Serious problem with Jennifer

[CarissaREVV]

So I did everything everyone told me increased the humidity got the heat to the right temp I went to check on her and the skin on her head is cracked open and there seems to be fluid pockets under neith her skin. What in the world is happening?????http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p784/Carissa-Reveles/91A5CAA1-D0D9-48AF-B9DD-36D5704BE3B6-2470-000004B06E9CE35E_zpsac61bee6.jpg

[bcr229]

Why the color difference in the picture between her head and her body? Is she soaking in her water dish?

She might be shedding, I've never actually seen mine start because they tend to do it at night.

[Mark Taylor]

That looks like a cut/gash if you are on about the white part on it head. Is there anyway it could have injured itself on decor in the enclosure?

[Aaron_S]

Nothing to do with us saying to raise humidity.

If you've left her in a pool of water for extended periods of time that might be a different story.

Anyway, if it's as serious as you say, and I can't tell from pics, then a vet is needed.

[MDT]

Anyway, if it's as serious as you say, and I can't tell from pics, then a vet is needed.

+1....vet time

[CarissaREVV]

I soaked her in warm water for about ten min because she was cold she hides from the heat side a lot. I had her in a plastic tub smooth edges with some fuzzy mice hoping that she would at least try and eat that since I couldn't get her to eat a small mouse she was rubbing her head in the corner the. Her skin just split open it didn't bleed or anything.

[smy_749]

I soaked her in warm water for about ten min because she was cold she hides from the heat side a lot. I had her in a plastic tub smooth edges with some fuzzy mice hoping that she would at least try and eat that since I couldn't get her to eat a small mouse she was rubbing her head in the corner the. Her skin just split open it didn't bleed or anything.

If shes hiding from the heat side, maybe its too hot?

[CarissaREVV]

It is 88 on the heat side we switched to under tank heater today though hoping that will help

[RyanReptile]

It looks like she scraped the scales off of her head were the fuzzy mice live in the container?

[Lankyrob]

I soaked her in warm water for about ten min because she was cold she hides from the heat side a lot. I had her in a plastic tub smooth edges with some fuzzy mice hoping that she would at least try and eat that since I couldn't get her to eat a small mouse she was rubbing her head in the corner the. Her skin just split open it didn't bleed or anything.

What makes you believe she is "cold"?

[CarissaREVV]

When I was holding her she felt like I was holding something that was sitting out of a fridge for ten min or so she room temp water was warmer then she was

[RyanReptile]

What is the ambient temperature?

[CarissaREVV]

It looks like she scraped the scales off of her head were the fuzzy mice live in the container?

Yes they were live her and Kyle will not touch dead I have tried and failed with that. They were sitting in a different corner then she was

[CarissaREVV]

What is the ambient temperature?

Of the room? The room temp is 80

[Lankyrob]

When I was holding her she felt like I was holding something that was sitting out of a fridge for ten min or so she room temp water was warmer then she was

Snakes will feel cold as their body temp is lower than ours, this is where the myth of them being slimy comes from, they feel cold to the touch.

Personally i think you are messing with this snake too much, give it the proper conditions (hot end should be low 90's not high 80's) and leave it alone for a while to acclimate to its enclosure. It knows when it needs to warm up and will move to the hot end, quite likely it does thsi when you arent around as it feels safer moving without being watched.

I always find my BP in the same place during the day, but if i stay up after midnight and am quiet i will see him moving around his viv.

[RyanReptile]

Mice are known for afflicting pretty severe bites maybe that's what did the damage on her head.

[CarissaREVV]

Personally i think you are messing with this snake too much, give it the proper conditions (hot end should be low 90's not high 80's) and leave it alone for a while to acclimate to its enclosure. It knows when it needs to warm up and will move to the hot end, quite likely it does thsi when you arent around as it feels safer moving without being watched

I don't actually mess with any of my animals that much. I work all day come home and have to care for a husband so I hold the snakes for a few min on the weekend and that's about it. I was told before that high 80s were okay as long as they could get closer to the heat if they need to wich is why I have a log they can climb up in to get into that is about 95 half way up 98 at the very top.

[CarissaREVV]

Mice are known for afflicting pretty severe bites maybe that's what did the damage on her head.

I don't leave my snakes alone for one second with the mice I watch them always I watched her skin crack open when she rubbed her head in the corner of the tub

[CarissaREVV]

http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p784/Carissa-Reveles/C33C9BCF-ED62-4178-9E84-B9EBD4D0C12A-2806-000004EA4A4A6570_zpse3f79ece.jpg

http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p784/Carissa-Reveles/062CCCEF-3CBD-4D7E-B29A-D64E83ED8476-2806-000004EA44D938F5_zps8d24636f.jpg

New set up for the snakes I was told the tank was to big we are going to buy huts tomorrow both of the tanks hit 91 on the warm side and 85 on the cool side and the humidity is at 50-60

[Aaron_S]

When's your vet appointment?

[Ivanator]

Mice are known for afflicting pretty severe bites maybe that's what did the damage on her head.

I wouldn't worry about fuzzies inflicting any damage though since they're blind and pretty much helpless. I've never heard of fuzzies or pinkies ever hurting a snake even when left overnight unattended.

To the OP, I would refrain from ever touching her, even to soak, until she eats by herself a few times. Also, I can't really see the bubble in the head. Can you take a better picture? Snakes are pretty tough and if its a cut, it will heal after a few sheds but since you said there wasn't any blood, my best bet would be maybe an old shed that hasn't come off yet?

[CarissaREVV]

If it is just old shed why is it pink like meat under neath. The pink that you see is the flesh that is under neither the skin.
Fuzzies don't even have teeth yet. The fluid bubbles are along the side of her body

[Ivanator]

If it is just old shed why is it pink like meat under neath. The pink that you see is the flesh that is under neither the skin.
Fuzzies don't even have teeth yet. The fluid bubbles are along the side of her body

I see the mark now. I was looking right on top of the head. If its the actual flesh you're seeing in that pic, you definitely need to take her to the vet. Old sheds could cause some damage if just pulled off. It could actually pull the new scales underneath right off.

[bcr229]

I soaked her in warm water for about ten min because she was cold she hides from the heat side a lot.
If she's spending more time on the cold side than the hot side then your hot side temperature may still be too high for her liking.

When you soak her what temperature is the water? Anything that feels "comfortable" to us will be way too hot for her. I use a digital kitchen thermometer to check the water temp, start the soak at around 91*F, and end it when the water temp has dropped to 80*F.

[CarissaREVV]

The temp I soaked her at was luke warm.
Okay, I didn't see any shed on her when I put her in the tub.

[ErikBush97]

You should definitely go to the vet!

[Aaron_S]

When is your vet appointment?

[KBHicks2012]

I would suggest finding a vet in the are that specializes in vets, I have been fortunate to find one that takes care of our local Houston Zoo and has helped me in the past. But that would be my first course of action.

Second, is your under tank heater setup on a thermostat or just plugged directly into the wall for constant power? If no thermostat is used with your UTH I would suggest getting one to regulate your heat at a constant set temp.

[KBHicks2012]

Oh an after looking at the pictures again, did you down grade to a ten gallon tank? I might bees judging size but if so, I would personally feel that they have out grown that and they are now in to small of an enclosure

[Terranaut]

What kind of mulch is that? Not cedar or a blended mulch I hope.

[CarissaREVV]

Oh an after looking at the pictures again, did you down grade to a ten gallon tank? I might bees judging size but if so, I would personally feel that they have out grown that and they are now in to small of an enclosure
I spoke to a man who had been breeding ball pythons for years and he said that the tank i had them in before was way to big for them that they prefer smaller spaces because in the wild you can pull out of a hole as big as your arm a basket ball sized ball python.

[CarissaREVV]

What kind of mulch is that? Not cedar or a blended mulch I hope.

Cypress mulch

[CarissaREVV]

I would suggest finding a vet in the are that specializes in vets, I have been fortunate to find one that takes care of our local Houston Zoo and has helped me in the past. But that would be my first course of action.

Second, is your under tank heater setup on a thermostat or just plugged directly into the wall for constant power? If no thermostat is used with your UTH I would suggest getting one to regulate your heat at a constant set temp.

undre tank heater is just pugged into the wall.
I have been unable to contact the vet that lives somewhat close by.

[Valvaren]

As long as they have places to hide they are fine with bigger spaces, just because you can find them in a hole in the wild doesn't mean they are never out of the hole to move around. I have my Oldest ball in a huge under the bed box like my 5 1/2 boa, theres lots of space for both but they both have hides on both ends and things to crawl under.

Give them as much space as you can while still being able to maintain proper conditions and adding hides and they will be fine.

[CarissaREVV]

When is your vet appointment?

I have been unable to get a hold of the reptile vet in this area

[KBHicks2012]

I could be wrong but I have always provided as much space as possible, not for hide but for roaming. My python is not active typically during they day, but once the day lamp is off, he is extremely active exploring the viv. I would personally put them back into the larger enclosure if you are able to control your temps and humidity properly, but a thermostat will help greatly with that, on that note good luck and hope your able to get ahold of your vet soon, and some type of hide for him, even if it ends up being a cereal box

[mykee]

As Aaron asked THREE times now:

WHEN IS YOUR VET APPOINTMENT??

[Valvaren]

If you read you would see she said she couldn't get hold of the vet, man before you freak out you should try paying attention.

[Will0W783]

Skin splitting like that is indicative of malnourishment and/or humidity problems. The fluid bubbles on the sides I cannot speak to since they are not visible in the photos. As Aaron and Mykee have said, you NEED to get this snake to a reptile vet ASAP if you wan it to live. There's no excuse....call around to local vets until you find one that can see your snake soon and knows how to treat reptiles. That snake will not survive much longer the way it is going. I'm sorry....but skin splitting is pretty serious and indicates advanced problems.

[KORBIN5895]

If she's spending more time on the cold side than the hot side then your hot side temperature may still be too high for her liking.

When you soak her what temperature is the water? Anything that feels "comfortable" to us will be way too hot for her. I use a digital kitchen thermometer to check the water temp, start the soak at around 91*F, and end it when the water temp has dropped to 80*F.

91°f is way to hot to add a snake into. If you think about the fact that the snake is probably at the ambient of 83°f and you then toss it into a 8°f hotter bowl of water that is quite a sudden jump for them.

Oh an after looking at the pictures again, did you down grade to a ten gallon tank? I might bees judging size but if so, I would personally feel that they have out grown that and they are now in to small of an enclosure

A ten gallon tank is just fine for such young snakes.

[bcr229]

91°f is way to hot to add a snake into. If you think about the fact that the snake is probably at the ambient of 83°f and you then toss it into a 8°f hotter bowl of water that is quite a sudden jump for them.
Gack, you're right, that's what I measured straight from the tap, because once the water hits that tub it drops a few degrees.

[CarissaREVV]

As Aaron asked THREE times now:

WHEN IS YOUR VET APPOINTMENT??

As I have said twice I have been unable to get a hold of the reptile vet in the area

[Hannibalcanibal]

As I have said twice I have been unable to get a hold of the reptile vet in the area

Then find one out of area....

[Ivanator]

Try not to take these guys words as a personal attack as they are just trying to look out for the snake's well being, but I agree that if it is flesh you are seeing, it needs to be checked out right away before the wound gets infected and gets worse. Just so you know though, sometimes your local reptile vet isn't very good and you might have to go out of area to find one that actually knows what he's talking about. At least get her checked out ASAP by someone.

[bcr229]

If the vet close to you isn't responding, SEAVS in Fairfax, VA is one of the top reptile vets in the area.

SEAVS
Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services
4105 Rust Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

Phone: 703-281-3750
Fax: 703-281-3730
Email: info@seavs.com (%20info@seavs.com)

Hours of Operation:
M, T, TH 8:00AM - 8:00PM
W, F 8:00AM - 6:00PM
SAT 8:30AM - 2:00PM

[CarissaREVV]

So checked on her this morning the bubbles are gone and her head looks a little better. i will up load a picture after work.

[Aaron_S]

So when is the vet appointment?

[CarissaREVV]

Dont know yet.

[Trollbie]

Dont know yet.

It doesn't take that long to look up reptile vets around you and call them up. I drive to a vet out of my area because my snakes are worth it.

[CarissaREVV]

so for a 15 min consult it is 100$. at that price i want to see if she will get better on her own the issue could have been from having a bad set up for her and since she has already improved slightly i want to see if she will continue to improve before i spend 100$ just to be told give her time to recover from how she use to be kept.

[smy_749]

so for a 15 min consult it is 100$. at that price i want to see if she will get better on her own the issue could have been from having a bad set up for her and since she has already improved slightly i want to see if she will continue to improve before i spend 100$ just to be told give her time to recover from how she use to be kept.

You realize you may potentially get blasted for that right :-p

[MDT]

Carissa...just gonna throw this out there. Good medicine isn't cheap and cheap medicine isn't good. I know $100 is a lot, but you have to ask yourself if it's worth it to gamble. Only you know what your threshold is....meanwhile your snake may be paying the price.

[CarissaREVV]

yes I realise that but i am not on here to lie, i dont even take my self to see a doctor until i am practicaly dead. If she is improving then it is a great chance that fixing her housing issues is making her better she spent 12 hours in better conditions when this all happend and now two days later she is starting to improve from her random deteriation, i can spend 100$ for 15 minand be told that she will do fine being left alone to recoperate or can wait to see if she continues to get better and save the money for when she gets sick again. if she gets worse then i will take her in. people can blast me all they want but it wont change anything. I am going to do what i always do when i get sick or something else gets sick i am going to wait for improvement before i get my panties in a twist.

[Trollbie]

so for a 15 min consult it is 100$. at that price i want to see if she will get better on her own the issue could have been from having a bad set up for her and since she has already improved slightly i want to see if she will continue to improve before i spend 100$ just to be told give her time to recover from how she use to be kept.

Call other vets. $100 seems a little outrageous. Maybe it's way different in your state, but usually reptile exams are around $40-65 from what I've heard. I would personally gladly live off of top ramen and taken the bus to work just so I could afford taking my kids (snakes) to the vet and making sure they're okay.

[Trollbie]

yes I realise that but i am not on here to lie, i dont even take my self to see a doctor until i am practicaly dead. If she is improving then it is a great chance that fixing her housing issues is making her better she spent 12 hours in better conditions when this all happend and now two days later she is starting to improve from her random deteriation, i can spend 100$ for 15 minand be told that she will do fine being left alone to recoperate or can wait to see if she continues to get better and save the money for when she gets sick again. if she gets worse then i will take her in. people can blast me all they want but it wont change anything. I am going to do what i always do when i get sick or something else gets sick i am going to wait for improvement before i get my panties in a twist.

Then I sincerely hope and pray that your snake won't pay the ultimate price...

[CarissaREVV]

Carissa...just gonna throw this out there. Good medicine isn't cheap and cheap medicine isn't good. I know $100 is a lot, but you have to ask yourself if it's worth it to gamble. Only you know what your threshold is....meanwhile your snake may be paying the price.

you are right 100$ is a lot to spend on a 30 pet store snake that i had already gotten in poor condition as is. i am hoping she gets better so i dont have to spend that type of money on her. but if push comes to shove and she doesnt keep improving then i will do something about it. as i said before i wouldnt spend that type of money on myself for medical care unless i was literally at deaths door step.

[CarissaREVV]

well she is getting better so she shouldnt be having to pay any price. i will see more tonight if by thursday she hasnt drastically improved then i will make an appt.

[Ivanator]

I agree that $100 is an outrageous amount just for a checkup. Mine only costs $40. I am like you and if I see improvement, I'm not in a rush to take them in unless it stars getting bad again. Just to be safe though, I would put neosporin on the wound everyday. I might get grilled for that, but whenever something happens to me, my dog or my snakes, I always put neosporin and nothing bad has happened to my snakes or dog yet from it.

[bcr229]

Call other vets. $100 seems a little outrageous. Maybe it's way different in your state, but usually reptile exams are around $40-65 from what I've heard.
OP lives in the greater Washington DC metro area, which is why I sent her the info on the local herp vets. I lived in that area for 20 years. $100 for a consult is about right, it's one of the most expensive parts of the country to live in.

[jarich]

Ya, that sounds about right. A consult is $90 here.

[KORBIN5895]

I'm sorry but you don't seem qualified to tell how healthy your snake is.

[Aaron_S]

so for a 15 min consult it is 100$. at that price i want to see if she will get better on her own the issue could have been from having a bad set up for her and since she has already improved slightly i want to see if she will continue to improve before i spend 100$ just to be told give her time to recover from how she use to be kept.

I knew it.

Too cheap to get the proper help needed. You even state you got a cheap animal in bad health. Too cheap to buy from somewhere reputable who was charging $100 for a healthy animal and PROPER aftercare. Now you're going to just replace it with a new animal because to you it's just $30.

You're a joke.

[Terranaut]

Yeah. It's a shame but there is a wide aspect of what people consider good care :( Dollar value over responsibility :(

[MDT]

you are right 100$ is a lot to spend on a 30 pet store snake that i had already gotten in poor condition as is. i am hoping she gets better so i dont have to spend that type of money on her. but if push comes to shove and she doesnt keep improving then i will do something about it. as i said before i wouldnt spend that type of money on myself for medical care unless i was literally at deaths door step.


Maybe it's just not time to have a pet then...I'm not being a jerk about this. Just if you're not committed to all aspects of care, you prob should wait until you are. No judgment, just facts. This may turn out to not be a big deal. But what about the next one? It's never just a $30 pet store snake, or a "free" Wal Mart parking lot puppy. The cost is just beginning....

Best of luck.

[stephanbakir]

As a responsible pet owner (I doubt you are...) it's your responsibility to give your pets the best care possible, they can't do anything on their own stuck in a box.

Getting a pet should imply that you you are prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for that animal... If you can't, give it to someone who can and stop taking risks with a life other then your own...

[CarissaREVV]

I knew it.

Too cheap to get the proper help needed. You even state you got a cheap animal in bad health. Too cheap to buy from somewhere reputable who was charging $100 for a healthy animal and PROPER aftercare. Now you're going to just replace it with a new animal because to you it's just $30.

You're a joke.

I bought from a cheap pet store because I never knew about reptile expos or anything like that. This is the first snake I have ever owned. I do love my snake but fact of the matter is she isn't the only thing in this house that needs care. I am hoping she continues to improve but as I said why spend 100$ to be told that she needs time to get better from the conditions that she was in. I have been down this road with other pets and found th money wasted to be told wait for now then come back if they don't get better. And later down the line if I get another snake I know better then to go to a pet store I will get a better quality snake and take what I have learned from this situation and ensure that they get all the care they need because I don't want to make the same mistakes I made with Jennifer with a new snake.

[CarissaREVV]

If I get that far again.

[LadyWraith]

I hope your snake recovers from whatever issue this is. I, personally, would be "wasting" the $100 dollars for a consult if nothing more than for a diagnosis. Even if it is "nothing", you acquired education and tracking for the next time something comes up. When you have no diagnosis on something that experienced keepers say could be bad, you're setting yourself for possible future failures. Learn from their experience. And also, just a tip (not being crass)... when you ask for advice or opinions on a message board as such, MULTIPLE pictures from several different angles of all the maladies can really help everyone help you more efficiently. They are also almost always going to ask enclosure details likes temps, humidity, substrate, etc. All of this info seems intrusive but it's all in an effort to help.

[KORBIN5895]

Personally I think you would be better to crush her head. You are reluctant to get her the help she needs and she has a slew of problems, this gash is just one of them. You obviously have other priorities and this is low on the pole. Stop making her suffer and just put her out of her misery. She has suffered long enough.

[Aaron_S]

I bought from a cheap pet store because I never knew about reptile expos or anything like that. This is the first snake I have ever owned. I do love my snake but fact of the matter is she isn't the only thing in this house that needs care. I am hoping she continues to improve but as I said why spend 100$ to be told that she needs time to get better from the conditions that she was in. I have been down this road with other pets and found th money wasted to be told wait for now then come back if they don't get better. And later down the line if I get another snake I know better then to go to a pet store I will get a better quality snake and take what I have learned from this situation and ensure that they get all the care they need because I don't want to make the same mistakes I made with Jennifer with a new snake.


I guess the word "research" isn't in your vocabulary is it.

How do YOU know it'll be a simple "just wait it out and see" answer from a vet? You got this from the pet store or the random people on here who barely have owned a ball python longer than you?

[mykee]

Just toss the thing in your freezer.
It will take roughly a very painful hour or two for all the blood in its body to completely freeze.
IMO, that's a better death than the one you're providing currently.

[Hannibalcanibal]

Just take it to a vet.... it costs a lot of money? deal with it. you got the snake into this situation, now get it out.

[Starbuck]

Carissa, euthanasia may be your best option at this point, but it is up to you to decide if things have gotten to that point. You obviously cared enough about your snake to make a lot of beneficial changes over the last week or two, and i firmly believe that it is your decision to make r.e. euthanasia or waiting it out... But please keep your snakes welfare in mind. Suffering can be hard to detect in reptiles, but do understand that your snake is NOT in a very good place right now in regards to its health. Not having known the conditions it was kept in before you got it, it could have been a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by sub standard care.

I think no one can fault you for the effort you put into making things right up until this point. While a vet visit would be ideal, i understand that not everyone has the money to spend.
I think you should seriously consider jennifer's quality of life, and in the mean time do everything you can to make sure Kyle has every chance to thrive.
Best of luck.

[valid]

You posted here with a serious problem and expected any answer other than take it to the vet?

I can understand posting on the thread with small beginning stage of worry (I am guilty of posting such myself) If my snake where to develop the symptoms yours did, my first thought would be taking it to the vet - not posting here and asking, where you know the answer you are going to receive is take it to the vet anyway.

It is not in the beginning stage of anything- it obviously has some serious problems. It is past the point of 'waiting it out'

[Trollbie]

OP lives in the greater Washington DC metro area, which is why I sent her the info on the local herp vets. I lived in that area for 20 years. $100 for a consult is about right, it's one of the most expensive parts of the country to live in.

Ya, that sounds about right. A consult is $90 here.

Ouch... But anyway, any amount of money spent on making sure my animals are okay is not wasted in my opinion. Even if they tell me that they'll heal on their own.

[CarissaREVV]

Just toss the thing in your freezer.
It will take roughly a very painful hour or two for all the blood in its body to completely freeze.
IMO, that's a better death than the one you're providing currently.

Personally I think you would be better to crush her head. You are reluctant to get her the help she needs and she has a slew of problems, this gash is just one of them. You obviously have other priorities and this is low on the pole. Stop making her suffer and just put her out of her misery. She has suffered long enough.

Carissa, euthanasia may be your best option at this point, but it is up to you to decide if things have gotten to that point. You obviously cared enough about your snake to make a lot of beneficial changes over the last week or two, and i firmly believe that it is your decision to make r.e. euthanasia or waiting it out... But please keep your snakes welfare in mind. Suffering can be hard to detect in reptiles, but do understand that your snake is NOT in a very good place right now in regards to its health. Not having known the conditions it was kept in before you got it, it could have been a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by sub standard care.

I think no one can fault you for the effort you put into making things right up until this point. While a vet visit would be ideal, i understand that not everyone has the money to spend.
I think you should seriously consider jennifer's quality of life, and in the mean time do everything you can to make sure Kyle has every chance to thrive.
Best of luck.

All of you talking about Euthinizing her are insane. Would you euthinize any other animal that had malnuritment problems and dyhydration issues? Probably not. luck has a rare occurence in my life and i was fortunate to get a reptile vet speak to me for a few min while i was at pet store with a vet clinic inside and guess what when i told him what was going on he asked about the temp of the cage her eating habbits the humidity and her behavior. i told him everything that was going on and he said try offering her food again and if she doesnt eat i will have to go in so i can get her onto a soft food diet that can be force fed. I was told to leave her alone so she can recover. BUT, If she gets worse or does not improve with in the next week to 10 days to bring her in and he would look at her. Oh and everyone as for the wound on her head it looks alot better it is smaller which means it is healing. As i keep trying to say sometimes all you can do is be patient. Those who are commenting about me not doing research as i posted on my other feed about her and kyle. I can go on google right now and find four different ideas how you are suppose to keep the snakes houseing. as for kyle he is doing great he likes his under belly heat. I have been keeping an eye out on him to make sure it wasnt a virus she had that she could have given him. I will be attempting to feed her again tonight. and i hope that she continues to get better fo i honestly want her to be okay.

[smy_749]

You are being stubborn and ignorant. The whole point is your relying on "luck" while your animal is suffering. And if your luck doesn't pay off? You just seem stingy in my opinion, and you shouldn't ask for advice if your not willing to take it. How can the 'vet' you saw give you an analysis of whats really going on and he hasn't even seen the animal. Thats the whole point of bring your animal in, otherwise all vets would consult from the telephone....

I guess you shouldn't buy any animals anymore unless they are atleast 10 times the price of a vet visit, then would it be worth it? Or is 1/10th the price you paid for him too much as well?

[CarissaREVV]

its a her by the way. and i was going to be taking her in tomorrow if i hadnt been lucky. I do have pictures of what she looked like i am not going to upload them because i dont need any more heat for how she looked. I am doing the best i can with the resources i have. alot of people would have never taken the time to even ask and try and fix the situation. i know plenty of people who would say **** it and just ignore her until she died i am atleast makiing the effort to improve her situation and get her better even if i am not jumping to the vet every five min for something. I am willing to take advice but tell me to kill my snake by putting her in a freezer or crush her skull is a little dramatic dont you think.

[smy_749]

its a her by the way. and i was going to be taking her in tomorrow if i hadnt been lucky. I do have pictures of what she looked like i am not going to upload them because i dont need any more heat for how she looked. I am doing the best i can with the resources i have. alot of people would have never taken the time to even ask and try and fix the situation. i know plenty of people who would say **** it and just ignore her until she died i am atleast makiing the effort to improve her situation and get her better even if i am not jumping to the vet every five min for something. I am willing to take advice but tell me to kill my snake by putting her in a freezer or crush her skull is a little dramatic dont you think.

If I was dying (a probably very painful mind you) death, and my family refused to give me treatment. Instead they just gave me a bunch of baths and put more blankets on me, I would ask them to smash my head with a rock as well. Also, its never a good sign when you compare yourself to those who are worse than you to justify what your doing. If your snake had a bad shed, refused a meal, or something along these lines then fine, try to change up some husbandry. Your snake has far greater issues than this, don't compare yourself to the people who leave animals in boxes to die...that doesn't say much. Compare yourself to the people who spend MONEY, time and effort, and you will see your shortcomings. Give him to someone who cares, euthanize him, or take him to the vet. Stop playing with the idea of husbandry, your snake is dying.

[CarissaREVV]

She 98% of the time since day one has refused to eat by the way and has had bad sheds every time because i didnt know about the humidity and all of that. so take a snake that has refused to eat for the past few months and she is sick would you be all that shocked that she was having problems with her health. if you take a dog or cat or what ever animal that hasnt eaten in a while and lived in not the ideal conditions all you can do is give it time to get better once you put it in better conditions and then you ensure that it eats wheather it wants to or not and you do get them looked at epecially if they are not improving. i was already told to bring her in if she didnt get better which is what i will do. I will be a good pet owner and take her in if she gets worse or doesnt improve.

[CarissaREVV]

Seriously it is a she not a he.

[smy_749]

She 98% of the time since day one has refused to eat by the way and has had bad sheds every time because i didnt know about the humidity and all of that. so take a snake that has refused to eat for the past few months and she is sick would you be all that shocked that she was having problems with her health. if you take a dog or cat or what ever animal that hasnt eaten in a while and lived in not the ideal conditions all you can do is give it time to get better once you put it in better conditions and then you ensure that it eats wheather it wants to or not and you do get them looked at epecially if they are not improving. i was already told to bring her in if she didnt get better which is what i will do. I will be a good pet owner and take her in if she gets worse or doesnt improve.

She is getting worse, and shes not improving, but your too stubborn to see it. And I don't care if its a he, or a she, or both, its irrelevant. I think we are done here, let me know when it dies.

[CarissaREVV]

She is not going to die. how is she getting worse if her wound is healing and her sides and color look better then they did 4 days ago?

[smy_749]

I'm sorry but you don't seem qualified to tell how healthy your snake is.

No need to add to this.

[CarissaREVV]

I have a question in regards to feeding I recently read that some ball pythons and royal pythons will never eat on their own and I have only gotten Jennifer to eat on her own twice and that was in one day. I have always had to force feed. Have any of you ever had a snake that you had to force feed every time and if so. Were you able to force feed a small mouse or a rat fuzzie to them. because she needs to eat i got her to eat two mice fuzzies last week but those are small and easier to get into her. I am not sure how force feeding a small mouse will work if you guys dont know then i will just talk to that rep vet again and see what he suggests other then a soft food diet because there are problems that can arise with soft food diets with her already weak i dont need her to get any of the stomach problems that they say can happen if they are given soft food diets.

[CarissaREVV]

No need to add to this.

By that logic sir you are not qualified to say how your own health is. hell by that logic no one except medical professionals can say how you or anything else is doing. you see a little kid getting over being sick and you say they are looking better and seem to be improving but according to you how is that any indication because you are not a medical professional? 99% of the time you can tell when something seems to be getting better.

[KORBIN5895]

First off you are a fool. You are ignoring the advice of people who have been keeping snakes for over 10 years. As a matter of fact you are ignoring the advice of a royal breeders that have been doing it for ten plus years. But hey you're so lucky to have a vet that hasn't even seen it give you advice on what to do! Tell me what the difference is?

Secondly you are also ignorant. Blunt force trauma to an animals head (cranial destruction ) is one of the quickest and most painless ways to kill a snake.

It took you six months to realize something was wrong with your snake but you are telling me it's okay after four days? Right.....

Finally if a snake is a non feeder it should be put down as force feeding is stressful on a snake and it's not fair to subject a snake to it for life.

From what you have said and shown you are not a capable owner and should take some serious steps to rectify this. You obviously own too many animals if you can't provide the professional help they need without it hurting you financially.

[LadyWraith]

Snakes are not "dogs, cats, or whatever else animal". They are resilient to a point but they go down hill much, much quicker. They have very specific requirements comparatively and if those needs are not met, they die. Period. Your snake needs a freakin'vet. The longer you wait it out, the closer you are to killing it. They're telling you to kill it because you are slowly killing it by not getting professional help. And they are infuriated to watch it happen. I don't understand why you think you know more about what is proper in this situation when this is your first snake. In comparison, the people here have years and years of experience with these animals.

[Will0W783]

If the OP lives in the DC area, I am not terribly far away. Perhaps I can help, take the snake and get her to a reptile vet that can treat her? I would like to help this snake if I can.

[shaunyboy]

I have a question in regards to feeding I recently read that some ball pythons and royal pythons will never eat on their own and I have only gotten Jennifer to eat on her own twice and that was in one day. I have always had to force feed. Have any of you ever had a snake that you had to force feed every time and if so. Were you able to force feed a small mouse or a rat fuzzie to them. because she needs to eat i got her to eat two mice fuzzies last week but those are small and easier to get into her. I am not sure how force feeding a small mouse will work if you guys dont know then i will just talk to that rep vet again and see what he suggests other then a soft food diet because there are problems that can arise with soft food diets with her already weak i dont need her to get any of the stomach problems that they say can happen if they are given soft food diets.


re soft food diet
tube feeding is what i would consider a soft food diet,i use high protien cat/dog food (it can be bought from a vet) watered down into a paste,so that it moves freely through the syringe and tube,attatched to the syringe is a baby infant feeding tube,cut to the appropriatte size,its the exact same tube used on human babys,when they require a tube down their nose into the stomach,for feeding when they're ill ...you buy the tube from your vet,then cut the tube so it goes far enough back the snakes throat,so the food goes down into the stomach and not back out the mouth

re amount of cat/dog food per feed
i give the samer weight as the prey the snake should be eating...

if it should be taking a 50gram prey item...i wiegh out 50 grams of cat/dog food,then water it down,load it into a syringe and tube,then insert the tube far enough down the snakes throat,so the food does not come back out the mouth

tube feeding should be done when a snakes too weak or run down to eat for itself

re force feeding
force feeding should be a LAST option,as it causes a lot of stress to the snake

if your having to force feed a snake everytime,then their something way off with the husbandry or the snake has health issues

cheers shaun

[CarissaREVV]

What part of i spoke to vet already are you all not getting besides some one on here as agreed to help me get their to their vet they say that they are very good. so as long as the timing is correct she should be going to see someone this weekend. problem with my job is i literally cant get way from work monday through friday.

[CarissaREVV]

re soft food diet
tube feeding is what i would consider a soft food diet,i use high protien cat/dog food (it can be bought from a vet) watered down into a paste,so that it moves freely through the syringe and tube,attatched to the syringe is a baby infant feeding tube,cut to the appropriatte size,its the exact same tube used on human babys,when they require a tube down their nose into the stomach,for feeding when they're ill ...you buy the tube from your vet,then cut the tube so it goes far enough back the snakes throat,so the food goes down into the stomach and not back out the mouth

re amount of cat/dog food per feed
i give the samer weight as the prey the snake should be eating...

if it should be taking a 50gram prey item...i wiegh out 50 grams of cat/dog food,then water it down,load it into a syringe and tube,then insert the tube far enough down the snakes throat,so the food does not come back out the mouth

tube feeding should be done when a snakes too weak or run down to eat for itself

re force feeding
force feeding should be a LAST option,as it causes a lot of stress to the snake

if your having to force feed a snake everytime,then their something way off with the husbandry or the snake has health issues

cheers shaun
when i got her they said she hadnt eaten on her own. what they told me was that she young and that she would grow out of it but she never did and you are most likely right it probably has been husbandry issues when i put a fuzzie in last night she was looking at it but then it fell asleep so she turned away from it and didnt glance at it again.

[KORBIN5895]

What part of i spoke to vet already are you all not getting besides some one on here as agreed to help me get their to their vet they say that they are very good. so as long as the timing is correct she should be going to see someone this weekend. problem with my job is i literally cant get way from work monday through friday.

So what is it? You don't have the money or you don't think it's necessary? Or is it you can't get away from work?

Like I said it's obviously not a priority for you and that's fine. Just stop making the poor things suffer because of your lack of caring.

[Trollbie]

Honestly, the best thing for your snake at the moment is to give it to someone who cares and who will take it to the vet immediately. UrbanLegend already offered. The snake will be in great hands with her. I can't stand the thought of it dying as a result of you being too stubborn... -_-

[CarissaREVV]

So what is it? You don't have the money or you don't think it's necessary? Or is it you can't get away from work?

Like I said it's obviously not a priority for you and that's fine. Just stop making the poor things suffer because of your lack of caring.

Big thing is work when you work the job i do you dont just take a day off when you feel like it you have to ask weeks in advanced to get a day off as long as it is a viable excuse.
I do care about my snake if i didnt i wouldnt have asked for help.

[Aaron_S]

I have a question in regards to feeding I recently read that some ball pythons and royal pythons will never eat on their own and I have only gotten Jennifer to eat on her own twice and that was in one day. I have always had to force feed. Have any of you ever had a snake that you had to force feed every time and if so. Were you able to force feed a small mouse or a rat fuzzie to them. because she needs to eat i got her to eat two mice fuzzies last week but those are small and easier to get into her. I am not sure how force feeding a small mouse will work if you guys dont know then i will just talk to that rep vet again and see what he suggests other then a soft food diet because there are problems that can arise with soft food diets with her already weak i dont need her to get any of the stomach problems that they say can happen if they are given soft food diets.

You're such a joke of a keeper.

I have kept far more ball pythons than most people posting in this thread and I have NEVER had a snake need to be force fed for life. Wherever you read this is not somewhere you want to get information. It means they suck at keeping such a simple animal alive.

The problem with soft food diets is that snakes were NEVER meant to have them that's why people encounter problems. IT'S NOT NEEDED! This vet is dumb. Find a new one.

[Aaron_S]

Would you euthinize any other animal that had malnuritment problems and dyhydration issues?

How did you diagnose this? With your vast knowledge of ball pythons?

How do you know the wound is healing? How do you know it's not part of a bigger underlying problem?

Speak to a real vet. This guy is dumb.

You don't just resort to force feeding. I had a baby ball python hatch out of an egg and she took 4 months to take her first meal. Yeah. She's fine and never once did I resort to force feeding. Offered appropriate sized meal (mouse hopper) every 5 days.

[franks]

How did you diagnose this? With your vast knowledge of ball pythons?

How do you know the wound is healing? How do you know it's not part of a bigger underlying problem?

Speak to a real vet. This guy is dumb.

You don't just resort to force feeding. I had a baby ball python hatch out of an egg and she took 4 months to take her first meal. Yeah. She's fine and never once did I resort to force feeding. Offered appropriate sized meal (mouse hopper) every 5 days.

I am with aaron on this; if this is the information you got from your vet you should find a new one. Also, If you just recently force fed two mice to your snake last week, you should not have a "few" live mice in there now. I would suggest getting your temps right, then putting the snake in a dark secluded place and do not touch it until its going to the vet, which should be as soon as possible.

[Will0W783]

I think Carissa is going to try to get Jennifer to me. I have a reptile vet who's one of the best in the country. He's AMAZING with animals; he once repaired a queen bee's wings so the hive would survive. If this works out, I will do all that I can to help this little ball python. If she can be saved, my vet will know how to help me do it. I'll keep everyone posted on how things go.

[Mark Taylor]

That's the best post yet I really hope Carissa gets her to you before it's to late.

[bcr229]

Big thing is work when you work the job i do you dont just take a day off when you feel like it you have to ask weeks in advanced to get a day off as long as it is a viable excuse.
I'm sorry, but if you've decided to work in an industry where this is normal, you really shouldn't own any pets. Call it Murphy's Law or just bad karma, but it's guaranteed something will go wrong - you, your kid, or your pet - will get sick or injured, and will need emergency care at the worst time. If "I had to miss work to take my snake to the vet" will get you fired, then the responsible decision for both the snake and for your family is to re-home the snake.

[CarissaREVV]

I'm sorry, but if you've decided to work in an industry where this is normal, you really shouldn't own any pets. Call it Murphy's Law or just bad karma, but it's guaranteed something will go wrong - you, your kid, or your pet - will get sick or injured, and will need emergency care at the worst time. If "I had to miss work to take my snake to the vet" will get you fired, then the responsible decision for both the snake and for your family is to re-home the snake.

Some one has to serve the country, if it was a human issue they would be willing to let me go. I already asked about pet issues and was told no find my own time to do it.

[CarissaREVV]

I think Carissa is going to try to get Jennifer to me. I have a reptile vet who's one of the best in the country. He's AMAZING with animals; he once repaired a queen bee's wings so the hive would survive. If this works out, I will do all that I can to help this little ball python. If she can be saved, my vet will know how to help me do it. I'll keep everyone posted on how things go.


I am going to get get jennifer to you as soon as I can so hopefully friday at the latest.

[KORBIN5895]

Some one has to serve the country, if it was a human issue they would be willing to let me go. I already asked about pet issues and was told no find my own time to do it.

You spend a lot of time on this website while "serving" our country. Another prime example of the American tax dollar at work making our lives better.

[Mark Taylor]

You spend a lot of time on this website whole "serving" our country. Another prime example of the American tax dollar at work making our lives better.


:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[CarissaREVV]

my job allows me computer access.

[CarissaREVV]

As long as i get my job done i can be on the internet.

[MDT]

Kimberly...very cool of you to reach out like this. Hopefully all is well. Maybe you can help educate as well.

[Aaron_S]

As long as i get my job done i can be on the internet.

I think you missed his point.

[CarissaREVV]

I get his point but i am not going to make any remarks about it. only 2% of the nation can and will do the job i signed on to do. so he can think what ever he likes.

[smy_749]

What are you , a superhero? Im guessing national gaurd/army?

[Mark Taylor]

2% of 316,668,567 = 6333371.34 that seems like a lot to me.

[MDT]

2% of 316,668,567 = 6333371.34 that seems like a lot to me.

just remember, when you're a 1 in a million guy in China, there's a 1000 other guys just like you :)

[CarissaREVV]

Military yes and if anyone has been in the military then they would know how controlling of peoples lives they are. it does seem like alot when you look at the whole number but it is still only 2 percent of an entire nation of people so as big as that number seems it is still small. now enough about me i am insignificant only one that matters is Jennifer.

[CarissaREVV]

i am glad to say thanks to the very kind Kim Jennifer will be able to get all the extra care that she needs that i unfortuantly cannot provide.

[Aaron_S]

Military yes and if anyone has been in the military then they would know how controlling of peoples lives they are. it does seem like alot when you look at the whole number but it is still only 2 percent of an entire nation of people so as big as that number seems it is still small. now enough about me i am insignificant only one that matters is Jennifer.

2%? Who cares? It's STILL 6 million + people. You're really not that special.

[smy_749]

2%? Who cares? It's STILL 6 million + people. You're really not that special.

This. And if 'Jennifer' is the only one that matters, then wouldn't you have gone to a vet by now, and told your boss you need the day off for something...

And just to clarify, more than 2% can do your job, but only 2 % are willing to sign up....big difference.

I have a sister, shes fat and whiny, and shes in the army....oh, and she has plenty of time to do lots of stupid things. So does her husband who is in the army, and my sister who was a nurse in the army. And they were stationed on base in hawaii...so...

[CarissaREVV]

Depends on your job. And your leadership my leadership can give so few ****s that they will send a pregnant woman to deal with highly contagious people that carry disease easily transmitted by just being in the same room
If I didn't care at all about my snake I would not have even asked about her I would have said oh well she dies she dies but instead I took the time to ask for advice and then I decided to give her up to someone who has the time to care for her say as you would like bash me hate me I don't care what your opinion is. She is already going to be taken care of so you can stop putting your panties in a twist

[smy_749]

Depends on your job. And your leadership my leadership can give so few ****s that they will send a pregnant woman to deal with highly contagious people that carry disease easily transmitted by just being in the same room
If I didn't care at all about my snake I would not have even asked about her I would have said oh well she dies she dies but instead I took the time to ask for advice and then I decided to give her up to someone who has the time to care for her say as you would like bash me hate me I don't care what your opinion is. She is already going to be taken care of so you can stop putting your panties in a twist

1. You weren't planning to give her away ,the other user offered to take her because of your pathetic efforts.
2. You asked for advice, and listened (maybe) ....until it was going ot cost you 100$ then you stopped.
3. I don't wear panties.

[CarissaREVV]

1. Actually she offered to help get her to the vet not take her. I asked if she would take her in.
2. I have been listening and I was going to take her into the vet if there had been no improvement but you were bein impatient. Each person is raised to react differently to situations such as this.
3 it's a figure of speech

[Trollbie]

1. You weren't planning to give her away ,the other user offered to take her because of your pathetic efforts.
2. You asked for advice, and listened (maybe) ....until it was going ot cost you 100$ then you stopped.
3. I don't wear panties.

Prove it!



jk

[smy_749]

Prove it!



jk

When I typed that I was only wearing a bath robe, I don't think you want to see me in my underwear bro ;) but if ten more people also want to see....then maybe hahahahah

[Trollbie]

When I typed that I was only wearing a bath robe, I don't think you want to see me in my underwear bro ;) but if ten more people also want to see....then maybe hahahahah

Bro? You don''t think I'm a dude, do you?!

[smy_749]

Bro? You don''t think I'm a dude, do you?!

Are you serious? Is there more females on here than men? I JUST posted to starbuck asking her if he/she is a girl because of the voice in the video they posted.

I had no idea there was so many women in the hobby....I'm shocked

[Trollbie]

Are you serious? Is there more females on here than men? I JUST posted to starbuck asking her if he/she is a girl because of the voice in the video they posted.

I had no idea there was so many women in the hobby....I'm shocked

;) Surprise! LOL

[Starbuck]

smy, yes i am a girl ;) sorry, thread jumping lol

you think a guy would own such a pretty (pink) snake? ;) ;)

[smy_749]

smy, yes i am a girl ;) sorry, thread jumping lol

you think a guy would own such a pretty (pink) snake? ;) ;)

Yea, I used to have an albino california kingsnake :P

I'm still shocked, I think I may need a few days to recover....:hmm:

[Starbuck]

Yea, I used to have an albino california kingsnake :P

I'm still shocked, I think I may need a few days to recover....:hmm:

Ouch, you're hurting all us wee-girlies feelings... ;)

[Valvaren]

I'm also female.


I hope Jennifer gets the helps she needs and gets the chance to live a long healthy life. That's all I'm going to say.

[smy_749]

Ouch, you're hurting all us wee-girlies feelings... ;)

Its not a bad thing, I just had no idea that girls actually liked reptiles, considering 95% of the girls I know including family, can't stand them.

I knew there was obviously some women in the hobby, but It feels like there is much more of them than there is men...thats the shocking part.

I have to go double check to make sure I'm not female too, brb ....

[Trollbie]

Yea, I used to have an albino california kingsnake :P

I'm still shocked, I think I may need a few days to recover....:hmm:

Lol we'll be here when you recover.

[CarissaREVV]

I hope so too!
Great news everyone!! Took a little time and effort but I got her to eat three fuzzy mice I know she should eat rats but I can't assist feed those they are to big. But tonight was the first night she didn't fight me as bad on feeding last few times she just spit it back out this time she actually ate them all last two I just had to put the tip of their heads in her mouth and she did the rest of the work!!! Now I am excited, this hopefully means Kim can get her fully recovered easily.

[Trollbie]

Its not a bad thing, I just had no idea that girls actually liked reptiles, considering 95% of the girls I know including family, can't stand them.

I knew there was obviously some women in the hobby, but It feels like there is much more of them than there is men...thats the shocking part.

I have to go double check to make sure I'm not female too, brb ....

Funny you say that because from my experience, guys are usually the ones who chicken out when it comes to my snakes. Also, did you know that a lot of girls like guns too? :shocked: I just beat my dad in law in target shooting :cool:

[Trollbie]

I hope so too!
Great news everyone!! Took a little time and effort but I got her to eat three fuzzy mice I know she should eat rats but I can't assist feed those they are to big. But tonight was the first night she didn't fight me as bad on feeding last few times she just spit it back out this time she actually ate them all last two I just had to put the tip of their heads in her mouth and she did the rest of the work!!! Now I am excited, this hopefully means Kim can get her fully recovered easily.

I guess this is good news. But I would leave her alone until you get her to Kim.

[valid]

If she is sick is it really a good idea to feed her? It could exaggerate the problem - or cause reguritation. If it took it willingly that is one thing - force feeding an already sick animal is just asking for more trouble.

[smy_749]

Funny you say that because from my experience, guys are usually the ones who chicken out when it comes to my snakes. Also, did you know that a lot of girls like guns too? :shocked: I just beat my dad in law in target shooting :cool:

I can actually picture the gun thing more than snakes, and I dont actually have any friends, male or female, who share reptile interests with me, at all. So yea, I knew about the guys too :P

I'm not big on guns, I don't know if being a man whether I'm supposed to or not, but I don't care for guns....or cars.

[Trollbie]

I can actually picture the gun thing more than snakes, and I dont actually have any friends, male or female, who share reptile interests with me, at all. So yea, I knew about the guys too :P

I'm not big on guns, I don't know if being a man whether I'm supposed to or not, but I don't care for guns....or cars.

You should go check your parts again. More carefully this time. :p

[smy_749]

You should go check your parts again. More carefully this time. :p

Well I have a pretty long beard, so hopefully I'm right. Otherwise I'm going to join the circus...What am I supposed to be looking for again :P (don't answer that)

Back to the original poster, if your snake doesn't want to eat, and your still having to force feed him, you didn't solve the problem....so don't be so excited yet.

[CarissaREVV]

She hasn't eaten in about a week. And I only had to kinda force feed one the others I just but the tips of the noses in her mouth and she took care of the rest. She has only on one occasion just eaten with our assisstance and that what about a week after I got Kyle then she went back to being totaly uninterested in food like she always has been. An I will leave her be she can't be played with for a few days after eating anyhow so by the time Kim can get her to the vet she will be ready to be handled and be ready to feed again in a few days if not that following day. I may have no been great with her but I won't let her not eat because she doesn't like to eat.

[smy_749]

She hasn't eaten in about a week. And I only had to kinda force feed one the others I just but the tips of the noses in her mouth and she took care of the rest. She has only on one occasion just eaten with our assisstance and that what about a week after I got Kyle then she went back to being totaly uninterested in food like she always has been. An I will leave her be she can't be played with for a few days after eating anyhow so by the time Kim can get her to the vet she will be ready to be handled and be ready to feed again in a few days if not that following day. I may have no been great with her but I won't let her not eat because she doesn't like to eat.

:O_o: Oh no, not one whole week...

[CarissaREVV]

When as you guys pointed out something is malnurished it cannt afford to go with put eating. As the all the web sites say young snakes need to eat once a week. Especially the babies.

[CarissaREVV]

Out** stupid auto correct

[Trollbie]

She hasn't eaten in about a week. And I only had to kinda force feed one the others I just but the tips of the noses in her mouth and she took care of the rest. She has only on one occasion just eaten with our assisstance and that what about a week after I got Kyle then she went back to being totaly uninterested in food like she always has been. An I will leave her be she can't be played with for a few days after eating anyhow so by the time Kim can get her to the vet she will be ready to be handled and be ready to feed again in a few days if not that following day. I may have no been great with her but I won't let her not eat because she doesn't like to eat.

Snakes often go off feed for months and still remain healthy. Many BP owners will tell you some of their snakes went off food for more than 6 months and they didn't become sick. In fact, many don't even lose a significant amount of weight.

Generally, sick snakes won't eat. If a snake is sick , the focus is getting the right treatment. It will most likely start eating on its own as it gets better.

[valid]

Ok. As long as you wernt shoving down her throat. It is better she digest the food before she start stressing over the move. Hopefully her problem is curable.

[smy_749]

When as you guys pointed out something is malnurished it cannt afford to go with put eating. As the all the web sites say young snakes need to eat once a week. Especially the babies.

Well if thats what all the websites say, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut and start feeding my hatchlings forcefully on the 8th day, you learn something new every day !

[CarissaREVV]

Snakes often go off feed for months and still remain healthy. Many BP owners will tell you some of their snakes went off food for more than 6 months and they didn't become sick. In fact, many don't even lose a significant amount of weight.

Generally, sick snakes won't eat. If a snake is sick , the focus is getting the right treatment. It will most likely start eating on its own as it gets better.

She wasn't eating when I got her on her own and she has always been thin and a squishy but she has been losing more weight and still wouldn't eat. I am hoping Kim will be able to get her to eat on her own. Fingers crossed

[Trollbie]

Well if thats what all the websites say, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut and start feeding my hatchlings forcefully on the 8th day, you learn something new every day !

May I ask what websites? Just so we can point you in a better direction.

[Trollbie]

She wasn't eating when I got her on her own and she has always been thin and a squishy but she has been losing more weight and still wouldn't eat. I am hoping Kim will be able to get her to eat on her own. Fingers crossed

That's because she's sick. That's why the most important thing right now is getting her to the vet. And Kim is going to do that. I'm just praying that it's not too late.

[CarissaREVV]

Well if thats what all the websites say, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut and start feeding my hatchlings forcefully on the 8th day, you learn something new every day !

Literally just read that off of two different sites young snakes (babies) need to eat about once a week to maintain growth and development.
You see why I was failing you all say they can go longer but others say they have to eat every week.

[valid]

Let her be, she admits she has faults and probably hasn't given the best care - but at least nowshe is trying to do what she can to help.

[CarissaREVV]

Care Sheet - Python regius - World of Ball Pythons (http://www.worldofballpythons.com/python-regius/care-sheet/)
Here is one site.
Ball Python Care Sheet (http://www.reptilesupply.com/article_info.php?articles_id=13)
Here is another

[smy_749]

Literally just read that off of two different sites young snakes (babies) need to eat about once a week to maintain growth and development.
You see why I was failing you all say they can go longer but others say they have to eat every week.

Experience takes precedence over care sheets any day. Would you rather have your car fixed by a mechanic who never studied the actual field, or a guy who read a few books and never fixed a car?

And no, shes not trying her best. She stated that since she got him he was being force fed, and STILL requires being forcefed, yet when you tell her to take him to a vet, she says that hes improving....Anyways, I'm wasting too much time on this thread.

Oh and thanks for the links. I took a little qoute from it I thought was interesting "Please do not buy into the myth that says a Ball Python can go for a year or more with out food! This belief is DANGEROUS TO YOUR SNAKE! Any snake that does not eat for more than a few of weeks should be seen by a qualified Veterinarian."

And the other website had one too, thats funny.... " If the snake begins to lose weight, speak to your vet and seek advice from experienced keepers. "

[valid]

It is a bit too late . But at least its something. If you take anything from this think long and hard about getting another - do research and buy a healthy snake not one that comes with problems.

[CarissaREVV]

I know and whether others on here believe me or not have learned my lesson. Kyle was healthy when I got him and I plan to keep him that way. He has never had a problem with eating luckily. He loves to eat.

[Lickeypie]

I had no idea there was so many women in the hobby....I'm shocked

Is that a problem! :O

[Aaron_S]

When as you guys pointed out something is malnurished it cannt afford to go with put eating. As the all the web sites say young snakes need to eat once a week. Especially the babies.

I don't recall if I posted in this thread or another but I will do so again...

I had a baby ball python, hatch out of the egg and refuse their FIRST meal for 4 months.

You fail at collecting information from proper people.

[brandonh]

while i see a reason to fight for this snake. i don't see a reason for the comments to get this out of hand. yes there is caring of this snake and it should have seen a vet right away. but at what point do you lower yourself to these attacks and still call your self a good person?

[KORBIN5895]

Are you serious? Is there more females on here than men? I JUST posted to starbuck asking her if he/she is a girl because of the voice in the video they posted.

I had no idea there was so many women in the hobby....I'm shocked

Yes she is a she and a very pretty she at that.

smy, yes i am a girl ;) sorry, thread jumping lol

you think a guy would own such a pretty (pink) snake? ;) ;)

I would gladly own a pink boa.....


I have to go double check to make sure I'm not female too, brb ....

I never want to hear about you doing that. That's just wrong.

while i see a reason to fight for this snake. i don't see a reason for the comments to get this out of hand. yes there is caring of this snake and it should have seen a vet right away. but at what point do you lower yourself to these attacks and still call your self a good person?

You stop being a good person when you start attacking people on irrelevant issues. Of some one is lying or making excuses and you call them out there is no harm.