Ball Python not growing? Help!

Hi,

I've owned my ball python, Fang, for two years now. (Purchased him 9/5/08)
When I first got him he was very young. Since owning him, he's lived in the same 30 gallon tank and has the same routine feeding schedule, which is 1 mouse a week. He's never had a problem shedding either. However, for some reason, he doesn't seem to grow. He's bigger than when i first got him, but probably by only 6 inches. At 2 years old I feel like he should be bigger than what he is. Am I doing something wrong? Or is he a slow grower?

http://i51.tinypic.com/awc6q0.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/20ff1tu.jpg

As you can see...

Two things - First, I'd increase his feeding to every five days and start to gradually increase the size of the prey. Second, if you haven't already - collect a fecal sample and take it to your vet to have it tested for internal parasites.

I havent considered parasites! Yikes! Looks like Im gonna have to get that checked out, just in case..Thanks!

yeah, i think rabernet might be right with the parasite thought there pritty serious and some can take effect very slowly, tell us how he is after the vet visit

what size mouse are you feeding? might be your not feeding enough

Only 1 mouse a week? My little guy is only a few months old (got him in Feb) and he's eating small rats right now. My hatchling is eating adult mice already. Sounds like maybe he's underfed.

I had the same issue once with one of my females. She would eat like a hog, but wouldn't gain much weight. At times, she would loose weight. She looked very small for her age. By the time I got my head our of my @ss and took her to the vet, it was too late. She had a bug, and died two weeks later. My advice is to take her to the vet asap.

I would feed him every five days and try large adult mice or switch to rats! The prey should be a wide as the snake or even slightly larger! I would also weigh him and see if he is gaining or at least maintaining his weight! If no weight gain then take him to a vet! Good luck!

Very well could be just due to feeding him mice. We picked up a couple of females a couple years back that were around 2 years old and only 600 grams or so, they were fed on one mouse per week. They bulked up pretty quick once we started feeding them rats.

This snake looks like it is under 200g, even with one mouse a week you'd think it should be bigger. I also think a fecal exam is in order.

i Have the same problem mines 5 years old and the same size as yours i feed her once a week on large mice

finally someone who has the same problem as me i need to call someone about it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Domenic

i Have the same problem mines 5 years old and the same size as yours i feed her once a week on large mice

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Ever thought about switching to rats?

Try rats,I know pet stores that use mice instead of rats to slow growth.

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Im having the same problem, I tried taking her to an exotic animal vet but the lady wouldn't understand that i needed the a fecal test for internal parasites. Instead she wouldn't stop saying he didn't have mites witch is not what i was asking.Long day>:mad:

I have a mouse eater also. They grow very slow. All my bp`s eat rats except my pied. I have tried and tried....will never give up but its frustrating. But my others that are almost a year eating rats are almost 650 grams. So Rats are the way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Domenic

Im having the same problem, I tried taking her to an exotic animal vet but the lady wouldn't understand that i needed the a fecal test for internal parasites. Instead she wouldn't stop saying he didn't have mites witch is not what i was asking.Long day>:mad:

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Was that vet specifically a herp vet? If they're not, they don't often know what they're talking about...
http://www.reptilevetsnearyou.com/

Switch him to rats and that will make him grow

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