Weight loss worry, due to fasting

Hi Forum,

I posted a thread a few weeks ago regarding my pastel 2010 male as he went on feeding strike for the first time. I wasnt worried to much then but now i am getting concerned.

Here is some background info:

He started fasting about 4-5 weeks ago and has refused 4 feeds now, i also tried going back to small mice but still no luck. All husbandry is fine to my knowledge.

The reason for my concern is his weight loss. I periodicaly weigh both snakes and henry peaked at 710 grams before his fast. He is now at 670-680 grams.

He has never been a thick bodied snake, his very long and slender. But now i am worried as with the weight loss he is looking noticicably thinner and saggy in the skin. The worst i have seen him :(

I have been checking him for signs of RI, no visible signs. The only change in his environment was the introduction of my females tub next to his after her qurentine period, however he ate twice i believe during her introduction and the fasting period he is in now.

He hasnt made a fecal for me to take to the vets as im sure he is very empty.

I have a few questions, is this weight loss dramatic in the time period. And should a trip to the vets be necessary taking into account i dont have a fecal sample.

The problem is i dont want to ride the fast out as i dont think he has enough body weight on him.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, his a good little friend:(

Don't worry. 5 weeks really isn't that long. My female once went on hunger strike for like 3 months or so and in that time she to lost about 280 g... I have read about BP's on the forum that didn't eat for 5-6 months...

Just keep offering him food every week or so and when he feels like it, he will take it ;)

Oh, and maybe double check you're husbandry, check out temps and humidity. If they are fine he just doesn't feel like eating. They tend to do that...
Check if nothing is stressing him out, that could be a reason for not eating. Try and leave him alone so he feels secure, just change the water etc.
Wouldn't go to the vet already, would only stress him out, probably for no reason....

What have you been feeding him (f/t or live) and how did he typically act at feeding time? Is he showing any interest at all? Have you tried different times of day/night/morning? Any pics of him now? 710 grams to 670-680 doesn't seem too extreme.

He might think it's breeding season. That's when males typically go off feed.

How old is your female? While no one fully understands them, female BP's do have scent glands and your could be giving off some pheramones that the male is picking up on.

Regardless, I wouldn't worry about it yet.

I have a male normal that went off feed for 43 days. He had dropped some weight too. He went from 917 grams down to 842 grams during that particular fast. I would not worry to much at this point. These snakes are notorious for going off feed sometimes.

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Originally Posted by sho220

What have you been feeding him (f/t or live) and how did he typically act at feeding time? Is he showing any interest at all? Have you tried different times of day/night/morning? Any pics of him now? 710 grams to 670-680 doesn't seem too extreme.

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He is a live feeder, he was on small rats imo a perfect size for him. Since his fast ive tried small mice (what he started on when i got him) and i even tried a frozen thawed just in case he took that (no such luck!)

I usually feed during the day for both as they have always been good feeders, he had never skipped a meal unitl now and my female eats like crazy. However i think that will be my next trick, to feed at night. Thanks.

The typical reaction is, he will very slowly go up to the rat or mouse, i would say not in a stalking hunting way, casually flick the tougue and then turn away when the rodent gets to close. He never goes into that tight s shape, u know when they are really hungry and they are going to launch at the it.

I will get some pics, before and after shots.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

He might think it's breeding season. That's when males typically go off feed.

How old is your female? While no one fully understands them, female BP's do have scent glands and your could be giving off some pheramones that the male is picking up on.

Regardless, I wouldn't worry about it yet.

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Im not sure if shes mature enough yet, shes a 2010 weighing a good 750 grams. the thought had crossed my mind however.

I wouldn't worry about it too much yet. He's only lost about 7% of his body weight so far. My PYB lost over 16% of her body weight when she went on her 2 month fast. They'll eat when they are ready to. :)

Thanks you all for the help. I will continue to monitor his weight and offer some food next week in the evening and see how he does. I will update on his progress and weight loss on the thread and post some pics if he is looking really bad.

Matt :gj:

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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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".