My ball python is very skinny :(

Hello, My ball python is named Fluffy and he used to be a very good eater eating every time but now he doesn't want to eat! I heard it's normal for them to fast especially during breeding season (he always fasts then) but he is quite skinny at only 2in. in diameter at the widest part and he's 4' 5"!!! He doesn't want to eat for some reason and it makes me think I'm a bad owner :tears:.
p.s. his sides are not caved in and he's not dehydrated.
~Gigi

Pictures? Husbandry?

A picture would give us a better idea of whether or not the animal is skinny.

Second details on the animal itself and your husbandry could help correct issues that led to the feeding problems you are experiencing.

What is the animal weight and age

How big is the enclosure

What are your temps, how do you measure them (type of thermometer)

Do you provide tight hides (hides should be snugs)

How often do you handle your animal

How do you offer food (inside or outside the enclosure)

The more details the better.

Third keep in mind that even an animal not eating for 9 or 12 months will hardly loose any weight or become skinny so something else may be going on as well if your animal has lost a lot of weight.

In addition to the questions above...

What do you normally feed him. Prey type and size?

How often do you offer food to him?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

A picture would give us a better idea of whether or not the animal is skinny.

Second details on the animal itself and your husbandry could help correct issues that led to the feeding problems you are experiencing.

What is the animal weight and age um he's 4yrs and weight 1400 grams

How big is the enclosure um maybe 4ft. long and 2ft. wide.

What are your temps, how do you measure them (type of thermometer) I use a hydrofarm thermostat

Do you provide tight hides (hides should be snugs) well he had plastic hides which he grew out of then he didn't have one for a while then I made him a snug paper one that I'm goin' to replace soon.

How often do you handle your animal once a week

How do you offer food (inside or outside the enclosure) inside his enclosure (other wise he just wants to explore).

The more details the better.

Third keep in mind that even an animal not eating for 9 or 12 months will hardly loose any weight or become skinny so something else may be going on as well if your animal has lost a lot of weight. He did not lose weight he's just never been as big as the beautiful breeder snakes I've seen which I find makes Fluffy more active than the big ones I've seen in the expo.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

In addition to the questions above...

What do you normally feed him. Prey type and size? rats, they are the same diameter as the widest part of his body

How often do you offer food to him? once every two weeks (I hate wasting rats that he doesn't eat because I'm on a tight budget)

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Pictures will be uploaded soon :). Maybe tonight or tomorrow, like I said he's 4'5" and 2in. diameter. I think I posted this same question somewhere on here and attached pics but that was quite awhile ago and he's grown considerably. they said he was "just growing longer instead of wider" but it still doesn't seem normal to me. He is also quite long for a male BP don't you think?
~Gigi

It's a male, males are lean no plump like female, and at that size it could go off feed for MONTHS. You can't also not go by comparing one animal to another.

Just make sure your temps are optimum since you did not answer that I can't comment on it or the way you measure them since you did not answer that either.

Provide a sturdy and tight hide like a large plastic bowl or small cat litter pan.

When you feed offer prey on the smaller side (small rats round 55/70 grams) people tend to overfeed their animals especially males which leads to longer fast periods.

And most importantly be PATIENT.