Updates on my under-fed BPS....

[Flicker]

Good news and bad news..
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86100
^old thread.
They have been resexed since then and their genders are opposite...

Anyway, We'll start with the good news. My male 4 year old was last weighed at 650 grams... a few nice rats later he has gained over 250g! and is now well over 900g.





The female is not in such an amazing situation, though. She was last posted at 525g and now weighs only 550g. She's only eaten one rat a little more than a week ago. She's been shedding for quite a long time, and she keeps refusing the rat I have her. Her eyes are soooo blue and I can tell she's just about to shed, but I have to leave for the weekend, so If she refuses food tomorrow too, she's going to have to wait until Sunday.
I need tips on giving her a easy and fast shed by tomorrow would be nice. Should I do something? I haven't tried to force feed her because she's shedding and she obviously doesn't want to eat.

HELP?

[joshn6805]

well congrats on the male, it could be worse they could be loosing weight. i would say just let her shed and give it a try if she refuses double check husbandry and give the room a nice prescent.

[llovelace]

She will not shed in the next couple days, she's still in blue. She will be fine til she clears or sheds

[Flicker]

well congrats on the male, it could be worse they could be loosing weight. i would say just let her shed and give it a try if she refuses double check husbandry and give the room a nice prescent.

Thanks.

She will not shed in the next couple days, she's still in blue. She will be fine til she clears or sheds

ohh. I thought when the eyes were really foggy they were going to shed. soon.. i guess blue is another stage?

Should I keep trying to feed, then?

[dr del]

Hi,

Some will eat during the shed process and some will not - I definately wouldn't try anything like force feeding during a shed though.

No soaking before the shed can actually make it worse not better - just make sure the humidity is between 60-70% and she should be fine.

If she does not manage to get it all off then that is when you think about soaking.


dr del

[Flicker]

Hi,

Some will eat during the shed process and some will not - I definately wouldn't try anything like force feeding during a shed though.

No soaking before the shed can actually make it worse not better - just make sure the humidity is between 60-70% and she should be fine.

If she does not manage to get it all off then that is when you think about soaking.


dr del

Okay. thanks. I'll just keep an eye on her and keep you posted.

[Slim]

Flicker, as blue as she is, she should start the shed in 3-5 days or so. Some take a little longer, some a little less. She has put on some weight, so that is a great sign. Don't worry if she doesn't keep up with your male in the weight gain. At some point, he will level out and she will have growth spurt.

Keep that humidity right, and shortly after you get home on Sunday, she should start to shed. Might want to think about making a humid hide for her while you're gone. She will use it when she needs to...kinda' like thermoregulation...guess it would be hydroregulation.

[Flicker]

Flicker, as blue as she is, she should start the shed in 3-5 days or so. Some take a little longer, some a little less. She has put on some weight, so that is a great sign. Don't worry if she doesn't keep up with your male in the weight gain. At some point, he will level out and she will have growth spurt.

Keep that humidity right, and shortly after you get home on Sunday, she should start to shed. Might want to think about making a humid hide for her while you're gone. She will use it when she needs to...kinda' like thermoregulation...guess it would be hydroregulation.

I have a TON of extra moss, so I'll make one right now! Thanks.

[blackcrystal22]

Keep up the humidity real nicely, my balls always have trouble shedding compared to my boas and colubrids.

For feeding, I don't know if this was all asked in another thread, but what is your husbandry layout?
Do you have her in a tank or tub? How big is it?
Are you trying to feed f/t or live? Are you trying in her enclosure or in a separate enclosure?
What size prey item are you trying to feed her?

And basics, are all her temperatures regulated and kept properly? With what, and what levels?

Good luck.

[llovelace]

Thanks.



ohh. I thought when the eyes were really foggy they were going to shed. soon.. i guess blue is another stage?

Should I keep trying to feed, then?

Mine usually shed around the 7th day from being in blue.