Force Feeding question

[lance]

So I have this female yellow-belly around 475 grams she hasn't eaten for at least 6 months or more she went through mites and scale rot the last person wasn't the best care taker but I cannot get her to take any kind of food should I force feed her?

Lance

[psychoduck]

So I have this female yellow-belly around 475 grams she hasn't eaten for at least 6 months or more she went through mites and scale rot the last person wasn't the best care taker but I cannot get her to take any kind of food should I force feed her?

Lance

I think you are more looking at "assist" feeding her than "force feeding". Assist feeding entails a steady hand and CONFIDENCE. There are assist feeding instructions elsewhere on this site, so I won't even go into that. Suffice it to say you will want to make sure ALL of her environmental needs (heat, humidity, adequate hides, adequate caging) are met before you attempt to assist feed. Hunger strikes are "normal" with balls, and 6 months is not unheard of. From what I can tell you probably have a very young snake, did she eat AT ALL for the previous owner? Or do you have any way of honestly knowing that. I've had several balls "dumped" on me by people that couldn't get the snake to eat, and decided to recoup part of their investment before the snake died, so I don't necessarily believe people any more when they say "oh yeah, he ate last week"

[dr del]

Hi,

How is her weight holding up since the start of the fast?


dr del

[lance]

I think you are more looking at "assist" feeding her than "force feeding". Assist feeding entails a steady hand and CONFIDENCE. There are assist feeding instructions elsewhere on this site, so I won't even go into that. Suffice it to say you will want to make sure ALL of her environmental needs (heat, humidity, adequate hides, adequate caging) are met before you attempt to assist feed. Hunger strikes are "normal" with balls, and 6 months is not unheard of. From what I can tell you probably have a very young snake, did she eat AT ALL for the previous owner? Or do you have any way of honestly knowing that. I've had several balls "dumped" on me by people that couldn't get the snake to eat, and decided to recoup part of their investment before the snake died, so I don't necessarily believe people any more when they say "oh yeah, he ate last week"

Well she ate fine before and was all good then she got a new home in a rack system with perfect conditions. but after she was treated for scale rot and before when she was first getting it she started the hunger strike.

Hi,

How is her weight holding up since the start of the fast?


dr del

she lost about 45 grams since the hunger strike.

[dr del]

Hi,

.....she lost about 45 grams since the hunger strike.

Then in no way, shape or form should you even be considering force or assist feeding.


dr del

[psychoduck]

if she had to be treated for scale rot, then your tub rack isn't providing "optimal conditions". Again, ball pythons are very picky. If even one condition is slightly off, they will stop eating. If she has scale rot, that would explain why she isn't eating. If her cage is too big, too small, it will cause her to stop eating.

[Twisted Reptiles]

In my personal opinion...assist feeding is only for hatchlings who are difficult to get started on their first few meals. If your snake is 475g...that snake has eaten before and given time...will eat again. I had a female go back on feed 2 weeks ago who prior to that had been fasting since October 7, 2010. Now she is eating like she...well...like she hasn't eaten in 9 months. She has had another fast lasting 6+ months prior to that. When she eats, she's a monster...when she doesn't...forget about it.

Give it time, reduce the frequency of feeding attempts, reduce the size of the prey offered, and wait it out. Your snake will eat again when it is ready. One indicator to watch for...almost all of my long term fasters have gone back on feed immediately following a shed.

[lance]

if she had to be treated for scale rot, then your tub rack isn't providing "optimal conditions". Again, ball pythons are very picky. If even one condition is slightly off, they will stop eating. If she has scale rot, that would explain why she isn't eating. If her cage is too big, too small, it will cause her to stop eating.

she is in a new setup from then I had her in a tank while my rack was being finished. Now she is in a rack system with the rest of my ball pythons who all are eating well but her

In my personal opinion...assist feeding is only for hatchlings who are difficult to get started on their first few meals. If your snake is 475g...that snake has eaten before and given time...will eat again. I had a female go back on feed 2 weeks ago who prior to that had been fasting since October 7, 2010. Now she is eating like she...well...like she hasn't eaten in 9 months. She has had another fast lasting 6+ months prior to that. When she eats, she's a monster...when she doesn't...forget about it.

Give it time, reduce the frequency of feeding attempts, reduce the size of the prey offered, and wait it out. Your snake will eat again when it is ready. One indicator to watch for...almost all of my long term fasters have gone back on feed immediately following a shed.

thanks for your advise I will do so