Need help figuring out an issue

[xxblackmagexx]

So my friend has had this snake for a couple years now, I noticed recently he stopped paying it a whole bunch of attention and he ended up offering it to me since when i'm at his house I have it out and chill with it.

The problem is is that I hadn't seen the snake a awhile due to school and junk so when I actually got it home I noticed there was an issue. I googled and the only thing I could find similar was when a ball python has laid eggs.

Basically it is skinny, I can see its ribs and the first 1/3 of its body is like...concave? inside itself?

I looked up illnesses and common signs but it isn't showing any problems. It is alert and active like I remember and it isn't whistling or bubbling, not even gaping. I fed it a large rat and it took it fine, kept it down. It also shed after that meal, one piece if that matters. Its been about a week since that meal.

It isn't aggressive at all and even though I don't like handling it due to it seeming so fragile it has a great grip and seems to enjoy just climbing around my shoulders/head and chair.

Any thoughts at all? Is it just lack of feeding? Should I feed it bigger food or just more food?

[CALM Pythons]

If you look under the snake at its belly and its concaved its starving. Also if it has a Peak on its back like the spine is sticking up. A good healthy Ball Python is a round snake... The only time it should be concaved is if you rub its sides ir belly and it tickles, you'll see the muscles move inward. If your friend fed that snake every week (who really knows) and it is still terrible skinny, then it may be parasites. But from your health description it sounds like the "New Toy" effect wore off & the previous owner didnt feed it.

[xxblackmagexx]

Thanks, I figured as much given the fact he wasn't showing any other signs of sickness. What do you suggest for a feeding schedule to get him back up to a good weight? He took the large okay so should I just keep with those every week? I do plan to go up to Jumbos but I don't think he is big enough to handle those with his current weight.

[CALM Pythons]

Feed him whatever is about the same size as the widest part of his body..
Whats he weigh in Grams do you know? What age about?
Also when you can upload a pic to a Picture site (Photobucket ect) and post a image so we can check him out.

[xxblackmagexx]

I don't really have anything to weight him. I'm not sure how old exactly I just know my friend had him for a couple years, when I first saw him he wasn't tiny so I guess he is atleast like 4 years? I'll try and get a picture of him tomorrow.

[bcr229]

Boas digest more slowly than pythons do. The ones I have on large rats get three weeks between meals to digest. Since this one hasn't eaten in such a long time I wouldn't start throwing large amounts of food at it.

Also jumbo rats weigh anywhere from 16-24 oz. They are usually retired breeders and are quite high in fat. While the larger pythons do fine eating them, a similar-sized rabbit is a healthier feeder for a boa.

[xxblackmagexx]

I'm going to call the vet monday and see if they will take a fecal sample from him to rule out parasites just encase. In the mean time i'll just keep with the large rat and wait two weeks so and see how he does on them.

[CALM Pythons]

Boas digest more slowly than pythons do. The ones I have on large rats get three weeks between meals to digest. Since this one hasn't eaten in such a long time I wouldn't start throwing large amounts of food at it.

Also jumbo rats weigh anywhere from 16-24 oz. They are usually retired breeders and are quite high in fat. While the larger pythons do fine eating them, a similar-sized rabbit is a healthier feeder for a boa.

Im asleep at the wheel here.. I just realized this is a Boa after reading your reply hahahahaha.
I agree if a snake hasn't been eating correctly take it slow. Id stay on the smaller side not to stress the digestive track too. Stuffing it after not eating properly can cause a Regurgitation and thats no good.

[bcr229]

I'm going to call the vet monday and see if they will take a fecal sample from him to rule out parasites just encase. In the mean time i'll just keep with the large rat and wait two weeks so and see how he does on them.

That's a good idea. Also I would go ahead and get some NutriBAC, it's a reptile probiotic. You can dust a pinch of the powder onto a damp f/t feeder, it sticks very well. It will help re-establish his good gut flora.

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