How could I have helped him better?

Squirgle · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 02:08 AM

A kid came into my place of work yesterday and asked to talk to the 'snake guy' and since I was the only one working that owned snakes he was sent to me. He has a (and I quote) "42 inch ball python that hasn't eaten in six months."
So I asked him Everything I could think of, and it all sounded OK except the humidity.
Temp: 87-ish on hot side
Humidity: 30's
What has he tried feeding?: Everything, live, prekilled, frozen...mice, gerbils, ranging from fuzzie to adult size.
What does he feed in? (I asked this because I thought Maybe it was getting stressed in 'transit'): In its own cage, so he wasn't moving the animal at all.
Possible illness? (asked if it wheezes, 'coughs', points head up, holds mouth open for a bit etc): Nothing, he previously had a snake with a RI, so he supposedly knows what to look for.
Did he let the animal adjust when he first brought it home?: Yes (supposedly)

Can't think if I asked anything else....what did I miss? This kid said he hasn't gotten the snake to eat a single time yet! I wound up just telling him to have it checked up by a vet and had him leave with a look on his face like I wasted his time...what did I miss? How can I help the next person with a problem like this?

Squirgle
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travis66 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 03:27 AM

you should send anybody who gets a snake from you or has snake related questions here.
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impermanentrage · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 05:03 AM

I am not going to say as to what the cause is and although i do find that humidity level a lil' low, and i would change it, i find no direct correlation between humidity level and BP refusal to eat. Honestly a BP of that size, if its weight is appropriate, fasting for 6 months is hardly cause for alarm. Just give the BP time. S/he will eat eventually. I seen balls fast for 6 months w/out significant weight loss before. So long as their are no obvious signs of other medical problems associated with refusal to eat, i wouldn't sweat it.

entropy,
alex
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Squirgle · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 05:13 AM

flnavyguy-I've haven't thought of that...thats a good idea [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I'll be sure to write the addy on the top of any forms for snakes we sell there, and refer people here from now on...
impermanentrage-I forgot to write that he said it was getting way skinny...actually the way he described it was that the snake was starting to appear "triangular" [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
I also did tell him about the fasting thing, but I hadn't heard them lasting That long before...
Thanks guys
Squirgle
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telefrag · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 05:45 AM

Well, this is most likely a fresh import that he has,
they are notorious for long periods without feeding,

What would be the best thing for him to try is to raise the humidty, place newspaper or towels around the tank to block off any light, and put in a nice and tight hidebox in there with him/her, then just leave the snake alone for about 3-4 weeks, just checking on water, and temp humidity, no handling or anything like that.

After that, try a small prekilled large mouse/small rat, left overnight close to the entrance to the hide box.

Adult wc ball pythons can go almost a year, maybe more without food if they have good body weight when they are imported.
I had one once about 10 years ago that went 10 months without eating, and after trying the above method, she fed the first try.

Since then that has worked for nearly 30 adults that I got feeding for myself or others.

Have him try it,
may work for him too.
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#6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2002, 07:33 AM

Moving this over to feeding forum..

I also agree with what telefrag has said here. That's about the same way we get non-feeding balls to eat here also.
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