Feeding After Passing Hard Belly

[bnydegger]

If successful pushing out the hardened mass how long do you wait to feed? I've often heard of people feeding hatchlings before shed if they are under 50 grams and I just treated a ball python with hard-belly that dropped to 35 grams after removing the mass. Also, is hard belly genetic? Should I be wary to breed this snake in the future?

[Jeanne]

If successful pushing out the hardened mass how long do you wait to feed? I've often heard of people feeding hatchlings before shed if they are under 50 grams and I just treated a ball python with hard-belly that dropped to 35 grams after removing the mass. Also, is hard belly genetic? Should I be wary to breed this snake in the future?

Hard belly?? Explain please.. is this vet diagnosed? Never heard of this..

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[bnydegger]

Here's some info on it: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...hon-hatchlings

Luckily I caught the mass when it was softer than this snake's, but I haven't been able to find much information about care after removing the mass.

[bcr229]

For a hatchling that small and recovering from hard belly I would start with mouse pinkies for the first few feedings. The feeders are soft and squishy so they'd be less likely to irritate his insides any more.

[bnydegger]

Would you recommend waiting a few days or should I be trying to get these meals in him ASAP?

[bnydegger]

I'm not sure how to, but this thread should be closed. I just heard back from Justin Kobylka who has great resources for dealing with this problem (most notably here). He said it's important to wait at least a few days after the ordeal to feed.

[Albert Clark]

Justin Kobylka has a you tube video on how to manage removing a hard belly mass in newly hatched ball pythons. I would refer you to his expertise and information in handling and then following up care in a serious situation like this. You may even be inclined to email him directly for help. Good luck and I hope this helped.