Concerns about my BP

[theformalghost]

Ok, I have been trudging for hours through site and forum alike about information. I currently have a 3 year old BP whom I've had since she was 1 week. Currently she is not eating and hasn't since November 11th 2013. She is in a 20G Breeder with her warm side at 85-90 and cool side 79-83. She has 2 half log hides and some foliage and a large water dish. I keep her on repti-bark and add moss when she is in shed (otherwise I mist daily and the humidity stays about 50% in the winter). I was not too concerned about her not eating at first because I know sometimes in winter they go off food. But she doesn't seem to be being any less active. Anyway, I got worried after I noticed some slight belly scale discoloration and an abnormal urate from her.

I took her into the vet and he said he didn't think there was anything wrong with her, and that her scales look healthy. He did say she looked a bit thin and wanted me to try and assist feed her. So I took his advice, bought her some smaller prey and tried to assist feed her. She didn't like it and I didn't want to stress her too much so after a few failed attempts I stopped and left her for a few days. I tried again tonight with more failure, but it seemed she was more interested in it then last time. I only worry because she use to be such a veracious feeder, striking when the rat was barely in range, and now she not even look at it. Anyway, as I was attempting to assist feed her, I noticed that some of her scales were flaking off, not the whole scale just the very top portion, like the clear top coating.

I have read many things and they say it might be because she had a bad shed last? I wasn't here when she last shed, I was on vacation and entrusted her care to my brother who misted her tank but maybe not enough? Also I was using mineral oil to lubricate the prey item and that is also said to cause such effect. Anyway, I would really like some advice and reassurance that my snake is ok or if I need to do something. There is nothing I wouldn't do for my little GIR.

Currently I just have thermometers and a dimmer that I regulate myself for her tank, though I have ordered a thermostat. I have extra UTH and basking lights if I need them but with all the heat sources in my room the ambient temp barely falls below 75 so I usually just have her UTH on with a low watt light far away for daylight stimulation. I also have the lights and such on a timer so there is 11 hours light 13 hours dark.

Please any help would be appreciated. Let me know if you need any more information.

[Mr. Misha]

You said she has two half logs as hides. Is it possible that she outgrew her logs and doesn't have a secure hide? I'd recommend changing her hides to something that will provide more security. I personally use reptile basics hides. Half logs aren't usually great for snakes anyways.

Not eating since November isn't great, but definitely not unheard of. Do you know how much weight she lost? Also, what do you normally feed her? Is it live or F/T?


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[theformalghost]

No her half logs are perfect size for her, she fits nicely with a little bit of room. i had other hides before but she doesn't like them as much I don't think. also the hides are covered by fake vines so they only have one real opening. I feed F/T and have never fed live. I don't really have the means to care for live and they are not easily obtained here. I will however get live before to long if she doesn't start eating on her own. I will most likely be bringing her back to the vet because they will assist feed her for me. I was hoping to avoid that because the added stress of strangers/strange location but if I have to I will. I don't know the exact amount of weight lost, but I can tell she has lost more then I am comfortable with her losing, but it doesn't look like she is starving, still some heft to her.

[Mr. Misha]

I'm not a vet by any means, but before force feeding her, I'd see if she'll eat live if you can get your hands on one. Force feeding is pretty traumatic and I'd advise it only in extreme situations. This doesn't sound like an extreme situation.

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[TexanLady]

I don't think the scale issue sounds too bad. Like you said, it sounds like she might have had a bad shed. With the feeding? Since she is three years old the not eating since November isn't as worrisome as it would be if she were only a yearling. I too would not suggest force feeding her. I would try live. I have a normal female that eats F/T regularly, and then she'll suddenly stop and wait me out until I give her live. She went nearly three months once before I broke down and gave her a live rat to eat. She'll eat live for a few months and then she'll finally accept F/T again. Not sure why she does it but every year she goes through a spell where she'll only take live.

Also, is your vet experienced with snakes? Some vets out there will take your money and look over your reptile and declare it "fine" when in truth they don't know much about them. I went through an experience with a vet that took me as a client, but after nearly killing one of my boas finally 'fessed up that I was his first reptile client. I was livid! But I called around and found a veterinarian specializing in exotics that took much better care of me. Never hurts to get a second opinion.

[brock lesser]

There are a few things to try:
First of all, what is her current weight?
For all these suggestions I would use smaller items then normal.
try putting her in a small tub with nothing but the f/t rodent overnight.
Try different f/t items rats, mice and asf.
Give her about five days between attempts.
Some bp's stop feeding and it is frustrating but at three years old,
they should have enough weight to be fine.
Going to live prey is an option, make sure the item is well fed and watered,
watch for any signs of aggression and be ready to react if necessary.
One thing I wouldn't do is continue to assist feed, way to stressful on an adult bp.
Two months really isn't a long time so be aware of the situation but it's not time to panic.
I'm sure that others will have more suggestions that I'm forgetting.
Good luck.

[bcr229]

I have an adult male BP who last ate on 10/31/13. He is offered a small rat every week and has refused each time. I'm not worried about it and I'm certainly not going to try assist-feeding him as he's only lost 50 grams since then.

If her environment is correct then I wouldn't worry about it. I would, however, get a thermostat for your UTH ASAP, and an IR thermometer or temp gun if all you are using is the little cheap dial-type thermometers, so you can determine the surface temperature of her tank over the UTH. If that has cooled off your BP may be off food because she doesn't have the heat she needs to digest.

[theformalghost]

Thanks everyone. My thermometers are digital probes halfway between the bottom of the tank and the surface of the substrate. As I have said I ordered a thermostat the other day but her tank stays pretty constant. They weighed her at the vet but I can't seem to locate the paper but it was around the 1,400 gram mark.

[200xth]

I would just doublecheck the setup and start getting regular weights from her.

I wouldn't assist feed at all. She's big enough to miss a lot of meals. I know you say she lost weight, but a lot of time people overestimate how much weight was lost due to concern. They know the snake hasn't eaten in 2 months so they start to see weight loss that isn't happening. That's why having the regular weights is useful. It strips out the objectivity.

Anyways, I honestly wouldn't worry too much. If it gets to a point where you are positive she has lost a non-trivial amount of weight (hopefully based on actual weight records), take her back to the vet. Before then you can try a live feeding if you want.

Just as an FYI, I have a 1700g female that hasn't eaten since Nov 28th. She's lost a trivial bit of weight, but they do this from time to time.

[theformalghost]

Well even the vet, who yes is experienced with reptiles and has seen many other snakes and even my brothers bearded dragon said she was looking skinny. I wasn't concerned until it seemed she lost more weight in a small amount of time. I am just going to leave her be for a while though. Trying to raise the humidity in her tank for a bit if that helps with the scale thing. She just doesn't seem to have that heft she usually does and her spine is much more noticeable when I hold her. Anyway, I know I overreact easy but unfortunately I lost my cat because of cancer that I didn't act fast enough for, I just don't want to be caught off guard again, but everyone has quelled my fears for now. Thanks!