? regarding BP weight loss & not eating

As you probably have read my BP isn't eating...

I want to know what (if any) is an acceptable weight loss while she is not eating.. or if the fact she is not eating & losing ANY weight is a pretty big issue.

Last week 1297g
Last night 1285g

It's hard to give a number really. But 12g in a week isn't bad at all. If it starts dropping drastically, then it's vet time.

But you're doing exactly what you're supposed to. Keep track of the weight each week. I'd think a steady and small decrease is nothing to worry about, unless she doesn't eat for another 120 weeks. :P

Alright, awesome :) Thanks!

Not just to get her eating LOL

Have you tried marinating the mouse in warm chicken broth?

I find putting them in small tubs helps. I had some ball pythons that were not eating in 41 quart tubs. I move them into 28 quart tubs, and 6 out of 7 started eating again. I have another ball that was in a 32 quart tub that wouldn't eat. I moved him into a 6 quart tub, and he started eating again. Stress is the most likely culprit when it comes to ball pythons refusing to eat. They feel more secure in tight places.

nope havent tried marinating the rat... LOL *creepy chicken flavored rats* does this really work?

I was thinking about putting her in the bathtub to try and feed... somewhere other than "home"...
if that doesnt work we will try a smaller tub..

thanks for the ideas!

worst case im taking the rat, rubbing it on my horse nad trying that LOL she is really interested in my horse smell when i come home from the barn and go in her tub to fill water or whatever.

12g is barely any weight loss. We are talking a couple hundred grams when we say "significant weight loss".

I don't see how feeding somewhere other than home will get the snake to eat..

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

nope havent tried marinating the rat... LOL *creepy chicken flavored rats* does this really work?

I was thinking about putting her in the bathtub to try and feed... somewhere other than "home"...
if that doesnt work we will try a smaller tub..

thanks for the ideas!

worst case im taking the rat, rubbing it on my horse nad trying that LOL she is really interested in my horse smell when i come home from the barn and go in her tub to fill water or whatever.

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Feeding in a separate enclosure generally adds more stress to the situation for ball pythons..
Going down tub sizes is probably your best bet.

First of all..weighing your snake every week is pointless. They drink they get heavier they pee or pass urates they get lighter. 12 grams is a good pee for a 1200 gram female. How long has she not eaten..We talking weeks or months??

Are you serious about the chicken broth - my bp isn't eating right now either and I will try anything - let me know if you were serious or just joking around.

thx

I wouldn't get to worried about not eating unless it results in significant weight loss.

Also wouldn't be concerned for anytime less than a month.

Double check your temps and humidity too, also she may be just getting ready to shed or something and that can have an effect.

Also are you feeding live or f/t?

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Originally Posted by L.West

Are you serious about the chicken broth - my bp isn't eating right now either and I will try anything - let me know if you were serious or just joking around.

thx

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I know of several people that use this method, never worked for me but its worth a try. Usually I have heard it working to get there big snakes (burms, retics) to switch from several rats a week to frozen chickens.

But its worth a try for ya, know its worked for some people

People leave the chicken broth for the soup..Try a Live mouse, ASF, smaller rat, leave a smaller rat over night. Please don't go off putting chicken broth on a feeder. There are so many more options that work to get balls feeding.

That kind of weight loss is nothing. A ball python that size could go off feed for months without hardly losing any weight.

I have a female that was about 1000 grams that went off feed for 9 months and she probably lost 100+ grams, she was healthy, well hydrated, husbandry spot on so I just wait it out and she finally resumed feeding.

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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Originally Posted by L.West

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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Two weeks.. ;) just keep offering every week..I won't even thing of trying anything different until its been 12 weeks..

Oh - you can sure tell I am new to all this - but thanks for the help.

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Originally Posted by L.West

Oh - you can sure tell I am new to all this - but thanks for the help.

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No problem you did the right thing you asked.. :gj::gj::gj::gj:
Keep us up to date.

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Originally Posted by L.West

My girl has only been off feed for two weeks at this point - if she refuses tonight that will make it 3 weeks - so I am just waiting it out at this point but was truely curious about the chicken broth theory.

Does it make a difference if you dangle the rat f/t from the tail or the scruff of the neck??? just curious.

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I agree that until your pushing a couple months not to get to excited. And some snakes are pretty picky about there frozen rat being danced around to appear alive, and some are just happy to see food. Experiment with it for a bit and as stated above try feeding live or switching to mice or asf's, if you do not succeed with the frozen thawed

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

First of all..weighing your snake every week is pointless. They drink they get heavier they pee or pass urates they get lighter. 12 grams is a good pee for a 1200 gram female. How long has she not eaten..We talking weeks or months??

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Id still rather be a good mom and weigh her weekly. It doesn't take that much effort on my (or her) part... That way if it does get serious and the vet is needed I have documentation..
4 weeks now...
im new to this so forgive the fact I had no idea how much 12g was in comparison to healthy or unhealthy weight loss.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Feeding in a separate enclosure generally adds more stress to the situation for ball pythons..
Going down tub sizes is probably your best bet.

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Thanks :)
Are you saying just a smaller tub for feeding? or in general? Because in general is a no-go.. as it is I cant fit large enough hides in for her to hide in and am working on finding some still that fit in there.

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Originally Posted by Fearless

I wouldn't get to worried about not eating unless it results in significant weight loss.

Also wouldn't be concerned for anytime less than a month.

Double check your temps and humidity too, also she may be just getting ready to shed or something and that can have an effect.

Also are you feeding live or f/t?

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Yep got humidity right at 55-60% now (was at about 70% before)
Got thermostats set correctly, and a second thermometer in there to verify thermostat accuracy.
Not ready to shed that I'm aware of. She shed & pooped the week after I got her (about 2-3 weeks ago) and hasn't eaten since (or before) that. Shes got good irridescence, no blue-ing, etc.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That kind of weight loss is nothing. A ball python that size could go off feed for months without hardly losing any weight.

I have a female that was about 1000 grams that went off feed for 9 months and she probably lost 100+ grams, she was healthy, well hydrated, husbandry spot on so I just wait it out and she finally resumed feeding.

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What is considered "hardly losing weight" (im a newb forgive me).

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Originally Posted by Fearless

I agree that until your pushing a couple months not to get to excited. And some snakes are pretty picky about there frozen rat being danced around to appear alive, and some are just happy to see food. Experiment with it for a bit and as stated above try feeding live or switching to mice or asf's, if you do not succeed with the frozen thawed

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I haven't tried ASF's..
However I tried F/T, dancing & left in her cage. Totally gave up on that.
I tried freshly killed, dancing & left in her cage.
I tried going smaller in rat size. Freshly killed, dancing.
I even tried a live pinky.
She was acting afraid of them (squirming to get away)
I even made them "attack" her to maybe get her angry enough to strike at them (if not to eat as her strikes purpose but just to strike and maybe get a taste LOL).
And nothing :(

Thanks for all the info everyone :D

Have you tried a live small rat? A pinky wasn't even worth the effort in energy expended to strike and kill, which is why she had no interest.

Haven't tried live anything other than the pinkie.
She was eating medium f/t rats when I got her (thats what her P.O. had been feeding her.
I tried that. And as my last post shows all the other efforts I have made as well :D

Like I've said before, I am in the area, you may have an ASF if you want to try going down that road... Just let me know!

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

...worst case im taking the rat, rubbing it on my horse nad trying that LOL she is really interested in my horse smell...

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Just making sure I read that right... :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Corvid

Like I've said before, I am in the area, you may have an ASF if you want to try going down that road... Just let me know!

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I think that is the next step :D

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Just making sure I read that right... :rofl:

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OMFG wow talk about the biggest typo ever LMFAO oops... should said horse AND not horse NAD :D

to clarify my horse's nads have been removed

oh jeez... epic typo.

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

I think that is the next step :D

to clarify my horse's nads have been removed

oh jeez... epic typo.

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roflmo the poor horse is only a it now (starts singing the song half the man ( old 80-90 era ) lol

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Originally Posted by mechnut450

roflmo the poor horse is only a it now (starts singing the song half the man ( old 80-90 era ) lol

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LMFAO ya poor guy.. still has a ***** bigger than you ;) (if your a guy anyways HEHEHEHEHE)

Let me know if you'd like an ASF. Hope it'll help jump-start her.
I will be out of town until Tuesday for a funeral.

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Originally Posted by Corvid

Let me know if you'd like an ASF. Hope it'll help jump-start her.
I will be out of town until Tuesday for a funeral.

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I'm sorry to hear that.
PM me or whatever when you get back and I will definitely try that!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

That kind of weight loss is nothing. A ball python that size could go off feed for months without hardly losing any weight.

I have a female that was about 1000 grams that went off feed for 9 months and she probably lost 100+ grams, she was healthy, well hydrated, husbandry spot on so I just wait it out and she finally resumed feeding.

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Deb hit the nail on the head. To give you some hard numbers to go by, the general rule of thumb is that a weight loss of 10% is normal when a ball python fasts. With that said, I have had animals that go off feed for up to 9 months, and have lost as much as 20% of their body weight. Hoever, even though I hae given you some numbers, it still is a matter of health. If the snakes skin doesn't start sloughing or the spine doesn't become overly pronounced, adn the snake is still alert and active, it is probably just fine.

I hope that helps,

My 10 year old male goes off feed starting late September/early October thru early May. This year, however, has been unseasonably cool and regardless of cage temperature he hasn't started eating again. It freaks me out every year, but there are no signs of illness and his temps are right so I just have to keep trying.

IMO ball pythons are one of the most difficult snakes to keep just for the sake of sanity alone.

Along with the chicken broth theory, I have also heard that it works even better to get some KFC fried chicken, remove the skin, then rub the feeder on the underside of the KFC chicken skin to get all the greasy goodness on the rat or mouse.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

Deb hit the nail on the head. To give you some hard numbers to go by, the general rule of thumb is that a weight loss of 10% is normal when a ball python fasts. With that said, I have had animals that go off feed for up to 9 months, and have lost as much as 20% of their body weight. Hoever, even though I hae given you some numbers, it still is a matter of health. If the snakes skin doesn't start sloughing or the spine doesn't become overly pronounced, adn the snake is still alert and active, it is probably just fine.

I hope that helps,

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Originally Posted by therecordingart

My 10 year old male goes off feed starting late September/early October thru early May. This year, however, has been unseasonably cool and regardless of cage temperature he hasn't started eating again. It freaks me out every year, but there are no signs of illness and his temps are right so I just have to keep trying.

IMO ball pythons are one of the most difficult snakes to keep just for the sake of sanity alone.

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Originally Posted by bonzai272

Along with the chicken broth theory, I have also heard that it works even better to get some KFC fried chicken, remove the skin, then rub the feeder on the underside of the KFC chicken skin to get all the greasy goodness on the rat or mouse.

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Guys, seriously thanks so much for all the info :)

I went and tried a live ASF (THANKS CORVID!!!!!!!!) and she was HELLA interested... didn't eat it but first time she actually didnt run away from the feed item.

So, will have 2 try it again. But I am definitely keeping these other ideas in my arsenal.. especially since I use chicken broth all teh time, and ALWAYS am looking for an excuse to clog my arteries with KFC lol.

I have a minor theory that people will just keep trying different things until the snake, for completely unrelated reasons, decides it is time to eat again... <lol>

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I have a minor theory that people will just keep trying different things until the snake, for completely unrelated reasons, decides it is time to eat again... <lol>

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rofl good point but we'll never know haha

lol ya thats quite the possibility... who cares as long as the snake eating is the outcome though :D