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Balls not eating (Arg!)

Missymonkey

Missymonkey

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I have recently aquired three baby ball pythons, one of which is eating and doing well. The other has small blister like bumps and is not eating and the third one seems almost lumpy and is not eating. I have tried braining, putting them in a paper bag, soaking the snake in warm water and wiggling them. I haven't tried scenting yet but I am curious as to what I should scent them with.

What have you guys found works for tricky balls? Any sugguestions would help, no matter how crazy they are :)

thanks much

missy
 
Hi Missy, I have some questions:
1) How old are they?
2) Are they CBred/CBorn or CH?
3) Have they been checked for internal parasites?
3) Have they eaten for you at all?
4) Have you tried F/T and Live?
5) Have you tried mice and rats?
6) Did they all come from the same source?
That's it for now. LOL
I'll be checking back throughout the day or you may email me.
TTYL, Rob:)
 
1) How old are they?
Hatchlings, I want to say around 2-3 months old
2) Are they CBred/CBorn or CH?
Should be Captive Bred
3) Have they been checked for internal parasites?
Not as of now. Central WI has pretty much no veterinarians who are willing to work on herps or any exotics, much less have the basic knowledge to be able to diagnose any type of disease or ailment on a herp.
3) Have they eaten for you at all?
Negatory.
4) Have you tried F/T and Live?
Haven't tried live, I can't find any around here right now, that and I am a little hesitant to get them hooked on live.
5) Have you tried mice and rats?
Just tried pinkie rats, with no luck. Before that we were trying various sizes of mice
6) Did they all come from the same source?
Yes, and unfortunatly one just died. We tried the brown bag thing, and came to find the smallest one had died in the bag overnight. I don't believe it was from suffocation as we used a medium size lunch bag with little holes poked in it all over.

frustrating frustrating frustrating....

One of them has been eating rather well, the other remaining snake now has something that appears to be little blisters or something poking up under the scales and has yet to eat. I am hoping to get it looked at, as soon as I find someone who is knowledgeable about snakes.

thanks so much for your intrest in my plight, I will take any sugguestions,

Missy:(
 
If you live anywhere near Appleton, All Creatures Animal hospital is one of the better vet around.

If not, let me know where you live as I have taken my animals to vets as far away as Green Bay or Milwaukee.
 
Hi, I'm sorry to hear that one has died.
If you cannot find a vet or live food items until next week.
Try to evaluate the non-eating one. How long has it been since it ate? If he/she looks skinny and you feel that it may starve to death I would try assist feeding. This shouldn't be common practice but if you think it is starving then I would try this.
Assist feeding takes some patience.
YOU HAVE TO BE VERY GENTLE. If the snake is in an enclosure that is easily accesable to you than leave it in the enclosure. While the snake is on the bottom of the enclosure gently grasp the neck putting your thumb and index finger on the snakes "cheeks". With gentle pressure on the "cheeks" the snake should begin to open its mouth. Gently place an appropriately sized rat fuzzy head first into the mouth. Make sure no parts of it are in the glottis. When the head of the rat is almost to the "cheeks" gently push down on the top of the snakes head right behind the nose and release the snake. Secure the lid and shut off the lights. Wait a while and see if it has eaten. If not repeat a couple of times. If the snake starts to thrash around let go and try at a later time.
THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL AND ONLY DO THIS IF YOU THINK YOUR SNAKE WILL STARVE TO DEATH BEFORE YOU CAN SEE A VET.
WHEN HOLDING ON TO THE SNAKE BE VERY CAREFUL OF ITS VERTABRA. Another hand holding the rest of the body is helpful.
If the snake eats then this is probably the only time you will need to do this.
Assist feeding is not without some Risks so I hope you will be able to find a HERP Vet. Even if the animal eats you should still see a VET for the blisters and have a fecal float done when there is a BM to check for parasites.
If you don't think the snake is starving then find a live pinkie/fuzzy rat at a pet store and drop it in at night. Wait a while and see if he eats it. Don't worry about being able to switch back to frozen/thawed. With my babies this hasn't been a problem
As far as the blisters see the thread below but I would add that I would keep the animal on paper from a brown paper bag or a paper towel. If it has already been said forgive me.
I hope this helps. If you have any quetions or concerns please ask B4 attempting to assist feed.
Oh, It was not my intention to yell by using caps.
Take Care, Rob
 
I don't know about the blisters at all. But I do know that you should get the right sized live feed for your snakes before the other one dies. But w/ the blisters it sounds like there is something there too that is causing the snake to not eat. Now if there just not eating then I'd do live( it not bad I do it w/ mine all the feedings) and sounds like yours would need a small hopper mice to eat. Also I read in reptiles about eating problems w/ ball pythons and it said to use lizard skin to put on the mice and feed your snake. A reader said this saved his ball python. I don't know how exactly to do it but it's suppose to work. I was thinking when a lizard sheds to use it and tie on hopper, but you might not have acess.
 
I would have to assume that if it hasn't eaten by now it's probably dead. Anyone ever have a hatchling go 4 years without eating?!?! Lol. I'm just kidding Jessica, this thread is a little old though.
 
They're here (we don't delete old discussion threads), but you have to look for them, lol. I noticed the date when you first posted...I just couldn't bring myself to point it out
 
Ha Harald, I bet if you were tired and cranky...you would point it out with a dig! :laugh:
hhmoore said:
They're here (we don't delete old discussion threads), but you have to look for them, lol. I noticed the date when you first posted...I just couldn't bring myself to point it out
Click to expand...
 
ask anybody that knows me - I'm plenty tired and cranky...I must have been having an off day (or more likely, was just aware that my post was coming off a little harsher than necessary, so I deleted it - THAT has been happening a lot)
 
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