Young Ball Python Feeding Concerns
Good Evening All,
We purchased our beautiful ball python Koa back in November of last year, and until now he has be an absolute pleasure to feed! He usually immediately jumps at his mouse (now rat) and is done in a few minutes.
Recently, however, he has been rejecting his food quite frequently and I'm hoping to discover here what the underlying cause may be (as him regularly eating was previously the best way to determine his health). In order to help you all decipher what is going on, I'll provide some specific information on the situation:
- He is almost one year old;
- His recent feeding history is as follows:
- 7/14/13
- 8/12/13
- 8/26/13 - Rejected
- 9/02/13 - Rejected
- 9/09/13 - Rejected
- His most recent shed was about 1.5 months ago (didn't write down date);
- His feeding area is quite large (4 square feet);
- We usually pre-scent his feeding area;
- The rat is no wider than the widest past of his body;
- I don't have a scale, but he feels like he weighs about 2.5-3.0 lbs (very inaccurate);
- His husbandry seems to be great (going to get another hygrometer tomorrow for the other side of his enclosure);
- Heat gradient: 77 - 89 degrees Fahrenheit (in basking hide);
- Humidity: Typically around 55%;
- Substrate: Coconut fiber;
- Security: 2 medium hides (small enough to fit snugly);
- Light: One light on a timer (although it sits directly on top of the cage).
- We switched to feeding him rats in May;
- His vents are clean (no signs of illness);
- We usually feed him once a week (10:00pm on Sunday);
- He is typically very active at night when his light turns off.
I have attached a picture of both our little snake, and our enclosure (sorry for the low quality, the mass of light is his water dish).
I'm essentially hoping to hear some input on BP.net regarding what could be causing this behavior? Is it normal for a snake his age? Any assistance here would be greatly appreciated, as until now, we were so proud of ourselves as parents. We are definitely willing to take him to the vet if needed, however I don't want to incur a ~$300 fee if this is normal behavior. Thank you so much for your time, and I hope that all of your balls are doing wonderfully!
http://i.imgur.com/wryBdcD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WnYniCb.jpg
Re: Young Ball Python Feeding Concerns
What are you using to measure temperature and humidity? I know you said something about buying a hygrometer. Get a thermometer instead. You just need 1 per enclosure.
Get this from Wal-Mart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347
Measures 2 temperatures and humidity. It has a probe so the probe is placed on the hot side and the unit itself stays on the cool side.
Ball Pythons sometimes do go on hunger strikes. I'd pick up a digital scale while at Wal-Mart also. If he isn't losing any weight there's really nothing to be concerned about right now. Just keep trying every 5-7 days and eventually he will eat.
You also said something about his feeding area? Personally I'd just feed inside the enclosure if you are not already. A snake is way more comfortable where it spends 99% of his time. There's no need to move them to a separate enclosure to feed. After a snake eats the last thing it wants to happen is for you to pick him up and move him from one place to another. Stress.
Re: Young Ball Python Feeding Concerns
Nope feeding inside the tank is just fine. Almost everyone on here does it and most will agree that moving it from one enclosure to another just stresses it out. I've never had an issue with feeding in tank. It's just a myth that goes around and it's something pet stores tell a lot of people to do. It's not necessary. Also the temp gun is great but if you bought the thermometer it's a lot easier to just look at the unit to tell the temps and humidity instead of pulling out the temp gun. I just walk to my rack and check the units and see if everything is okay. Takes a few seconds compared to breaking out the temp gun, opening the enclosures and checking everything. They are nice and I use a temp gun but the thermometer just makes things a little easier.
The thermometer measures humidity too. You don't need a humidity gauge for each side of the enclosure. The humidity is basically the same throughout the whole enclosure. If you are having problems with humidity cover 3/4ths of your screen lid with a wet towel or foil to keep humidity in. But yeah the probe thermometers are great. You just put them in place and that's that. Only $12 too.