Blood not eating

[Bloodman6]

I need help. My baby has only ate 2-3 times (don't have my records with me at the moment) in the past month and a half. She has lost weight and is only 70 grams. The last one she ate was almost two weeks ago and she regergatated it. Since then she has gone diarea several times. I have her in a small sweater box with a hide box and a water dish large enough to soak herself in. The substrate is paper towels. I've soaked her twice so far and she has soaked himself several more times. She has a heat pad under half the cage. When I fed her I use thawed, small mice, place them outside the hide box and leave them over night. I turn off all the lights and cover the cage with a sheet. I was told she's captive breed and her temperment is fine for a blood. Last night I tried pre-killed and the mouse had blood on it's nose. She didn't take it last time I checked. I don't want my little girl to die. what should I do? What are the temp and humidity requirments for bloods? Also, could you guys post a few pics of Samatrans, Mylasians, and Borneos (ones with real light, tan coloring). Me and my brother have a bet on which one she is.

[rwg]

What are your warm and cool side temps? How are you measuring your temps? Do you have hides on both ends of the cage? Snakes will often choose security over thermo-regulation, and stay in a hide at the wrong temp rather than be exposed to potential predators. The should also be able to go from end to end without crossing significant open spaces. How long did she keep the last meal down before regurge? Do you handle her much in general? How long after feeding do you wait before handling again.

If you can answer these questions, we can help rule out husbandry errors. In the meantime, if you get an opportunity to collect a fecal sample, I would bring it to a vet for testing. That can rule out internal parasites.

Roy

[Bloodman6]

I havn't measered the temps in a while but last time I did it was in the mid-eighties to low ninties on the warm side, and around 75 on the cool side. I use a temp gun. I only have one hide box but there is not too much open space. She prefers to stay inbetween the hide box and side o the cage. She only kept the last mouse down for about a day. I try my hardest to not handle her 24 hours after she eats unless she really needs a cage cleaning. I only handle her a few times a week while cleaning her cage. Most of the time she's in the holding box and I hold her only for a few minues at a time. Never more then 5 mins. I just read the care sheet on this forum and I'm going to check the temp and humidity tonight when I get home.

[malaysianbloods]

Hi it sounds like she might have internal pericite, either way if she doesn't eat soon you should take her to the vet.

[Linds]

There are several things that can cause a snake to get sick like that. How long have you had the snake? Has it been sick the whole time? Check and recheck your husbandry, making sure your snake is in a secure environment with proper temps and humidity, and an adequate supply of water. Try not to handle your snake for 2 days after feeding, and until your snake is healthy and feeding well, do not handle your snake unless you absolutely need to. Infections can also cause a snake to exhibit those symptoms, such as bacterial infections and parasitic infections. I would definitely recommend a fecal and possibly a culture done as well to rule those out. Also, make sure you do not feed for at least one week, if not two, before feeding after a regurgitation. Parasites can cause rapid weight loss in a non-feeding snake.

Where did you get it? If it was sold as simply a Blood Python, then it is likely a Malaysian blood. The rest aren't Blood pythons (despite being called Borneo Blood or Black Blood), but rather 'Short-Tailed Pythons'. Sumatran Short-tails are quite rare, and sometimes referred to as Black Bloods.

Here's a pic of my lightest Borneo when she was a hatchling...
<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/22tashaBP2.jpg">

Here's a pic of her as an adult...
<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/22tasha2.jpg">

My male generally didn't change too much in appearance from when he was a baby...
<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/22darky-bottle.jpg">

Here's a pic of a young Blood Python taken from http://www.proexotics.com

<img src="http://proexotics.com/retail_products/Pythons/red_blood_baby_12-01_1.jpg">

[KLG]

Originally posted by Linds
Where did you get it? If it was sold as simply a Blood Python, then it is likely a Malaysian blood.

Actually there's an even bigger chance it is a Sumatran locality blood (P. brongersmai). Malaysians haven't come in with any regularity for almost 2 decades now, and the vast majority of red floating around out there these days are of Sumatran descent.

Just my $.02

K

[Bloodman6]

When I got home from school yesterday the dead mouse was on the other side of the cage and under it was a thick, hard, Dark-brown almost black substance. It smeled terrible. I scrubbed the entire cage down and weighed her. After airing the room out for hours, the entire room still smelled this morning. The snake only weighed 65 grams. After it's second meal a couple weeks ago it weighed 75 grams. I got her pretty cheaply ($50) from a small dealer at the Tinley Park Reptile expo in Chicago in early Oct. It was sold to me as just a plain Blood python. He claimed he personal breed and hatched it. As of right now it looks like a malaysian by the photos. Does anyone know of any herp vets in the Chicagoland area. I live in Dupage County. I would love to save my little girl. I have however made peace with the fact that she probable won't servive the week. Does anyone here any bloods well started (150-250 grams) they are willing to sell?

[Slim69]

Dude, get that thing to a vet. It sounds like your snake has internal parasites. Dont just let it die. And you shouldnt be asking what the humidity and temp requirements are because you should already know. Poor snake.

[Bloodman6]

I'm trying to find a herp vet right now. It's pretty hard though. Whats the best way to find one? What can I do untill I find a vet? I havn't given up yet. I'll fight it to the end. I'm going to try to feed it again in a couple days. It needs food badly. Thanks for all the help everyone has given me.

[KLG]

http://arav.org/USMembers.htm

This may help you find a vet.

If your snake is regurgitating - do not continue to feed it until you've found & treated the problem. Regurgitation is a symptom of a bigger issue going on (in this case sounds a lot like internal parasites).

The more you feed your snake & the more it pukes, the less positive gut flora it is able to re-establish between feedings, which makes it more difficult for the animal to digest food in the first place, leading to yet another regurgitation.

Have you soaked your snake at all? If not, put it in a SHALLOW (no higher than 1/3 of the way up the snake's sides) soak located in a warm spot & let the snake attempt to rehydrate.

Please get in touch with a vet ASAP.

K

[Bloodman6]

I've soaked him three times so far. first time was two weeks ago, second was sunday, and last time was last night. Thank you so much for the link. I've found several vets in my area. I'm going to take him tomarrow or fri. I would bring him sooner but my parents don't knew me and my brother have snakes. I'll have to sneak them out.

[KLG]

Good luck - and NO FEEDING in the mean time. Give that little snake's system a rest.

K

[Bloodman6]

I have some sad news. Friday afternoon when I came home from wrestling practice I found that she passed away over night. I want to thank everyone for all the help you gave me. It probably made her last days more peacefull.

[Linds]

Sorry to hear the little one didn't make it... :( Next time, try and pick up your snake froma reputable source, often times you end up getting what you pay for :/

[Borneoblood151]

Hey,
Sorry to hear that it didn't make it, but this case only highlights, what we talk about all the time. Don't buy from dealers we just don't know. Along with the animal they sell you, they also, sell you a pack of out right lies along with it. It's always better spending a little bit more money, because in the end, at least you know that your herp will still be around with you for a very long while and will not demonstrate any of the problems associated with your last purchase. Keep your chin up!

-Angel