Another I need advice thread...

[gaitedappy]

I'm back with another question. My ball python who is fasting I just looked at his records and weighed him again. Last time he ate was December 10th, he weighed 2300ish full when I first weighed him from this fast full and as of today he is 2200g I'm not sure if I should worry. I know he was getting over fed for nearly a year (200g a week). The weight drop just seems a little drastic to me, but his other behaviors are normal for him and he is still drinking and giving me steady urates.
Any thoughts? Should I be just going to the vet now?
(Side not I'm in SoCal and the weather has been constantly changing the past couple of months and he has always been finicky during weather changes).


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

Why do you want to go to the vet?

It's a male he is huge, it's breeding season and it was overfed, so fasting is not really a surprise and could easily last 6 months or more.

If you want a BP that feed with consitency feed small preys, BP do not need 200 grams prey per week, not even the largest females double his size.

A male that size will do fine with preys between 65 and 85 grams a week.

Now all it is about is patience.

Also 100 grams at that size is likely the equivalent of a bowel movement.

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[gaitedappy]

That's what I figured and the large meals were the result of some bad advice that I now realize was bad. Just the drop freaked me out a little so my first thought was "vet!" I just worry. Thank you for the response! My pets are my babies and I worry too much so it's comforting to hear this is normal(ish).


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

That's what I figured and the large meals were the result of some bad advice that I now realize was bad. Just the drop freaked me out a little so my first thought was "vet!" I just worry. Thank you for the response! My pets are my babies and I worry too much so it's comforting to hear this is normal(ish).


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Well if the vet is only about the feeding (which is why I asked) no need to take him, because honestly depending on the vet and it's hand on experience on snakes (specifically BP) you could be looking at anything from vet visit cost to tell you it's normal to blood test, x-ray, anti-biotic just in case which of course would not be necessary.

It is frustrating not to have them eat but at this size 6 month to a year would not be a surprise to me.

What you can do is give him time, make sure our husbandry is optimal and be patient.

[bcr229]

A 2300 gram male is huge. I wouldn't worry about a 100 gram loss, a good-sized bowel movement could account for much of that.

[gaitedappy]

A 2300 gram male is huge. I wouldn't worry about a 100 gram loss, a good-sized bowel movement could account for much of that.

His last bowel movement was large. I just worry too much.


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