Weight loss worry, due to fasting

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Originally Posted by Deborah

40 grams is not something I would worry about most snakes will lose that much by defecating and urinating.

5 miss meals is also hardly anything.

The main thing is to make sure your husbandry is on spot and that the animal is not overly stressed, limit handling and keep offering what used to work.

Some animals especially males do not need that much food, offer small prey items and consider feeding at larger intervals.

Of course if you are really concern you can always take your animal to a vet but there is nothing that he will be able to do to make your snake resume eating.

It's frustrating but part of owning ball pythons sometimes ;) .......wait till you have one that doesn't eat for a year ;)

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Thanks deborah,

Im confident that my husbandry is as spot on as can be, everything is controlled temp wise with accurite temp guns,humidity is not a problem. My other snake has the same set up and is chopping away regulary as can be.

I know 40 grams is not to much, its his overall weight that was my issue as his always been very slender bodied snake, even though he has eaten very well up untill now.

He is my first ever snake i bought, and although i treat all my pets with the best care possible this little guy will always be special, his a great snake.

Again, i will monitor his weight and behavoiur and hopefully post agin with some good news soon. Your comments have eased my worries somewhat.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Of course if you are really concern you can always take your animal to a vet but there is nothing that he will be able to do to make your snake resume eating.

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Just a heads up, Vets can actually administer an appetite stimulant, and in my experience it does work quite well. Though, probably unnecessary.

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Originally Posted by HypoPita

Just a heads up, Vets can actually administer an appetite stimulant, and in my experience it does work quite well. Though, probably unnecessary.

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That seems a bit unnatural, dont it? :)

But I can understand its helpfull in some situations. Like a BP not eating for 18 months or so and really not looking healthy anymore...

I would say that it is normal, I never personally experienced weight loss when my male went off feed, but that is not to say that others have! My friend's male goes off feed for 8 months of the year. If yours gets to the point where he is VISIBLY underweight (i've rescued balls that were nothing more than skeletons before) then you have a problem. If you're really concerned the appetite stimulant might help. I switched my ball to ASFs just because I like to know my critters are eating. But that is just me, even though I know fasting is considered normal.

Nice thread.
I think you should not afraid, 5 weeks really isn't that long.
My friend once went on hunger strike for like 3 months or
so and in that time she to lost about 320gm.

Hello every one!
I have a king cobra from last 2 years. Previous two moths his weight is going lose. So give me some tips for weight gain.

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Originally Posted by Walterras

Hello every one!
I have a king cobra from last 2 years. Previous two moths his weight is going lose. So give me some tips for weight gain.

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I would start a separate thread in "venomous snakes" as this forum is based on "ball python husbandry".