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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
 Posted - 02/07/2012 : 22:16:05
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Hi,
This is my first post so please be patient. I bought a 2 year old normal male ball python about 2 months ago from a good reptile store and he has not eaten yet, I have tried 5 times, 2 with a medium rat, and I've just had my third attempt with a small rat. He does not seem interested in the food at all, he seems more interested in trying to escape, had to gently guide him back into the box I was feeding him in earlier!
I read pretty much every article on ball pythons on the internet before purchasing one and I've re-read all the articles I can find on feeding. The shop I purchased him from said he was feeding on medium rats which I do believe as he is quite a big ball python for his age. I am feeding FT and I am heating them up before feeding and have tried scenting one with tuna and he hasn't shown any interest. His viv is set up so the hot end is 33 degrees Celsius and the cold end is 27 degrees. I keep an eye on temperatures and they are very stable. The humidity stays between 55 and 60%. He has hides on both the hot and cold side and a large water bowl. I can post pictures if needed.
Can anyone please offer me some advice? I'm really worried though I did talk to the pet shop and they said it was normal around this time of year due to the mating season. |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2012 : 23:23:21
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Evening Rich, firstly welcome to the forum, I'm sure one way or another we can get this straightened out. Firstly I can reassure you not to worry too much, 2 months to us is a really long time to go without food, to a Royal he has skipped the equivalent of breakfast. They use very little energy being cold blooded so some times just dont need to eat. I have a few questions for you to help steer your efforts in the right direction;
What are you using to heat the vivarium (what type of bulb)?
What size vivarium is it?
What does the Royal weigh?
What weight has been lost in the time you've had him?
Do you know how he used to be kept before you got him?
Is the vivarium quite bare or packed full of stuff?
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 17:35:25
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Lotabob,
Thank you for your reply. The vivarium is being heated by a 60 watt (I think) infra-red bulb which is controlled by a thermostat set at 33 degrees Celsius. I did have it drop 3 degrees at night but I have now stopped that. The viv is wooden and 36" x 15" x 15" with the front part all glass. I weighed him this afternoon and he was 932 grams, I think this is a good size for a 2 year old ball python? I only bought scales today (terrible I know) so I haven't kept track of his weight but I certainly will now. He doesn't appear to have lost any although unless it was drastic I doubt I would have spotted it. I don't know about how the previous owner kept him but the shop I bought him from had him in a similarly sized cage heated in the same way. They used a wood chip substrate whilst I am using soft astroturf. The viv isn't packed, there are 2 good hides at either end and 1 large and 1 water bowl. I'll take a photo in a minute.
Anything I'm doing wrong? |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 18:11:38
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This is the viv he is kept in.
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 18:17:18
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He got a little camera shy when I weighed him.
Another camera shy photo, he's not very active till the night!
A photo of his escaping the box I left him in with the rat last night, glad I left the box in the viv! The humidity is not usually that high, I'd just cleaned the mess he'd made off the astroturf!
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 18:18:46
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Sorry the last image should be this!
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 19:33:00
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Aww he is just a typically shy Royal, good weight and body shape so nothing to worry about if he isn't eating it wont be doing him any harm.
He may be feeling a little bit over exposed, you could try putting a branch between the two hides and draping some artificial foliage over it. Dunelm mill is brilliant for fake plants etc, the Ivy they do is brilliant, i love it. Another thing you can try is turn the hides to face the doors backwards just a little bit. Unfortunately the next thing is a pain, and its no handling the snake unless absolutely necessary, I'd also cover the front of the vivarium with a towel make it nice and dark. Its still early days though and he is a good healthy snake and the move can nudge them into fasting for a bit. My Royal fasted for 4 months and lost a few grams so it does them no harm. As to feeding, if you can try just putting the rat into the vivarium just to the side of the door of the hide he is in and then cover the vivarium over it may make him feel more comfortable that he happens across food rather than being put in a box with it. If you put the rat in just before you go to bed it should help that there wont be any interruptions until morning and they are nocturnal so its likely he is out for a wander when the lights go out.
One of the moderators on here called Kelfezond has put together a guide for non feeding royals, have a look at it, it will give you a bit more information as to next steps but you are a long way from having to take any further actions but might be reassuring there are plenty of things you can do.
http://www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9800 |
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Stewy-C-
Yearling
United Kingdom
103 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 20:37:16
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| What temperature is it directly on top of the big hide (one under the bulb)? And the temperature inside that hide? |
1.0 Spider Royal
0.1 Pastel Royal
0.1 Snow Corn
"The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about"
"On the internet you can be anything you want, its strange that so many people choose to be stupid" |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 09:42:55
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| The temperature (without snake inside) in the hot side hide is 28 degrees, I don't know the surface temperature but it is warm, not hot enough to burn though. I'm assuming the hot side is a good temperature as he goes back and forth a few times a day to regulate his temperature? |
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Stewy-C-
Yearling
United Kingdom
103 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 12:41:55
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| I would take a reading above the hide also. Just because your thermostat is set to 33 doesn't mean much. Thermostats aren't that accurate, plus your thermostat probe isn't directly under the bulb. Take a reading on top of the hide, an let us know what it is. |
1.0 Spider Royal
0.1 Pastel Royal
0.1 Snow Corn
"The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about"
"On the internet you can be anything you want, its strange that so many people choose to be stupid" |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 20:30:04
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| The upper surface temperature of the hide is 37 degrees of the hide, but the air around is 33 degrees. Is this a reasonable reading? |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 21:35:03
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You might want to bring the surface (or hot spot) temperature down to 32oC and then the surrounding air will level out at about 24-26oC. I try to not have my hides directly under the bulb so as to not cause too much faff when it comes to measuring what's what. If you place your thermometer right in the centre of the ground or hide directly underneath the bulb that should be your hottest point and that's the bit that's supposed to be 32oC.
As you turn the thermostat down dont be surprised to see the bulb switch completely off for ages as it slowly drops the temperature. |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2012 : 10:52:04
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Right, I brought the temperatures down to the levels you suggested. Snake started to get cloudy eyes a few days ago so I raised the humidity to 65% and he shed last night! Looks like its all in one piece, I havent had the snake out yet as it was early morning but I took out the skin and I was happy with how it looked (although this was the first time I've had a snake shed!). Is it normal for the shed to come out like a ball? Here a photo of the shed:
This is the whole shed! |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2012 : 10:53:15
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Whoops, that didn't work!
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chrisc
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
3326 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2012 : 10:56:53
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yes it normal my little one frank leaves his shed like this most times.
unroll the shed and check the eye caps and tail tip are there |
1.0.0 burmese python,giblet. 1.0.0 BCI, william. 0.1.0 blue tongue skink, 0.1.0 green iguana, jasmin, 1.0.0 cape house snake, 0.1.0 checkered garter snake
my youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/pegrocks
incubate 2 campaign
https://www.facebook.com/incubate2 |
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rich.mike
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2012 : 13:57:50
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| I'll check my snake over when I get home, I managed to tear the skin to pieces looking for the eye caps this morning, I think it's all good though. I'm happy he shedded ok. When shall I next try and feed him? Do I need to leave it a few days after a shed? |
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chrisc
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
3326 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2012 : 15:03:03
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| some will feed straight after shedding but some wont so no harm waiting a day then trying |
1.0.0 burmese python,giblet. 1.0.0 BCI, william. 0.1.0 blue tongue skink, 0.1.0 green iguana, jasmin, 1.0.0 cape house snake, 0.1.0 checkered garter snake
my youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/pegrocks
incubate 2 campaign
https://www.facebook.com/incubate2 |
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Topic |
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Ball python hasn't eaten since I got him
