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would like some input

O

OBTkeeper

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I would greatly appreciate some input.

I have been keeping ball pythons for years, as well as some boas, colubrids, and venomous. I recently received a female normal ball python that has a cleft upper lip. She hadnt eaten since she hatched out, and was starting to lose some weight. I made sure her enclosure was correct, and left her completely alone for over a week. When i attempted to feed her, she didn't act interested at all, and really didn't act like she knew the food was there.

Over the course of about 3 weeks, i tried every trick in the book to try and get her to feed with no luck at all. I finally made the decision to assist feed. I got a couple small fuzzy mice, and as soon as i put the head of the mouse in her mouth, she curled up on it and took it down like a champ. She did this twice over the period of a week.

I tried feeding her again today, same thing. I had to assist feed, but she took it like a champ as soon as the head of the mouse was in her mouth.

This got me thinking... I wonder if her heat receptors are working properly because of the cleft lip? She doesnt't act like she knows that food is there, and there is very little tongue flicking, if any at all. I would like some input on what others think. I really hope she will eventually take food on her own.
 
First, I'm am no expert. But, I would imagine that she will eventually take unless there is an additional underlying problem. Her lack of flicking may indicate she has a problem with her tongue or that area as well. Assuming she still has her sense of smell and everything else carewise being correct I would think she will take. I worked with some C.H. ball pythons that out of the group I got a couple that just wouldn't eat on their own for a couple months. I assisted slighty smaller than normal meal as if they were on a normal schedule and one day they both just took off.

She may also be due a trip to the vet.

Pics would help and maybe someone with some more experience with that same issue could shed some light.

Thanks,

Jacob
 
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