Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,927

5 members and 2,922 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,441
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-12-2015
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Hey everyone I'm a new member and I'm looking for some advice. I've been caring for herps for years but I'm fairly new with ball pythons specifically. I came across a ball python in need of rescue and scooped him up he is pretty young maybe 18 inches in length and is far to skinny to the point that I can see his ribs he is taking mice frozen fuzzies to be exact I guess what I want to know is if he will take it can i offer him food more than once a week I really want to see him get healthy (by the way I'm saying him but I'm not sure if that is correct) any nutritional boost advice would be greatly appreciated. And I'm sure this will be asked he is in a 40 breeder glass tank it's 86 degrees with a 94 degree hot spot for basking the humidity is 54 % including a warm hide and a cool hide

  2. #2
    Registered User magicmed's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-14-2015
    Location
    Springfield, MO
    Posts
    117
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 31 Times in 17 Posts
    Images: 9
    It's not going to hurt to feed a snake that age once every 4 days or so, If he is that skinny I would definitely offer every 4 days, if he's hungry he will take it. I also think you may want to offer larger prey? Fuzzies are pretty small, something just slightly larger than the thickest point on his body can be offered. Usually once old enough to be sold, they're already eating rat pups, or mouse hoppers

    Hope this helps

    http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...ging_chart.jpg
    Last edited by magicmed; 04-12-2015 at 10:02 PM.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-12-2015
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Thank you I will pick him up larger meals and offer every 4 days he is a vigorous eater I don't think I will have a hard time getting him back to a good weight

  4. #4
    BPnet Lifer Eric Alan's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-01-2013
    Location
    Gilbert, AZ
    Posts
    4,511
    Thanks
    2,927
    Thanked 3,889 Times in 1,948 Posts
    Images: 1
    I'd also recommend turning the temps down a few degrees (90° warm spot, 80° ambient). Other than that, it sounds like you're on the right track with this guy. He's lucky to have found you!
    Find me on Facebook: E.B. Ball Pythons and Instagram: @EBBallPythons

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-12-2015
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Alrighty I'll drop it down a tad thanks for the advice.

  6. #6
    bcr229's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-18-2013
    Location
    Eastern WV Panhandle
    Posts
    9,494
    Thanks
    2,888
    Thanked 9,842 Times in 4,771 Posts
    Images: 34
    Ball pythons out of the egg take typically can take a mouse hopper or rat pup every 5-7 days. Since he's voracious you may want to take the opportunity now to convert him to rat pups, rather than waiting until he's developed a taste for mice.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-12-2015
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Rat pups you say... alright I'll give that a shot is that fairly normal to find at you local pet store or will I need to order them? Also are they better for the boa?

  8. #8
    bcr229's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-18-2013
    Location
    Eastern WV Panhandle
    Posts
    9,494
    Thanks
    2,888
    Thanked 9,842 Times in 4,771 Posts
    Images: 34
    I have local feeder suppliers for mice, rats, ASF, and rabbits. Your pet store should have frozen rat pups if it carries Arctic Mice, though at some point you'll probably want to find a breeder since pet store feeders are stupid expensive.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to bcr229 For This Useful Post:

    PlaceNameHere (04-13-2015)

  10. #9
    BPnet Veteran SCWood's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-10-2014
    Posts
    1,032
    Thanks
    189
    Thanked 108 Times in 82 Posts

    Re: New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Do we have a chart like this for boas?

    1.2 Normal
    1.1 Red-tail
    0.1 Albino corn
    2.1 Ball Python(Sterling, Boots, & Eden)
    1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa(Anakin)
    0.1 Bearded Dragon(Beatrix/Trixie)
    0.1 Kitty Cat(Willow)
    1.0 Chihuahua(Panda-Bear)
    2.0 Betta Fish(Finnley & Pescado)
    0.2 Rats(Mishka & Laney)

  11. #10
    BPnet Senior Member
    Join Date
    09-30-2013
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,146
    Thanks
    304
    Thanked 588 Times in 354 Posts

    Re: New member looking for advice with a rescue weight gain

    Quote Originally Posted by magicmed View Post
    It's not going to hurt to feed a snake that age once every 4 days or so, If he is that skinny I would definitely offer every 4 days, if he's hungry he will take it. I also think you may want to offer larger prey? Fuzzies are pretty small, something just slightly larger than the thickest point on his body can be offered. Usually once old enough to be sold, they're already eating rat pups, or mouse hoppers

    Hope this helps

    http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...ging_chart.jpg
    The early parts of that chart look off to me:

    Hatchlings (first couple of meals) - prey weight 4.5g to 8g

    That can be bigger. My ~65g hatchlings get 10 to 14g mouse hoppers twice a week until they reach around 90g and are switched to adult mice.

    Hatchlings to 150g - prey weight 3g to 8g

    Still too small, IMO. Mine go on adult mice (18g to 20g) at 90g. They go on rat pups (25g to 30g) at 115g or 120g. At this point they are only being fed once a week, though. 8g for a 150g BP is far too small at that age in my view.
    It is okay to use pine bedding for snakes.
    It is okay to feed live food to snakes.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1