Ball Python... Spasming?

[zina10]

How has he been doing?

Has he been doing any weird movements? When touched? On his own?

If, when touched, for how long ?

[Hawkshadow]

I've been trying not to touch him.
He hasn't shown anything out of the ordinary except he didn't eat this week, though I suspect that to be due to being in the new cage. It's only two weeks since I moved him and only the first time he's not eaten. Not too concerned, he'll likely eat next week.

I just messed with him a bit and he did jerk, but it was more of a "don't touch me" jerk and he was acting really defensive. Just testing the waters a bit, drew the butt end of some tongs lightly along his back to see if I could get a reaction and all I got was the initial "Hey, something's touching me" movement where he shuffled a tiny bit. Then tried to reach under him and pick him up and he did a slight jerk, but I wouldn't call it a spasm. He stopped when I backed off and then I decided to leave him be. I don't want to stress him out... plus he broke my cheap retractable snake hook when he spasmed when I moved him to the new cage (I usually lift him with it to slide my hand under him so I don't come at him from above like a predator). Not going to be able to get a new one until February and he was acting super defensive when I was messing with him. I figured it in both our best interests to leave him be, so as not to overwhelm him and not to get bit myself (the only time I've ever been bitten was a baby spider who decided to latch on and, while it didn't necessarily hurt, it was't pleasant. My friend had to pry him off and I don't have anyone to help with that if he decides to act the same way--not that I think he will). Plus, it won't hurt him to not be handled for a couple months.

[Hawkshadow]

So he hasn't eaten in two weeks now. I'm quite concerned, mostly because I'm an overprotective pet owner and he's never had a problem eating before. I know he could go longer without food, but I don't like it.
So.
I'm getting him a longer tub and keeping him in that to help with the humidity issues I've been having (his other one wasn't very long at all). I'm also going to be moving my dwarf reticulated python into the same size tub Kirito was in prior. Heat mats on both of them, overall room temp around 75-80 F.
I still have yet to pick him up or attempt to mess with him, but in the next day or so I'll have to in order to move him. So I'll let you know how that goes. Hopefully he's back to his normal self.... Hopefully.

[Bogertophis]

Good luck, Hawkshadow...it never hurts to hope.

[zina10]

Honesty though, if you are going to keep Ball Pythons..you will have fasts. Whether you like it or not. And esp. with males and in Wintertime.

It's simply a past of their genetic makeup, their system is engineered for that lifestyle. People just need to understand that and not worry about it.

You wouldn't throw food in front of a hibernating bear because you don't like them not eating so long.

True, Ball pythons don't hibernate. But they fast. They are cold blooded and eat a lot part of the year and take breaks when they had enough.

Some more so then others, but if you feed correctly, they will fast eventually.

As long as healthy and good weight, there isn't a thing to worry about




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[Bogertophis]

...You wouldn't throw food in front of a hibernating bear because you don't like them not eating so long....

Honestly I wouldn't throw ANYTHING in front of a hibernating bear, just in case he ingested some coffee at the last picnic.

[cletus]

Honesty though, if you are going to keep Ball Pythons..you will have fasts. Whether you like it or not. And esp. with males and in Wintertime.

It's simply a past of their genetic makeup, their system is engineered for that lifestyle. People just need to understand that and not worry about it.

You wouldn't throw food in front of a hibernating bear because you don't like them not eating so long.

True, Ball pythons don't hibernate. But they fast. They are cold blooded and eat a lot part of the year and take breaks when they had enough.

Some more so then others, but if you feed correctly, they will fast eventually.

As long as healthy and good weight, there isn't a thing to worry about


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This. It can be nerve wracking but it comes with the territory.

[Hawkshadow]

So I moved him back into a tub today :3
Good news, he let me pick him up without a hitch! No spasming or anything ^^
I'll continue trying to feed him. I know it's nothing to worry about, only two weeks for an adult his size. He is a good weight and all. I still don't like it though. But I'll continue to watch him and if he doesn't eat within a few months, then I'll worry. I'll try to mess with him in a few days and see if he reacts then. Hopefully this weird spasm thing was just a stage and he's done with it now.

[Bogertophis]

I hope so too. Fingers officially crossed here for him to be OK.

[Hawkshadow]

I got him out today.
He was active in his tub. Picked him right up, no spasm or anything. I think he might be okay now... I don't want to get my hopes up, but things are looking good ^^ Still not sure what caused it, but it seems to have passed now.

Now I just have to wait for him to eat again. I'll give him one more week trying frozen, in case it was all the moving around, then try live and see if he takes it. It'll have been a month then... He's 1324 grams though (he was underweight at 770 when I got him in... March?), so he's a good weight now!

Thank you guys for all the support. I'll post again when he eats.