The Hungry Dance

[oculus_ignigena]

So, I got my baby ball about 2 weeks ago, I've fed her 3 times already. Once two days after I got her, once 5 days later and once 6 days after that; she's a very good eater. She's just over 5 months old now.

The breeder said they had been feeding her approximately once per week and she had last fed about a week ago. When I got her home, she kind of ran around the cage like she was exploring, and then she started snooping around the mesh lid like she was trying to find a way out. I wondered if she was looking for food and figured she must be hungry, so I fed her and she took it almost immediately. 4 days later she started doing the same thing, she would stretch her head up to the mesh top, slither her head around it, then eventually lose her balance and fall over, so the next day I fed her again, and again she took it almost immediately. So I call it her hungry dance.

I've been feeding her small adult rats, going by the thickness of her body rule, and she seems to do okay with them, but I think they're bigger than any rats she's had before. The people at the reptile zoo said to be careful because balls are prone to obesity which can be a detriment to their health. I'm not powerfeeding her or anything, I'm just feeding her when she seems hungry, so I have a question.

Since she's a baby, is it better to feed her as much as she will eat as long as she's defecating regularly, or to just feed her once per week so she doesn't get fat?

here's the hungry dance:

[O'Mathghamhna]

Hmmmm... Not to sound paranoid, but when you say she has her nose to the sky and then falls over, is it clumsy and awkward? Or is it sort of a graceful, controlled fall? The reason I ask is she might be exhibiting signs of an RI (stargazing, possible neuro symptoms) but if she's eating well I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just keep an eye out for runny nose, snotty bubbles, and a popping/cracking sound when she breathes.

Alternatively: She's a wee lass and is exploring her tank because BPs are master escape artists, or as you say, she's doing the hungry dance.

[oculus_ignigena]

Hmmmm... Not to sound paranoid, but when you say she has her nose to the sky and then falls over, is it clumsy and awkward? Or is it sort of a graceful, controlled fall? The reason I ask is she might be exhibiting signs of an RI (stargazing, possible neuro symptoms) but if she's eating well I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just keep an eye out for runny nose, snotty bubbles, and a popping/cracking sound when she breathes.

Alternatively: She's a wee lass and is exploring her tank because BPs are master escape artists, or as you say, she's doing the hungry dance.

When she falls, it's like she has half her body pressed up against the top of the mesh and she's half slithering around upsidedown, and then she's on a sideways diagonal from the part of her on the ground which is supposed to be supporting her so she's falls over, like she's overestimating how strong she is. Kind of like when someone stands on a ladder and goes reaching sideways for like a jar or something then the ladder tips over and they fall. She seems to be pretty clumsy like that which is actually so adorable. Not clumsy in like a wobbles kind of way, more like in a baby kind of way . I digress, no signs of RI defects or unhealth in any way, but thank you for your concern.

[cristacake]

Looks like you're on your way to owning a world's first BP ballerina! Keep this up and you might just be able take this show on the road

[DellaF]

Cristacake that is to funny! I think your right though