Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 659

1 members and 658 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,910
Threads: 249,115
Posts: 2,572,187
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, coda
  • 09-18-2010, 09:57 PM
    C_fang
    Ball Python not growing? Help!
    Hi,

    I've owned my ball python, Fang, for two years now. (Purchased him 9/5/08)
    When I first got him he was very young. Since owning him, he's lived in the same 30 gallon tank and has the same routine feeding schedule, which is 1 mouse a week. He's never had a problem shedding either. However, for some reason, he doesn't seem to grow. He's bigger than when i first got him, but probably by only 6 inches. At 2 years old I feel like he should be bigger than what he is. Am I doing something wrong? Or is he a slow grower?

    http://i51.tinypic.com/awc6q0.jpg
    http://i51.tinypic.com/20ff1tu.jpg

    As you can see...
  • 09-18-2010, 10:08 PM
    rabernet
    Re: Ball Python not growing? Help!
    Two things - First, I'd increase his feeding to every five days and start to gradually increase the size of the prey. Second, if you haven't already - collect a fecal sample and take it to your vet to have it tested for internal parasites.
  • 09-18-2010, 10:23 PM
    C_fang
    Re: Ball Python not growing? Help!
    I havent considered parasites! Yikes! Looks like Im gonna have to get that checked out, just in case..Thanks!
  • 09-18-2010, 10:27 PM
    Amp625
    yeah, i think rabernet might be right with the parasite thought there pritty serious and some can take effect very slowly, tell us how he is after the vet visit
  • 09-18-2010, 10:43 PM
    lilbit
    what size mouse are you feeding? might be your not feeding enough
  • 09-19-2010, 12:07 AM
    jbean7916
    Only 1 mouse a week? My little guy is only a few months old (got him in Feb) and he's eating small rats right now. My hatchling is eating adult mice already. Sounds like maybe he's underfed.
  • 09-19-2010, 12:33 AM
    marct
    Re: Ball Python not growing? Help!
    I had the same issue once with one of my females. She would eat like a hog, but wouldn't gain much weight. At times, she would loose weight. She looked very small for her age. By the time I got my head our of my @ss and took her to the vet, it was too late. She had a bug, and died two weeks later. My advice is to take her to the vet asap.
  • 09-19-2010, 02:02 PM
    seeya205
    I would feed him every five days and try large adult mice or switch to rats! The prey should be a wide as the snake or even slightly larger! I would also weigh him and see if he is gaining or at least maintaining his weight! If no weight gain then take him to a vet! Good luck!
  • 09-19-2010, 02:07 PM
    m00kfu
    Very well could be just due to feeding him mice. We picked up a couple of females a couple years back that were around 2 years old and only 600 grams or so, they were fed on one mouse per week. They bulked up pretty quick once we started feeding them rats.
  • 09-19-2010, 02:50 PM
    wax32
    This snake looks like it is under 200g, even with one mouse a week you'd think it should be bigger. I also think a fecal exam is in order.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1