? regarding BP weight loss & not eating

I wouldn't get to worried about not eating unless it results in significant weight loss.

Also wouldn't be concerned for anytime less than a month.

Double check your temps and humidity too, also she may be just getting ready to shed or something and that can have an effect.

Also are you feeding live or f/t?

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Originally Posted by L.West

Are you serious about the chicken broth - my bp isn't eating right now either and I will try anything - let me know if you were serious or just joking around.

thx

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I know of several people that use this method, never worked for me but its worth a try. Usually I have heard it working to get there big snakes (burms, retics) to switch from several rats a week to frozen chickens.

But its worth a try for ya, know its worked for some people

People leave the chicken broth for the soup..Try a Live mouse, ASF, smaller rat, leave a smaller rat over night. Please don't go off putting chicken broth on a feeder. There are so many more options that work to get balls feeding.

That kind of weight loss is nothing. A ball python that size could go off feed for months without hardly losing any weight.

I have a female that was about 1000 grams that went off feed for 9 months and she probably lost 100+ grams, she was healthy, well hydrated, husbandry spot on so I just wait it out and she finally resumed feeding.

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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Originally Posted by L.West

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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Two weeks.. ;) just keep offering every week..I won't even thing of trying anything different until its been 12 weeks..

Oh - you can sure tell I am new to all this - but thanks for the help.

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Originally Posted by L.West

Oh - you can sure tell I am new to all this - but thanks for the help.

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No problem you did the right thing you asked.. :gj::gj::gj::gj:
Keep us up to date.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L.West

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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I agree that until your pushing a couple months not to get to excited. And some snakes are pretty picky about there frozen rat being danced around to appear alive, and some are just happy to see food. Experiment with it for a bit and as stated above try feeding live or switching to mice or asf's, if you do not succeed with the frozen thawed

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

First of all..weighing your snake every week is pointless. They drink they get heavier they pee or pass urates they get lighter. 12 grams is a good pee for a 1200 gram female. How long has she not eaten..We talking weeks or months??

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Id still rather be a good mom and weigh her weekly. It doesn't take that much effort on my (or her) part... That way if it does get serious and the vet is needed I have documentation..
4 weeks now...
im new to this so forgive the fact I had no idea how much 12g was in comparison to healthy or unhealthy weight loss.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Feeding in a separate enclosure generally adds more stress to the situation for ball pythons..
Going down tub sizes is probably your best bet.

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Thanks :)
Are you saying just a smaller tub for feeding? or in general? Because in general is a no-go.. as it is I cant fit large enough hides in for her to hide in and am working on finding some still that fit in there.

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Originally Posted by Fearless

I wouldn't get to worried about not eating unless it results in significant weight loss.

Also wouldn't be concerned for anytime less than a month.

Double check your temps and humidity too, also she may be just getting ready to shed or something and that can have an effect.

Also are you feeding live or f/t?

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Yep got humidity right at 55-60% now (was at about 70% before)
Got thermostats set correctly, and a second thermometer in there to verify thermostat accuracy.
Not ready to shed that I'm aware of. She shed & pooped the week after I got her (about 2-3 weeks ago) and hasn't eaten since (or before) that. Shes got good irridescence, no blue-ing, etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That kind of weight loss is nothing. A ball python that size could go off feed for months without hardly losing any weight.

I have a female that was about 1000 grams that went off feed for 9 months and she probably lost 100+ grams, she was healthy, well hydrated, husbandry spot on so I just wait it out and she finally resumed feeding.

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What is considered "hardly losing weight" (im a newb forgive me).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fearless

I agree that until your pushing a couple months not to get to excited. And some snakes are pretty picky about there frozen rat being danced around to appear alive, and some are just happy to see food. Experiment with it for a bit and as stated above try feeding live or switching to mice or asf's, if you do not succeed with the frozen thawed

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I haven't tried ASF's..
However I tried F/T, dancing & left in her cage. Totally gave up on that.
I tried freshly killed, dancing & left in her cage.
I tried going smaller in rat size. Freshly killed, dancing.
I even tried a live pinky.
She was acting afraid of them (squirming to get away)
I even made them "attack" her to maybe get her angry enough to strike at them (if not to eat as her strikes purpose but just to strike and maybe get a taste LOL).
And nothing :(

Thanks for all the info everyone :D