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  1. #1
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    Ball python not drinking

    Hi guys, my yearling ball bellatrix hasn't eaten since early January, I'm not overly concerned about the eating as I know balls can fast, the thing that is worrying me is that she hasn't peed for about 2 months now and she looks a little dehydrated, her skin folds when she coils and it doesn't bounce back very quickly when pinched.

    In herself she seems fine, out in the night, in her hide in the day, all temps and humidity are ok.

    I have tried to bathe her to see if she will drink but she tries to get out the water and I didn't want to stress her out by dipping her in water repeatedly.
    I have tried washing and scrubbing her water bowl to no avail, I have also popped it right by her cave entrance.

    I have upgraded her Viv to a 3 ft one (she is 3 ft long) from a 2 ft Viv but this problem started way before the move.

    We also took her to my sister's (about 40 mins drive away) back in jan, just after she refused her first meal as we were going on holiday and she is the only one I know with experience in keeping snakes. I don't think she liked the journey as she was coiled up in a ball when we got her out when she arrived. My other ball, however was fine and is eating and drinking as normal.

    I have also checked for mites, no problems there.

    Any ideas?



    Sent from my HTC One mini 2 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by themorganator4; 03-23-2016 at 05:17 PM.

  2. #2
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    Re: Ball python not drinking



    Some images ( I will be filling her Viv up in a few days with decorations etc)

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  3. #3
    Registered User NoStepOnSnek's Avatar
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    How's her shedding going, anything since January? Also maybe she does drink little bit here and there when you're not looking. Idk mist her cage lightly to keep the skin supple, eventually she's gonna get thirsty.

  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran Crowfingers's Avatar
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Mine seems to only drink after I give him fresh water. Our city water is awful (I won't drink it either) so he gets bottle spring water...He really seems to enjoy Deer park brand the best
    I'm home must of the day and I usually see him out early in the afternoon and again around 10pm, but really only actually see him drink after I change his water (which is every 2-3 days, unless he gets substrate in it).

  5. #5
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Quote Originally Posted by NoStepOnSnek View Post
    How's her shedding going, anything since January? Also maybe she does drink little bit here and there when you're not looking. Idk mist her cage lightly to keep the skin supple, eventually she's gonna get thirsty.
    She has shed once since Jan, perfect shed

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  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran T_Sauer's Avatar
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Quote Originally Posted by themorganator4 View Post
    She has shed once since Jan, perfect shed

    Sent from my HTC One mini 2 using Tapatalk
    Was her last shed in January? If it was a perfect shed chances are everything is good and your just over worrying the situation ... their skin gets like you described prior to a shed ... she might be getting ready to shed again and you just missed her in the blue stage or she hasn't went into blue yet ....

  7. #7
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Quote Originally Posted by T_Sauer View Post
    Was her last shed in January? If it was a perfect shed chances are everything is good and your just over worrying the situation ... their skin gets like you described prior to a shed ... she might be getting ready to shed again and you just missed her in the blue stage or she hasn't went into blue yet ....
    Yes, last shed in January, I hope so

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  8. #8
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Another thing I noticed today was that as soon as the door is open, she shoots out her Viv like her life depened on it (tried feeding her today, she didn't take) she was already out exploring but my other pythons are a bit dubious when the door is open and are quite cautious. Is this a concern?

    Also no change in the drinking thing

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  9. #9
    BPnet Veteran Yodawagon's Avatar
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    What about her husbandry? Everything spot on? Try a wet feeder. I've done that when I was worried about dehydration.

  10. #10
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    Re: Ball python not drinking

    Quote Originally Posted by Yodawagon View Post
    What about her husbandry? Everything spot on? Try a wet feeder. I've done that when I was worried about dehydration.
    What's a wet feeder?

    The ambient temp is a bit low (22.c) but that's only today, been fine all the other times.

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