Ball Python R.I. wont eat help

My ball python is about 6 months old, and he has R.I. He is currently on antibiotics treatment. the last time he had a meal was 4 weeks ago. and he still wont eat. how long can they go without food, and when should i be worried? do i have to assist/force feed him?

How much weight has been lost, that is what you need to watch.
They can go months without eating and with a ri it probably wont eat for a while.

before he got sick he was 222g now he is 205g

He isn't going to eat until his RI has been cleared up. Snakes generally don't eat while sick.

Thats now too bad of a loss.
what are your temps, what is your heat source and is it regulated?

The last thing you have to worry about his feeding get him well and he will eat again.

Do not put him through more stress then he already is by force feeding the only reason you should consider that is if he was on death's door and apparently he is not.

It is normal for a BP to go through any type of treatment to go of feed due to the stress.

Double check your husbandry make sure everything is optimum, tight enclosure lots of security etc.

the heat source is a 50 w infrared heat lamp, it is 32-35 celsius degrees in the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Tranks

the heat source is a 50 w infrared heat lamp, it is 32-35 celsius degrees in the enclosure.

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Everywhere?

31-32 for a hot spot would be a little better 35 is a bit too hot. Cool end should be 26-28

32 in the cool side 35 in hot spot. I normally keep cool side 27 hot side 30, but i red somewhere that if he is sick i should keep him a bit hotter, because his immune system will be stronger.

the vet said that i should tube feed it. i dont know if that is a good idea, because vets dont realy know about snakes where i am from... what do you guys think?

btw thanks for the help!

Please Do Not tube feed it isn't necessary get him well before you feed him.
Others may be able to explain why but tube feeding is extremely dangerous
unless you know exactly how to do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tranks

the vet said that i should tube feed it. i dont know if that is a good idea, because vets dont realy know about snakes where i am from... what do you guys think?

btw thanks for the help!

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Thats an awful idea. Wait till his RI is clear, and offer a live rat pup. Make sure to keep fresh water aswell. Worst of all cases's you can assist feed, but to Tube feed? Do you have any pics of the snake?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tranks

the vet said that i should tube feed it. i dont know if that is a good idea, because vets dont realy know about snakes where i am from... what do you guys think?

btw thanks for the help!

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First thought No and then find a new vet.
You have been given solid advice from some great keepers.

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Originally Posted by Tranks

My ball python is about 6 months old, and he has R.I. He is currently on antibiotics treatment. the last time he had a meal was 4 weeks ago. and he still wont eat. how long can they go without food, and when should i be worried? do i have to assist/force feed him?

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As you have already been told - first get him well, then worry about him eating. Do not tube feed him. Stress is your enemy. Tube feeding is extremely stressful and can make a bad situation worse very quickly.

It is imperative in a snake this young that the treatment is correct. This means that he needs to be on the right medication. How did your vet determine which antibiotic to use and how are you administering it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tranks

the vet said that i should tube feed it. i dont know if that is a good idea, because vets dont realy know about snakes where i am from... what do you guys think?

btw thanks for the help!

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If this is the case are you positive there is even an RI or could the vet have misdiagnosed? What are all the signs/symptoms?

The symptoms where slime in his mouth, bubbles coming out, and whoosing noise when he is breathing. he rubbed his head on the side of the terrarium and slime stuck on the glass. today he got the 6th shot of antibiotics ( I cant remember the name of the antibiotics, only that it starts with a T. but i can find out tomorrow) the vet just gave me "prescription diet a/d" to feed to my python, but he said that i should try giving it a worm bath and then put it in a dark box with a small mouse, and he will most likely eat it. but if he doesn't eat the mouse then i should proceed to feeding a little threw tube. the slime isnt comming out of his mouth or nose anymore.The whoosing sound is still there... I uploaded few pics of my ball in my profile. The whoosing sound is still there...

You could try the box thing if you like but it would be better just feeding it in the tank. Moving him could just stress him out. If that happens then trapping him in a box with the mouse won't nessisarily make it wanna eat.

I assume you ment "warm bath". Not really sure why he would recommend that. Unless it had something I do with the RI I haven't heard off. Seems strange though. I believe extra humidity can be bad with an RI.

Maybe you should look up some alternatives.................... If you really want to help your snake you could research nebulization.
Quit worrying about feeding.

A warm bath is as bad an idea as tube feeding.

I did mean worm bath. sorry if i my english isn't the best. I am from Europe and I dont use english often. Ok I will try to feed my snake every week when i feed my other snakes. he will eat if he wants. I wont worry about him not eating.
Thanks for all the help guys! I will keep u guys updated!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tranks

I did mean worm bath. sorry if i my english isn't the best. I am from Europe and I dont use english often. Ok I will try to feed my snake every week when i feed my other snakes. he will eat if he wants. I wont worry about him not eating.
Thanks for all the help guys! I will keep u guys updated!

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What is a worm bath?

I meant Warm bath... only misspelled it...

Hello! Update:
My ball python got 15 shots of antibiotics. Now he is healthy, and started eating again. So it looks like everything is ok. Thanks for all the replies guys!:sweeet: