Undernourished?

[poempainter]

[FONT=Arial]I just adopted a yearling, thought to be a male, and I fear he's undernourished. I read babies should be "round" but he's 1, and triangular, with the spine high and muscle not tight. Is this a concern? The previous owner fed him what he called a little "snack" (a fuzzy) for me, before I took him home 5 days ago, and I fed him a mouse yesterday--he grabbed it immediately, (but took 30 minutes to get it into his mouth, with a lot of work...is that normal? My late Kingsnake was lots faster).

Do you think he's undernourished?

If so, should I try a heavy feeding schedule...like twice a week? Or maybe give him a few fuzzies midweek, and a mouse once a week, I'm thinking?[/ FONT]

[hoo-t]

fuzzy mouse or fuzzy rat??? A yearling can easily take a fully grown mouse or similarly sized rat (if not a little bigger). However, based on your description, he may be stunted. If he's been surviving on fuzzy mice, I'd give him a week and offer a hopper. Then give him another week and offer a small mouse or rat pink. Another week and offer a large mouse or rat fuzzy. Build up slowly. Once a week feedings are sufficient with appropriately sized prey. Work up to a prey size that is slightly less than as big around as the snake is at his largest point. But build up to it, don't just throw a 70 gram rat in there!

Steve

[lord jackel]

I would recommend you take him to the vet. As you pointed out your Ball should be nice and round and firm (muscle tone), he should also not have issues eating an appropriatly sized mouse/rat.


He could be undernourshied (and a vet trip and perhaps vitamins would help get him going)

or
he could have internal parasites, broken back, internal wounds, etc. You never know with rescues and better safe then sorry.

Keep us posted.

[poempainter]

thank you. Is he supposed to be flush round, or is it appropriate for Ball Pythons to be somewhat angular?

[frankykeno]

Have a good look through the BP Pictures threads to see healthy ball pythons of all ages.