Weight loss-how much is too much

[jason4173]

Here are some pics of some of my '07 to give you an idea about body size.

All are about the same length, and all are in good shape. You can still see the backbone in the the smaller snakes, but it's not sunk in (which would the the case of a thin snake).

Maybe post a picture and let us gauge the snake for you as well, if you're able. Otherwise I think that it's a good plan to stick with the multiple fuzzies until you're more confident about their feeding. It's definitely likely that a lot of that first weight was due to the feeding. There's very little likelihood that that defecation right after had anything to do with the meal consumed the day before, imo.

Ok...I got Velvet to eat one fuzzy...I offered a second but she ate the one and was on her way to her hide and not even a little interested in the second. I left it in the cage with her and she has not touched it.

The snakes that you have pictured in your post both look WAY "thicker" than mine even comes close to being!! I have some pics posted in my gallery...not sure if you can get to them or not...but I will try to get one posted on here ASAP. I am not sure about bothering her right now or just leaving her alone tho...

[tigerlily]

Duh. Why didn't occur to me to look in your gallery.

Velvet looks fine. Perhaps a little on the thin side, but a long way from starving. If you ever feel that the weight gain is not adequate you may want to consider vet care. I for one would recommend the fecal float to check on parasites, which would inhibit the absorbtion of nutrient from the meals... especially if the weight loss continues.

Give her a couple months with a good feeding routine and you'll see a pretty remarkable difference.

[frankykeno]

She's a tad thinnish but pretty much a very typical looking pet store baby snake.

I'd put her enclosure in your bedroom where it's quiet, low traffic and low light. I wouldn't handle her at all other than for cage maintenance and maybe a weight check here or there. Other than that I'd just let the little darling settle in, feel secure in her new home and work on getting her eating steadily for you.

I'd suggest you phone around and ask for quotes from your local vets for a fecal float. It is usually very inexpensive ($20 or less) and can be done often while you wait. Just gather her next feces, pop it in a ziploc baggie and put it in the fridge until you can run it over to the vet's office. That way you and your wife will know whether this snake has any internal parasites affecting her adversely.

Just be patient, some little ones take awhile to get going. At least you are getting some food into her and she is willing to eat. It just may take a number of weeks to slowly work her up to accepting a slightly larger prey item. You should be able to find a size between fuzzy and fully adult. Some suppliers label them as "hoppers", some label them as "young adult", some call them "weanlings". Here's a link to RodentPro to help you see all the sizes available in f/t mice.

http://www.rodentpro.com/catalog.asp...el=frozen_mice

[jason4173]

You should be able to find a size between fuzzy and fully adult. Some suppliers label them as "hoppers", some label them as "young adult", some call them "weanlings". Here's a link to RodentPro to help you see all the sizes available in f/t mice.

http://www.rodentpro.com/catalog.asp...el=frozen_mice

I was able to find "hoppers" and did offer one to her and she had nothing to do with it. I returned to the pet store and got some more fuzzies yesterday and after about 2 hrs to let her calm down a bit offered a fuzzy, she smacked it hard and very fast, coiled up around it and held it and started to eat it then dropped it on the bottom of her cage and just looked at it for a few minutes. Then left it, after about 5 minutes she went back to it and ate it. I offered her another and she was done, she went right past the second that I was dangling for her and went right to her hide. I was up pretty late last night and she was out and very active lastnight tho...guess this is a good sign, just wish she would get to eating better.