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Ball python can't keep food down, has previously had health troubles

Posted By:

Crazy4Herps

In Relation To:

Culebra

Background Information: My ball python Cu has always been a problem feeder, sometimes taking only mice, sometimes only live, and fasting routinely every year, but this is the first time she has had any troubles keeping food down. This past year has been awful for her in terms of health. She had a moderate RI in late 09 as well as pinworms (both cleared up) and had another RI a few months ago. Vet thinks that there was residual fluids in her lungs from last year that never cleared up completely. Her symptoms have now gone away, and her feeding response is back (after a long fast without anything but a couple of mice here and there, please see her tracking). **The mite treatment on her tracking records was purely preventative, I had another snake with mites. This snake never got them.

Husbandry: She is in an APT10 (4x2') that has a secure divider down the middle. Each of my ball pythons have their own 2x2' space. I use flexwatt hooked up to a Johnsons t'stat. Basking is in the low 90's, the rest of the cage in the high 70's and low 80's. She has clean water, a hiding area, aspen substrate.

So my current problem is this: Cu's feeding response is back, but she isn't eating the food. She strikes, constricts, and begins to poke at the heads of both live and f/t mice. I am not sure what happens next, as she has always eaten in her hide. Somehow, the mouse is not eaten. I am not sure if she ever completely gets it in her mouth or if she gets them down, hangs out for a few hours, then regurges. In any case, I find the mice in her hide the next day. They do not appear to be digested at all (besides being a bit wet from her saliva) and definitely don't smell like a regurge.

One more question: can a fecal test be done on urates? I have some urates bagged in the fridge. I would like her tested for parasites, but it's been a long time since I've seen any feces as she has not been eating, and I'm not sure when I'll get something more substantial to be tested.

Also, to my horror, it seems that I will not be able to quarantine her. We have a new puppy in the house, and there is absolutely nothing she won't get into, with the exception of my bedroom (where all the snakes are). Her neighbor ball seems in perfect health and is eating with gusto as usual.

Please take a look at her tracking. She did take a mouse last week that she successfully kept down. (Keep in mind that I am very bad at tracking and rarely make note of defecation, sheds, cage cleaning, etc. I do offer Cu a mouse every few weeks, despite what my records may say. However, you may completely trust my record-keeping in regards to actual feedings, vet visits, and medications.)


Points:	150
Topics:	General Health , Feeding , Digestive
Tags:	Behavior, Feeding, Python, Refusal, Regius, Regurge
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

9/8/2010 1:10:40 AM

shellboa

My first thought is that she is not warm enough, it sounds odd since the one on the other side isn't having the problem but since she has had the health issues you may want to see what you can do to bump the ambient temp to at least a consistent 86 and see if that doesn't help. Also, in order for a fecal/parasite check to be done accuarately it generally has to be done as soon as possible once the sample has been obtained. Don't know the exact time line but my vet usually says within a few days.

The next idea is to take a look at her mouth and make sure there aren't any problems there, look for redness swelling or any discharge beyond a little saliva. Excessive saliva could indicate a number of things including RI or an intestinal issue, cheesy whitish or yellowish stuff usually indicates mouth rot which is serious and needs immediate vet attention.

One last suggestion is to try to get her some sun. I know we have been having some pretty crappy weather here but I can't tell you how many times I used to go to the vet and got a vit D shot to stimulate appetite when 20 minutes in the sun can do just as much good and its free. If the opportunity presents itself, get all of them some sun.

Member Comment

9/9/2010 6:06:17 PM

bad

Just to comment on temps: my cool sides are typically 75*-80*F year round and the snakes do fine. I've had it like this for 5 years now and as long as the cool side is no cooler than that (with a proper hot spot) the snakes shouldn't get sick from temps alone. Although, I agree that it would be a good idea to bump of those temps in case she is sick.

I wish I could help more, good luck with her!

Member Comment

9/10/2010 10:19:25 PM

aaron

I love that you have "look at her tracking".
When you really get down to it, this system is pretty damn cool.
Continue ...
(sorry for the interruption, i just like it when a plan comes together)

Accepted Answer

9/12/2010 10:31:03 AM

HeadHunter

Sounds to me like she isnt regurging just not eating the food. I have had a couple of snakes in the past they have done this. With my experience they will drop them if they dont strike the prey just right. Basically if they have to take their mouth off of the prey they end up and dont eat it. try getting her to strike the prey directly in the head, if you hold the prey item on the scruff of the neck when presenting most times you can get them to do this. Once she strikes and wraps give it a couple of yanks to be sure she throws a tight coil and gets those teeth sunk in.
Not sure why they slip into this specialized feeding every once in a while but hopefully that is what is happening with your girl and you can just adjust your feeding technique.

Good Luck with her!

Member Comment

9/15/2010 1:02:33 PM

abi21491

I agree with HeadHunter, and also have a few snakes who will not eat their food unless they get a perfectly accurate strike. If they have to let go and find the head, they loose interest and I have to do the zombie rat dance all over again, hoping they strike right this time. My advice would be to bump up her temps a little and try to get her to strike the head. Good luck!

Member Comment

2/2/2011 3:27:04 AM

abi21491

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