how long off feed before i need to worry

i am fairly new to ball pythons have had mine for about 4 months now...he has skipped 1 meal on me before he was in blue but ate the next week for me just fine...he has skipped 3 meels now he weighed 275g down to 273g he is 22 inches long and the mouse is 30g...it is cool in my basement the warm sida ambiant stays at 83-84 and the cool side about 73...have a 91 deg hot spot...he usualy sits in the cold hide...this is a tank set up about to switch to racks but want another t-stat...heating ais a CHE and a UTH on a reptitemp 500 t-stat i know not to good but its working for me...what do you all think when should i worry and how could i make things better for him if it is husbandry related...

thank you

Well i wouldn't worry for about a month honestly. As long as he is pooping or passing urates during the period, he will be fine.

Anything you can do to make the enclosure more secure or even smaller would help you out the most. How large is the tank he is in now? The racks will help you tons, but at around 250 grams i would put him in a 12qt or 16qt tub.

he is in a 40 gal breader all i had...so i think i will order some flexwatt and try a tub..see if i can get good temps

did not eat again...he looks interested but then turns away...he is down to 271 grams now :(

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Originally Posted by willieshotg3

he is in a 40 gal breader all i had...so i think i will order some flexwatt and try a tub..see if i can get good temps

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Originally Posted by willieshotg3

did not eat again...he looks interested but then turns away...he is down to 271 grams now :(

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Small snake + Big enclosure = not eating..

he ate in the same tank for 8 weeks than just stoped...i have tube to put him in i just need some flexwatt...guess i should order some

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Originally Posted by willieshotg3

he ate in the same tank for 8 weeks than just stoped...i have tube to put him in i just need some flexwatt...guess i should order some

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Yea they can go along just fine for a while..but after a while they'll shut down..it happens..Some will never even notice but others will just stop..

how big of a tub i have 6 31 qt tubs think that is to big...and how many holes should i start with...i would like to get him eating soon...i am thinking of 11" flexwatt and just let some hang out the back since my room is like 65-70 ambiant temp

anyone have a sugestion trying to set up a tub how many holes in the tub going to leave the lid on no rack yet only 1 bp

Dont need many holes.... along towards the top do one every inch down three sides....

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Originally Posted by willieshotg3

anyone have a sugestion trying to set up a tub how many holes in the tub going to leave the lid on no rack yet only 1 bp

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You can use the UTH you have on that 40 gallon breeder hooked up to your 500R and put under your tub. No need to buy flexwatt.

If you can get the 15 qt size that would be best right now. Then when your snake gets bigger you can move him to the 32 qt.

If you put the UTH under 1/3 of the tub and set it up to 90-92F temperature, then it should be sufficient to bump up the ambient temps in the cold end to 80F. I wouldn't go lower than that.

Drill one line of holes around the tub about 1 inch from the top - about 1 inch apart. If you're using the Sterlite/Rubbermaid containers, you might need to put a hook through the mid-part of the lid and latch it to the side of the tub so the snake won't be able to push the middle edge up and escape.

If you have $12, the best tub, in my opinion, is the Really Useful Box. You can find this at Office Depot. The one that is good for your snake right now is the 18-quart (17 litre) size. (18"x15"x8").

http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...Quart-Plastic/

It is made of tough, durable plastic with a strong, escape-proof, lockable lid (don't use for a hatchling cornsnake/kingsnake/hognose or similar size - they are very skinny and can escape through the vents on the lid).

Hope this helps!

P.S. Just keep monitoring his weight. I wouldn't worry too much unless he loses 20% of his weight or becomes lethargic.

guess i will try to peel off my uth and use one of the boxes listd above...i just want him to eat again....is that to much to ask...

are the vents on the lids of the really useful box enough for air...my room is in the basement and is cool...about 65 deg

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Originally Posted by willieshotg3

are the vents on the lids of the really useful box enough for air...my room is in the basement and is cool...about 65 deg

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Yes, it's enough for air, but you will still need to drill holes into it to prevent too high humidity. Without holes, it could get up to 90% humidity in there which is not good either.

i have him in a 31qt tub now a heat pad with thermastat temps up t0 93 deg not lower than 89...i hate pads never keep heat evenly...2 hides and a water dish and a thermomiter/hydromiter 50% humidity and cold side at 79 still a bit cool but i figure with a good warm side temp he can thermoregulate to what he wants...he is allready in his warm hide...hopefully he will eat on saterday...im also thinking of trying a smaller mouse

got some good news...switched to a tub and zeus still would not eat the mouse looked real interested than would just turn away like he was intimidated or something...went out and got a smaller mouse and he ate it within 3 min... :) makes his pappy happy