how much time must pass to force feeding?

[marcellomoscato]

how much time must pass to force feeding a medium ball python?
Or I must leave that he eat again alone?

[dr del]

Hi,

It's not really a time issue.

It is judged more on whether the snake is losing a serious amount of weight or showing other signs of distress as far as I was told.

If it is holding it's weight and otherwise behaving normally then putting it through the stress of force feeding might do more harm than good.

Also bear in mind that, when you do force feed, they never seem to get the same nourishment and growth from it they do when feeding normally without the stress.


dr del

[Jeff Krupa]

What are you feeding your animal ? Frozen thawed ? Live ? Rats ? Mice ?

[muddoc]

There is no time. I do not believe that a "medium" (read as, has eaten before) should ever be force fed. If it is not eating, then it is in it's normal winter fasting mode, it is an adult (males can reach maturity at fairly low weights), or there is something wrong (i.e. husbandry/illness). If it is the latter, then fix it so that he will eat. I have only ever force fed a baby ball python that has never eaten and has refused numerous attempts at assist feeding.

[marcellomoscato]

I have tryed with live or death mouse, and also with live or death rat.

[Muze]

Well, can you give us info on his enclosure? Size/Temps/Humidity, etc.

Also, how long have you had the BP? Has it fed for you before? Is it a male or female (if you know)? Do you have a weight on it? Has it lost any weight? Have you had a fecal done to check for parasites?

I am asking all of these questions because BPs tend to go off feed occasionally, especially during breeding season, and there is usually no need to worry (unless they are losing weight).