Does her size look ok?

[isorokko]

Hey there,
first post to the BP-section.

I've got a new BP which i got 2½ weeks ago. I've offered him a total of 3 mice with little success (perhaps I was too eager to offer him the food, maybe stressing him a bit too much...). I'm not overly worried since he's started showing clear interest towards the mice (I offer F/T), so I'm hoping he will eat sometime this week. I was just wonderin does he look like a "normal sized" BP to you guys? Mainly thinking is he fat enough so to speak.
Sorry for the lousy pic, just grabbed a quick pic with my mobile while trying to feed him the other day.

[missi182]

We need to know the age and some history to try and tell you if the size is "normal". She looks very young, and from the picture I can't tell you if she looks under weight. Until she is feeding regularly, do not handle her unless necessary, provide maximum privacy around her enclosure, and attempt feeding every 5 days or so.

[Wh00h0069]

Hi and . It honestly depends on his hatch date, but he looks fine to me. I suggest feeding him a live mouse next time. You will have a much better chance at him eating for you. I also suggest not handling him until he starts eating for you.

Good luck!

[isorokko]

He/she is a cb08 from Sweden. Not sure of the exact date though. The previous owner told me the ball has eaten regularly so that is the reason for me not worrying too much.. Her temps and enclosure should be pretty much spot on with everything people tend to recommend here, I've got a whole lot of clutter to make it possible to move from one hide to the other completely "in the shade" if she/he feels like it

He is active and curious when handled, no heavy breathing or any signs of RI etc. I'll try and find the time to go get some sort of a small scale over the weekend to get some exact numbers. Her length is about 45cm (~18 inches).

[isorokko]

Hi and . It honestly depends on his hatch date, but he looks fine to me. I suggest feeding him a live mouse next time. You will have a much better chance at him eating for you. I also suggest not handling him until he starts eating for you.

Good luck!

Can't feed him live since our laws prohibit that over here (Finland), but he showed a fair amount of interest towards the thawed mouse I offered him last time, it might have been a bit too big since he opened his mouth wide a few times while next to it as if trying to decide wether or not he could manage it...

[Wh00h0069]

He/she is a cb07 from Sweden. Not sure of the exact date though. The previous owner told me the ball has eaten regularly so that is the reason for me not worrying too much.. Her temps and enclosure should be pretty much spot on with everything people tend to recommend here, I've got a whole lot of clutter to make it possible to move from one hide to the other completely "in the shade" if she/he feels like it

He is active and curious when handled, no heavy breathing or any signs of RI etc. I'll try and find the time to go get some sort of a small scale over the weekend to get some exact numbers. Her length is about 45cm (~18 inches).

He is way to small to be an '07. Are you sure he is not an '08?

[isorokko]

He is way to small to be an '07. Are you sure he is not an '08?

Bah, looks like I made a typo Meant to say '08...

[Wh00h0069]

Bah, looks like I made a typo Meant to say '08...

Good, because he / she would have been way undersize if he / she were an '07. It depends on the hatch date to say if he / she is underweight. All of my '08s are between 250 and 450+ grams. They all hatched between July and September.

If you are unable to feed live, then make sure the f/t mouse is the proper size. The size of the prey should be approximately the same thickness as the thickest part of the snake. You should also make sure that the thawed out mouse is warmed up before offering it to the snake. This seems to help with feeding response. I normally thaw them to room temperature in a Ziploc. I then put the Ziploc in hot water for around five minutes, or so. The larger the prey, then longer I leave them in the water. I then offer the prey using long hemostats.

Hope this helps.

[donkiez]

One trick that worked really well for me was to add crumpled newspaper to her cage, makes her feel more comfortable especially with larger cages. Also try just leaving the F/T mouse in the cage for an hour or so, sometimes they just dont want to eat with you there, or it helps sent the cage for when you offer again. Proper size prey is a big one also, good luck, picky eaters can be tough.