7 months and my BP hasn't eaten-is it time to force feed?

Hello Everyone!
My Male BP (Leviathan) is from a petstore, I know, I know- never buy from a petstore-anyway....I purchased him around october, and he still hasn't eaten yet. He appears to be in good health, minus the ticks I spent weeks removing from him - this is why people say "never buy from a petstore"!lol-lesson learned.
He is active, looks good, does not appear to be losing weight-doesn't seem to be growing either though.
Is it hibernation? Pet Store trauma? Should I force feed him-or wait?
Thanks-
Gigi

I wouldnt force feed him.
How old is he, and whats his weight?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gigideluxe

He is active, looks good, does not appear to be losing weight-doesn't seem to be growing either though.
Is it hibernation?

---

Depending on the age and size of the animal wait if its not loosing weight and is still active your snake could be recovering from overfeeding. An older larger animal going off feed isn't unusual, if your setup is spot on and you keep an eye on his weight you sould be ok. But a younger smaller animal could be something more going on there.

If he came in with ticks on him, then he probably have internal parasite's too. Most Petstore BP's are either captive hatched, or wild caught. internal and external parasite's can cause a snake to go off feeding. I'd get him to a vet and have them run a fecal swab on him to see what may be going on in there. If he does have parasite's then getting him wormed will help him out. Also bring it to the vets attention that he has yet to eat for you and you bought him back in Nov of 06.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lillyorchid

If he came in with ticks on him, then he probably have internal parasite's too. Most Petstore BP's are either captive hatched, or wild caught. internal and external parasite's can cause a snake to go off feeding. I'd get him to a vet and have them run a fecal swab on him to see what may be going on in there. If he does have parasite's then getting him wormed will help him out. Also bring it to the vets attention that he has yet to eat for you and you bought him back in Nov of 06.

---

Bingo I read to quick..

Yes get that animal to the vet Pronto.

Hi-
Well no one knew how old he was exactly, but the guess was 6 months, I weighed him this morning, and he's 1 pound 8 ounces.
Thanks- G

If he's not eating on his own, I don't think force-feeding is going to help. That is an extremely stressful event. I would only consider force-feeding for a snake too starved or sick to actually eat on its own, and then it would be under the advice and supervision of a qualified vet.


Rather, take a look at your husbandry and let's see if we can figure out WHY he won't eat. It he had ticks when you bought him, chances are he's wild caught and therefore even more difficult to get established than a captive bred snake that has only ever known captivity. In this case, it's even more critical that your husbandry be spot-on and directed toward the snake's feeling SECURE, rather than any keeper's enjoyment of watching and/or handling them.

So...that being said...if you want to give us a detailed description of your set-up, we'll see if we can help you get him eating.

• What size/type enclosure is it?
• What temps do you maintain in there?
• How do you achieve those temps and how do you measure them?
• Same for humidity...what is it and how do you measure it?
• What sorts of hides do you have in there?
• Is the enclosure in a high-traffic area or near any loud speakers?
• Do you handle the snake often?
• What are you offering it to eat, and how often?
• Has it been checked out by a vet for internal parasites?

Those are just a few questions that will help us get started. ;)

At a pound and a half I would think he was older than a year, probably closer to two. I bought my female from a petstore and she just ate for me after a 6 month fast. I did however take her to the vet when I first got her so I knew she was parasite free. If you haven't taken him to a vet yet, it would probably be a good time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

At a pound and a half I would think he was older than a year, probably closer to two. I bought my female from a petstore and she just ate for me after a 6 month fast. I did however take her to the vet when I first got her so I knew she was parasite free. If you haven't taken him to a vet yet, it would probably be a good time.

---

Two pounds is only 907 grams

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Two pounds is only 907 grams

---

Right...so for a snake that hasn't eaten for 7 months (at least...who knows how long before she bought it?) to weigh as much as 750 grams, it could very well be 2+ years old. I'm betting the pet store seriously understimated its age when they guessed 6 months at the time of purchase.

Yea thats my point too Judy.. get that little cridder to the vet ASAP

He's 680 grams. I'd be willing to be a combination of being wild caught and something in his set-up not being spot on. Of course, a vet visit is in order to test for internal parasites.

Ticks = very good chance it was recently imported.

Sometimes imports never acclimate to captivity and never eat.

Get it to a vet, check for parasites and eradicate them if they are there, set him up properly with the right temps and humidity (you aren't going to be able to get away with a glass tank for this one), and hope for the best.

Do not force feed that guy. Set him up with the right temps and humidity level somewhere completely quiet and dark. Get him to the vet for parasite treatment if he needs it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Two pounds is only 907 grams

---

Yea you are right for some reason I was thinking 1.8 kilogram, my mistake. Although my girl who had fasted for 6 months is was at 750g empty and she's about a year and a half.

Okay-A trip to the vet is order first,
and as far as the habitat goes, I use layers of white paper towel to line the the glass tank, which is like 48 by 24inches with the double locked lid, the screen is duck taped to keep in the humidity, with a good size square vent for air, a big faux rock/pool, so he can drink & soak, which I change daily, a "log" purchased from petsmart to hide in (which he does-he also likes to burrow between the paper toweling) a climbing branch also purchased from petsmart, the temps are usually about 75- 80 degrees, the tank is my studio,which is quiet and kept dark ( have covers for the tank as well-with spaces for good air flow). He sheds nicely, and there has not been any ticks in about 5 months. oh - and there are heating pads under the tank -so a corner of the base of the tank is warmer, and the other end, cooler, and a small heat lamp that I use as well when needed.
Thank you everyone for your advice.
Gigi

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gigideluxe

the temps are usually about 75- 80 degrees

---

Bingo.

Ball pythons need a hot spot in the cage that's around 92-94 degrees, the rest of the cage can be in the lower 80s, I don't let mine get below 82 during the spring/summer/fall.

Low temps could be playing a HUGE part in why your snake isn't eating.

75-80 degrees is cool for a BP like dead of winter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gigideluxe

... a "log" purchased from petsmart to hide in (which he does-he also likes to burrow between the paper toweling) ...

---

Here's another potential big issue, in addition to the temps already mentioned. Try finding two bowl-shaped "caves" for him to hide in. You can purchase "natural looking" ones at pet stores, or just a couple of plastic planter saucers at Wal Mart or garden store, or anything else that is small and "cave like" that you can cut an entrance into the side for him, if it doesn't already have one.

Here's a couple of threads that demonstrate just how snug they love their hides:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=45693

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=35212

Place one hide on the cooler side of his enclosure, and one hide on the warmer side and that way he never has to choose security over proper temps. ;)

Once again, I want to thank everyone for all the advice and help, I do apreciate it.
I made an appointment with the vet next week, I'm lucky that the animal clinic I take my puppy too has an exotic pet vet as well, So Leviathan and Titus (my Rottie) both have appointments on Monday. Hopefully we will get this resolved. I turned the heat up on the tanks, and I will get another hide box. Thanks-Gigi

Good thread...this is the way Bp.net advice is supposed to work on both the giving and receiving end :)

I agree, the people here are awesome-

I am rather new to the sight. I have recieved some very good information from the member here. My snake is Chocolate, male...which I just found out. I took him to a vet because of raspy breathing. The vet has many snakes of his own and did a really good check up on mine. My BP is 10 months old, he wieghed exactly 1 pound, the vet said that was light, to feed once a week. I will be doing so.

Maybe the weight will give you a ratio to yours and age. The vet checked for mites, none. But said to bring a stool sample in because getting any snake, especially if its condition is questionable like yours pet store care and having ticks, needs checked for parasites.

Go to the vet.

If he is shying from live food, try f/t. Chocolate has probably lost alittle weight due to going off her feed, and then only every 2 weeks if lucky. On a whim I tried f/t. He eats everytime now. For some reason he went off live prey. The vet says it is better he did. Prevent bite injuries, but that the f/t is more reliable to be parasite free.

Hope your BP improves soon. I worry about mine whenever something goes different.

He doesn't have a cold. I tried another bedding, no pine or cedar, but the white wood shredds. Messed with him. Back to the bark and everything is fine.

ya a stool sample is good, ours does two forms of stool sample on ours, one will find parasites and another will find worms... one of ours had worms but not parasites so he got a liquid oral dewormer...

Worms are internal parasites, same thing. There are internal and external parasites.

Internal: Nematodes, cestodes, etc
External: Mites, ticks