Under weight snakes

Hello, yesterday i went to the MD reptile show, and i came back home with a male albino green burm, and 6 female ball pythons. Two of the balls are in decent condition, but the other 4 really need to put on weight. When i asked the seller he said they were fed on a maintenance diet of every 17 days. They are all juveniles. They all weigh anywhere from 300 to 390 grams. Instead of a round shape, the are more triangular. I dont think they are emaciated to the point that they are going to die soon, but they are really under weight. I hope they all have great appetites because I cant wait to get them up to size. My other two females are 1100 and 890 grams. And the burm is very under weight. He is about 3ft and looks as thick as a hatchling retic and he should be at least 4 times his thickness, but i gave him a rat and a gerbil yesterday, so he is on the right path.

I personally would go nice and slow in getting more weight on them. i was in the same position not long ago, the breeder feeds the minimal necessary for survival and not much more. it took a couple months but they are both doing amazingly better, look healthier, exc without shocking their system. i would feed appropriately sized meals every 5 to 7 days (thats what we do, disclaimer, everyone is different) until you get up to a better weight... as long as they arent emaciated you should be ok. did you talk to the breeder about their weight and when they last ate so you know when to expect them to eat?

What kinds of breeders strive for starving animals? Maintenance just to keep them alive ? What the hell?:confused:

not necessarily starve them and certainly this is not the case with all breeders, but i have noticed a pattern with one breeder in particular who ive done business with lately who feeds their animals every other week and they would use one mouse instead of perhaps two if the animal calls for it (or just feed one mouse weekly instead of every other week). instead of getting nicely weighted animals they more closely resemble hungry noodles... im just saying it does happen. Less money put into the animal (thus fewer feedings) less money "lost" if that makes sense... i dont think they strive to starve their animals but i do think it comes down to having the most profit... its no different than reptiles shopes keeping their smaller snakes (baby balls, boas, kings, exc) in tupperware instead of shoe box bins.. certainly not ideal but it saves on space

im NOT defending or supporting the problem, im pointing out that it happens, alot.

I understand that feeding less frequently saves money for the breeder, but the snakes suffer because of it. I can see the spine, and they LACK muscle tissue.

i went to the MD reptile show last month. just wondering what breeder you got it from. i got mine from snake catchers.

its sad because a lot of breeders claim it stunts their growth which makes it easier to sell and transport. its really depressing.

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Originally Posted by Apollobull

I understand that feeding less frequently saves money for the breeder, but the snakes suffer because of it. I can see the spine, and they LACK muscle tissue.

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Then why did you buy them? Where they cheap enough?

Hi,

On a purely personal note I doubt I'd have given them any money if that is what they consider the proper way to care for their animals. :mad:

It also would make it easier to excuse/hide any underlying problems such as parasites if they were being less than honest about the source of their animals as well wouldn't it?


dr del

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Then why did you buy them? Where they cheap enough?

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Thats what I was thinking.

Out of the 6 girls, 5 of them were 25-30 dollars, and the 6th was free with the purchase of my burm. I purchased them because they are some of the most unusual normals i have ever seen, and i figured that with some care and patience the snake would be fine. All they need is to be fattend up and they should be fine. Its just a shame that people would let animals go with out food for their own benefit.