breeder that is located 30 minutes away. He usually does reptile shows and delivery but I just asked emailed him to see if I could just pick up live pups/fuzzies where he is located to try! So if my next few tries fail I'll definitely do that.

- - - Updated - - -

I recently went through a phase with my little one where I brought him home and he refused everything that I offered for about 5 weeks... he was about 65g and dropping. I put a live fuzzy mouse with him in a smallish paper bag, taped it shut and left him in there in his cage for about 30 mins... came back, mouse was gone. Maybe try something along those lines to encourage him?

Yes I'll definitely do that trick if the next ones fail! That sounds like a good idea