How much weight does your snake lose before you get concerned?

My male has been off feed since September I believe. He started the fast around 1,600 grams. He just shed last week and had a small bowel movement and he weighs 1,420 now. He is starting to look a little on the thinner side but not starving. He is in a T8 with warm side 90 degrees cool side 78-80 approx 40-50% humidity with a RHP. My female has the exact same set up and she's eating fine. She's around 1600-1700 grams (she is younger than him as well). I'm just wondering what other people have experienced and when they start to get concerned.

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Originally Posted by Medli

My male has been off feed since September I believe. He started the fast around 1,600 grams. He just shed last week and had a small bowel movement and he weighs 1,420 now. He is starting to look a little on the thinner side but not starving. He is in a T8 with warm side 90 degrees cool side 78-80 approx 40-50% humidity with a RHP. My female has the exact same set up and she's eating fine. She's around 1600-1700 grams (she is younger than him as well). I'm just wondering what other people have experienced and when they start to get concerned.

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I had a similar situation years ago .. nine months without food then went dull and wrinkly ..

I gave mine a 30 minute soak .. afterwards it looked lovely and plump , very colourful ( HC Albino ) plus it ATE the very next day !!

PM me for info on soaking if you’re interested..


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At 1400+ grams it is still a big male, males are supposed to be lean they do not look like females.

A fast could last 6 months to a year with an animal that weight.

Here are things you can try to see if he will resume feeding.

Change things around, change the substrate, lower your hot side by 2 to 4 degrees, downsize the enclosure (around 24x16 foot print) etc

You can also take your snake on a car ride secured in a pillow case (30 min to 1 hour)

He may resume the next day after some changes he might take a few weeks, the only thing you can do it try.

Alternate prey items are not a solution at least not until there is a real emergency.

I cluttered up the cage and changed the substrate. I added an extra hide, a log tunnel, and a bunch of fake plants. A smaller enclosure isn't really an option right now so I attempted to change up the enclosure. I guess I'm mainly concerned because I've always read if they lose 10% or more body weight that something is wrong with him/sick. He seems completely fine. He's alert, has a good grip, breathing fine, and has great sheds just no interest in food right now. He's always been a picky eater so I really wasn't concerned at first but this is the longest I've ever seen him go off food.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

At 1400+ grams it is still a big male, males are supposed to be lean they do not look like females.

A fast could last 6 months to a year with an animal that weight.

Here are things you can try to see if he will resume feeding.

Change things around, change the substrate, lower your hot side by 2 to 4 degrees, downsize the enclosure (around 24x16 foot print) etc

You can also take your snake on a car ride secured in a pillow case (30 min to 1 hour)

He may resume the next day after some changes he might take a few weeks, the only thing you can do it try.

Alternate prey items are not a solution at least not until there is a real emergency.

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Thank you for the advice! I'll try that. Normally I'm not too concerned with his fasts unless he starts losing a lot of weight. To me, he looks a little on the thin side right now.

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