Force Feeding

[MDB]

I thought this would be an interesting topic to post to get everybodys feedback and knowledge of force feeding. I am no pro myself but I have successfully force feed 4-5 bps in the past as a last resort, the largest of them about 450grams. I was wondering though how everybdy goes about force feeding when they absolutely have to, obviously as a last resort. I had a heck of a time forcing my 450bp in the past I cannot imagine having to force feed a 1500gram animal. Anyways whats everybodys take on force feeding? How do you go about it? What do you use? What measures do you take to make sure there is no harm done to the animal?

[Adam_Wysocki]

I've been keeping ball pythons for over 28 years ... thousands of animals (mostly in the last decade) ... I've never had to force feed a single snake.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I am curious to see what you call last resort?

How long did the animals fast for? How much body weight did they lose? What attempt were made before force feeding?

The animal you are considering force feeding already is not a good candidate for force feeding she can go months (and I don't mean just a couple) without eating and do just fine.

[MDB]

I am curious to see what you call last resort?

How long did the animals fast for? How much body weight did they lose? What attempt were made before force feeding?

The animal you are considering force feeding already is not a good candidate for force feeding she can go months (and I don't mean just a couple) without eating and do just fine.

lol I knew this would happen, Im sorry but if you think so or not I know when an animal is on its last leg. Last resort would be massive weight loss limited movement, and activity in general, anyways this was just for peoples opinions and input not for you to question my ball python knowledge thanks but no thanks

[Morphie]

I've had to do it, but only with a tiny baby who otherwise was likely to be in trouble - and that was only after i tried every trick in the book, and assist feeding stopped working. After about a year of this with only frequent enough forced meals to keep him healthy (not gaining weight at all), he took a mouse on his own and is a reliable eater today.

It was pretty much the most stressful thing I've ever had to do as a keeper, and I hope to god i never have to do it again. I've seen some larger snakes that look like they could stand to have a meal or two stuffed down their throats, but i wouldn't want to have to wrassle them for it, and i'd be very fearful of causing injuries.

[MDB]

same here it was very scary for me force feeding them, worried to stress them severly or cause injury, but I can proudly say that every snake I have ever force feed now eats great every week for me missing a meal very far between. I could not imagine having to force feed a large snake, I would defintely head to the vet for assistance

[Melicious]

I've never had to force feed any of my snakes. -Shrugs.- I don't know what I'd do if I had to.

[jknudson]

same here it was very scary for me force feeding them, worried to stress them severly or cause injury, but I can proudly say that every snake I have ever force feed now eats great every week for me missing a meal very far between. I could not imagine having to force feed a large snake, I would defintely head to the vet for assistance

If a 1500 gram snake is going off feed, and losing drastic body weight or tone then you need to take it to a vet, it likely has other issues than just not eating. BPs will go off feed occasionally...perfectly normal. However, they will not lose drastic amounts of weight unless there is another issue. Perhaps they're off feed because of a husbandry issue.

I agree with Deborah. No reason an animal that size has to be force fed if it's healthy otherwise.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I thought this would be an interesting topic to post to get everybodys feedback and knowledge of force feeding. I am no pro myself but I have successfully force feed 4-5 bps in the past as a last resort, the largest of them about 450grams. I was wondering though how everybdy goes about force feeding when they absolutely have to, obviously as a last resort. I had a heck of a time forcing my 450bp in the past I cannot imagine having to force feed a 1500gram animal. Anyways whats everybodys take on force feeding? How do you go about it? What do you use? What measures do you take to make sure there is no harm done to the animal?

THe highlighted sections are the reason people are answering the way they are. IMHO The only time a ball python should be assisted with feeding is when it is a hatchling, and you have followed all of these steps to a T... http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/...ingseating.htm

That is the ONLY time. And even at that time, you assist feed, not force feed.

Otherwise, if it stops eating, it is not because it has forgotten how to. The only rasons it would stop eating are:
1.) Something is wrong with the husbandry
2.) you are feeding the wrong size / type of feeder
3.) It just isn't hungry, or seasonal reasons / many go off feed because the want to and because they can.
4.) the animal is sick and needs to go to the vet
5.) WC animal that is pissed, and you should not be dealing with these in the first place.

Hope this helps.

[FatBoy]

I will admit I have force fed one animal. It was a hatchling that I tried every trick in the book, called bigger breeders and tried new tricks, unsuccesfully assist fed for several months. After the animal had lost from 68g down to 42g and was extremely weak we decided to force feed. First attempt was very stressful for all of us but we got it down. 2 weeks later I left a pink in with her overnight with no sucess. We force fed one week later. 2 weeks later I left a pink in with her overnight and it was gone the next morning. She hasn't missed a meal since then. I feel without force feeding she would have died, she now weighs 158g, about half the size as her siblings but she is alive and doing well.