Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
i got my baby a few days ago and after handling her she seems to be showing signs of undernourishment (appears to be a lil dehydrated and probably not as filled out as i feel she should be) now i do not blame the place i got it from. As once she was delivered he fed her 2 fuzzie mice and i came 2 days later to get her. She is just a victim of the shipping im sure as im guessing she was wild caught as i got her so cheap.
Right now she is quarantined by her self in a rack in a different room from my other snake. Just in case she has IBD, which she doesnt appear to, although symptoms can come late.
Basically what im looking for is suggestions of a temporary feeding schedule (say 90 days as long as she is in quarantine) that will help plump her up, re hydrate her and get her in top shape to be moved to a suiting vive so she can have some stuff to climb on.
So what should i be feeding her and when to get rid of that triangular body shape and loose skin.
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
What's the poor thing weigh? Granted I'm no baby boa expert but feeding it 2 fuzzy MICE????? That's colubrid food, not enough I would think for any fasting growing boa to do well on. No wonder the poor thing looks thin.
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
I havnt picked up a scale yet (i know bad JeffJ) but since i just got her and my BP has been doing nothing but growing ti was not a major issue.
I thought fuzzies were to small but i was more concerned about making sure she would eat for me. I plan on getting a scale as soon as Friday comes (I hit road debris on Saturday and had to get 3 new tires yay me) but i can tell she is skinny when she constricted she got pretty flat. she was a bit nippy but seems happier now in good temperatures. However she likes to cool side more and is yet to use a hid. though boas are not prone to hides i wish she would use them just get get acclimated.
i wish i could take pics to show you her stretched out but i just fed her and i want her to just eat and digest. she isnt in the worst shape. but i know that she needs to eat better. so i need some help :) im worried about causing more harm then good if i feed her to rapidly or to big.
I want to add that the loose skin is not horribly visible, just you can feel it. she doesnt feel as licely filled for her size as say my BP does. i know she inst supposed to be a BP body type but u get what i mean she just doesnt feel nourished correctly filled for her length.
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
here is the best current pic i have at them moment asi havnt wanted to stress her.
http://i39.tinypic.com/30axshj.jpg
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
sorry for the tripple post here.
While i was spot cleaning, i decided to turn on the camera and have it at hand incase she moved and i could get a shot.
well she did, and here are the 3 good photos i got, Click to enlarge. am i just being overly worried about my newest gem or is she a lil skinny?
thanks to any one who drops in.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ie-3_thumb.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ie-5_thumb.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ixie_thumb.jpg
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
She looks a healthy weight to me. Just a littler smaller proportionally than our boas...and trust me, ours are well fed. From what I can tell, they don't thicken out and look stocky until they really are adults. Until then, it is long and lean.
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
She doesn't look under weight to me. Maybe her tail looks a bit skinny, but that's easily fixed with a couple good meals (a rodent roughly the same width as her midsection or big enough to make a slight lump, as I'm sure you know). Good luck with her, she's a beauty.:gj:
Re: Tips for an undernourished RTB baby
thank you all for your replys. i guess im just overy worried :)
im happy to say that she is using her warm side hide now rather thne cramming her self on the cool side behind her water dish.