Help, new skinny snake

[YvesA]

Hi,

I just got a new BP today (Jack), I was told he 'feeds well' but he very skinny.

You mostly see how he is skinny near the bottom. His skin 'hangs' in some places when he bends.
He is active and alert and everything else looks normal, he just looks like he hasn't eaten in a while.

Here's a pic:


My question is how is the best way to get him back to a more normal weight?

Should I feed him normal sized meals but each 5 days or?
Should I try feeding him soon?

Thanks in advance.

[starmom]

Maybe you could check out this thread http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...t=69963&page=2, post #11. It is from Becky (SantanicIntention) and is very good and has helped my problem hypo to get back on track.

[Somed00d]

You may want to feed him right away but you are best to wait a week for him to settle in. There is no way he was feeding well before you got him so its unlikely he will feed immediately for you.

check out the link starmom pointed out, its probably the best way to house a small snake. Your snake probably needs a better setup to thrive. If he is stressed he may never eat and by the looks of it he hasn't eaten in some time already. From my experience it looks like it may have not eaten in the last 8-10 months.

[blackcrystal22]

Once you do get him into the smaller cage give him one week. Or, if your worried about him not getting enough to eat and he seems to start getting lethargic, then try to feed him earlier.
Use the same rule of thumb, the largest part of the body is the same size as the prey. For this situation, you might want to go a bit smaller than that too.
Just get him eating on a healthy 5 day schedule.

[YvesA]

Thanks for the help, it's appreciated!

[Bruce Whitehead]

If he is eating... then it may simply be that he is underfed.

Either way you want to ensure, as noted, that he is set up well... for a snake that small I would give closer to 5 days (rather than 5) for an acclimation, as you do want to get him feeding.

Do you know what the previous keeper was feeding and how often? As well as the date of the last feed. If not... get on the blower and find out.

Hopefully with a few good meals, and perhaps a bit of an increased feeding schedule, he may surprise you and just take off.

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

Nice music btw... Quebec really is the metal capital of CAN hands down.

[butters!]

if it is eating its either underfed or has worms or some other type of parasite.if it was a captive hatched id say worms if captive bred underfed.id take it to the vet regardless.if you can take a piece of feces with you.

[YvesA]

If he is eating... then it may simply be that he is underfed.

Either way you want to ensure, as noted, that he is set up well... for a snake that small I would give closer to 5 days (rather than 5) for an acclimation, as you do want to get him feeding.

Do you know what the previous keeper was feeding and how often? As well as the date of the last feed. If not... get on the blower and find out.

Hopefully with a few good meals, and perhaps a bit of an increased feeding schedule, he may surprise you and just take off.

Bruce

They feed their snakes every Monday, so he would be fed later today if I we're to keep his schedule.
I bought him at a different store then usual, he was on special and I felt sorry for him and liked his patterns.

Nice music btw... Quebec really is the metal capital of CAN hands down.

Thanks

if it is eating its either underfed or has worms or some other type of parasite.if it was a captive hatched id say worms if captive bred underfed.id take it to the vet regardless.if you can take a piece of feces with you.

He's a CB.
I wasn't thinking about worms or parasites. A vet visit might be in order as you mentioned.

Would loose skin show that he 'was' bigger then this?
I'm presuming he's like a person that loses a lot of weight and the skin stretches, I don't know how that works for snakes though.

[Mike Schultz]

Its really strange that its lower body is thinner than his upper body. Something's fishy about his supposedly being a "good eater"