??? about my normal ball size

[Andrew24]

Ive had my female normal ball python for 3 months now maybe.. and well she has gotten longer.. but hasn't really gaind any weight... im kinda getting worried.. for while i thought it was just cuzz i couldn't get her to eat for the first 2 or 3 weeks... but she hasn't missed a meal after i got her to eat the 1st time...

she is prolly around 5 to 6 months old.. and my pastel who was 6 months old when i got her a month ago.. is like 2-3 times bigger then my normal... my pastel can eat small rats.. but my normal could only eat a small mouse... big size diff..

just wanted to know some thoughts on this..

i got her from a pet store.. who told me they were from a breading her in iowa.. and now since i know more then i knew back then i should have asked who the breader was.. but i didn't.. im afraid she could be sick or infected with parasites....

[seeya205]

A small mouse is way to small for a 5 to 6 month ball python. Baby balls eat small mice for their first meal and go to adult mice soon after. My 4.5 month ball python has been eating two rat pups for about a month now so I would try a rat pup every five days. If she can handle that than you coud up it to a weaned rat. My store does not sell weaned rat size so I get two rat pups. If she only likes mice then go with adult mice!

[Andrew24]

well what i was feeding her were adult mice... but just the smaller adult mice.. the thing is .. she isn't big enough to eat anything bigger then that im afraid.. cuzz i tried a fully grown adult mouse.. and she about choked on it... i have a video of it on my youtube account.. look up andrew500gt if you want to see it.... all i could do was sit there.. but she got it down..thank god!!! i just didn't want to risk hurting her with an other meal that was too big... soo maybe i should feed her 2 in one week??? wit 2 small adult mice... if i do that how far apart should the feeding be?

[mainbutter]

she CHOKED on it but still got it down?

I'm confused as to a snake "choking" on a feeder. You'd be surprised what these snakes can get down. Just because it takes them a little while to completely swallow a prey item doesn't necessarily mean it's "too big"

[mainbutter]

I found your vids and yeah in the feeding vid of your normal BP (the full length one) it kind of looks like to me like your BP is underweight and possibly a little dehydrated? Do you keep humidity up and give them water to drink?

[mainbutter]

Also, it wouldn't hurt to collect some fecal matter from her and bring it to a vet to have her checked for parasites.

[Covington]

The rodent's size around should be close to the same size of the thickest part of the snake's body but not larger.

[seeya205]

I watched your video and it looked like a normal feeding to me! It does take them a little while to get it down but she does look small for her age! I would feed every 3 to 4 days to get her weight up. There is nothing wrong with feeding live. I feed all mine live and in the wild they eat live. Also you don't need to feed in seperate container, you will find that you get a better feeding response if left in their tank. Young snakes eat alot! I would go with at least an adult mouse! Give us some pics of your setup and we can see if there is anything we can suggest to make your snake happier!

[Andrew24]

I watched your video and it looked like a normal feeding to me! It does take them a little while to get it down but she does look small for her age! I would feed every 3 to 4 days to get her weight up. There is nothing wrong with feeding live. I feed all mine live and in the wild they eat live. Also you don't need to feed in seperate container, you will find that you get a better feeding response if left in their tank. Young snakes eat alot! I would go with at least an adult mouse! Give us some pics of your setup and we can see if there is anything we can suggest to make your snake happier!

it might not have been the right vid you watched... i have a few on there.. and the one im talking about she starts swinging her body side to side.. and making weird movements... i know it takes them a while to get it down lol.. and you don't need to feed in a diff place i know.. but i choose to cuzz many people (with exp with snakes-P.S. im not saying you don't have exp with snakes.. im just pointing out i got that info from people that know a thing or two lol) have told me that if you feed them in there cage they will think you have food everytime you open it.. and might risk getting bit.. i prolly wont feed them in a diff place after i get my rack and have so many snakes it would just take too long..

but thanks for you comment!

[Andrew24]

I found your vids and yeah in the feeding vid of your normal BP (the full length one) it kind of looks like to me like your BP is underweight and possibly a little dehydrated? Do you keep humidity up and give them water to drink?

yeah i got water in her tank that she can get to anytime.. and she does i see her drinking from it time to time... and it is hard to keep humidity up in the tanks.. which is why im going to get a rack soon.. but i spray both my snakes tanks 2 times a day (morning/night).. with just a spray.. maybe 2 ... that keeps it up.. i also have 3/4 of the top coverd..

i took her to the vet a week or 2 after i got her.. and he said she was healthy.. he did not however check for parasites cuzz she had not pooped yet.. but he said she was getting enough water.. and just looked healthy overall.. (at that time)

and yes not all vets know what they are talkin bout when it comes to snakes.. but mine does.. he also breeds ball pythons .. that i found out after i got there.. he has over 30 ball pythons.. and said he has been doing it for the last 25 years.. sooo he should know what he's talking bout.. lol..

but if i can't get her weight up over the next week or 2 .. i will def set up a time to go to the vet!

thanks for your help!!!