plumping up a ball

[BoyntonStylez]

Ok I bought this ball from someone that was inexperienced. It is eating, I had her for about two week and her feed two mice once. I took it to my vet and he said that its a bit on the skinny side, its spine is visible. Other than that normal. My question is can I feed her two rat fuzzies instead of two mice? Thanks
<img src="http://g.photobucket.com/albums/v481/xzelujx/BPVick004.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/xzelujx/BPVick003.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/xzelujx/BPVick002.jpg">

[marisa]

She doesn't look deathly thin but rats will fatten her up far faster than mice. But if she is a mouse eater only, then you can feed her two mice per meal, or try feeding her twice per week. Make sure the hot spot is at 88-90 :D

Marisa

[HumphreyBoagart]

Judging from the pictures that snake could eat alot bigger food item than rat fuzzies. A newborn ball can take down an adult mouse or rat fuzzy no problem. You should feed it one item that is equal or 1.5 times the biggest girth of the snake. And you should feed it rats as it is a real chore to get them to switch over from mice once they develop a preferance. Looks real nice though. Good luck and keep us posted.
Hump.

[BoyntonStylez]

Is it healthy to feed twice a week? Someone told me that was unhealthy due the time to digest. If fed when already full the chance of regurigation is high. Im not the most experienced at keeping snakes, but I have in the past. I just didnt want to leave this one with the twit who had it. Her setup is basic. A 20 long with a hot and cold side, a water dish, and aspen shavings. Each side has a hide and the temps are 74 cold and 90 hot.

[marisa]

I feed twice a week sometimes. No problems. Obviously I am not stuffing them to the brim twice a week though. Just one prey item.

But the norm around here at least, is one quite large prey item that leaves a noticable LUMP for roughly two days. That snake can DEFINITLY eat larger than rat fuzzies. No problem.

Just keep feeding her on a steady schedual (whichever it is, rats, mice, twice a week or once per week) and she will bulk up.

Marisa

[HumphreyBoagart]

If it is only a mouse you fed it, it wouldn't be full anyways, so yes it would be okay. I'd try and get it eating ratties if I were you though.

[BoyntonStylez]

I fed it two (2) mice. And I want to switch it to rats. I just want to make sure it was eating. Will 1 fuzzy suffice or should I feed it 2?

[HumphreyBoagart]

Don't feed it fuzzies at all. Feed it a rat that is equal to or 1.5 times the thickest girth of the snake. Judging from the pics that snake could eat a small rat no problem and probably even a medium. Do you have any pics with something in it for size reference?

[BoyntonStylez]

This is a pic with it wrapped around my Gfs hand

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/xzelujx/BPVick005.jpg">
It looks like it can down a medium rat with no problem

[HumphreyBoagart]

Oh for sure, small to medium rats no problem.

[BoyntonStylez]

just 1 of either or?

[HumphreyBoagart]

yep, just one medium. You'll notice it gain weight pretty fast. I'd be sayin' it's skinny from eating such small prey.

[BoyntonStylez]

Thank you very much Humphrey

[HumphreyBoagart]

No problem. Good luck with her.

[smeagel]

ok, my male pastel is skinny like that ( being able to see spine the same way ). he hasn't eaten in 3 months. It's not the 3 months not eating thats bothering me, it's being able to see his spine. I try to feed him once every week or week and a half, but nothing happens.

[HumphreyBoagart]

I have ones that haven't eaten in longer that you can't see their spine. As long as you have your humidity up and always provide fresh drinking water they should be fine. My one male has put on over 200 grams and shed at least three times without eating in months. Growing strictly on the water provided.
Good Luck

[pythonmdk]

That's pretty cool I didn't know they could gain weight by just drinking, and that much too, I'm flabergasted, haha. you learn something new every day.
~John

[Bristen]

I personally think that the animal was growing on any fat reserves it may of had and nutrion it received when it did eat.. I think you will loose weight when you're dehydrated, however I don't think the animals was growing on energy provided by water.. I'm no biologist, but that statement doesn't sound right to me..

Thanks,
Bristen.

[paulsreef]

What about the lenghth of the rat? I have some small rats that I feed my adult corn snake, and it's not as girthy as my young ball. But the Ball is at least a foot and a half shorter then the corn, so I'm not sure if the Ball can handle the length.

[pythonmdk]

I personally think that the animal was growing on any fat reserves it may of had and nutrion it received when it did eat

My one male has put on over 200 grams and shed at least three times without eating in months. Growing strictly on the water provided.

It sounds to me like the snake was growning using the water and fat reserves, so your both possibly right, you can't gain weight from just burning your fat but through metabolism and fresh water I guess it could occur. Just my thoughts though.
~John

[HumphreyBoagart]

Bristen,
Yeah you could be right, but if it was using it's "fat reserves", wouldn't it get smaller? I'm no biologist either, but all I know is it put on 200 grams, shed at least 3 times, and hasn't eaten in ages.
Hump.
edit- just wanted to add that it's pretty much an adult too, not a growing youngin'.

[Rikki]

Yeah, i think one medium rat should do her great! Let us know how it goes man :)

[lostwithin]

pythonmdk, you are right, any living animal need both water and nutrients to live and grow. A snake who is not eating and still growing would be using a combination of both the water it's fat reserves. the majority of weight "gain" technically is water because that is the only thing being added to the body, the nutrients being used were already in the snake in storage ie. fat reserves. But if it wasn't for BOTH resources the snake would have no growth at all. The snake isn't simply filling itself up with water, it's using water and converting it's fat reserves in order to grow.

EDIT : sorry BoyntonStylez , I got caught up and didn't comment on the original thread I basically back up what everyone else said that snake doesn't look deadly thin but could gain some weight . I would suggest a small-medium rat. once every 7-10 days.

Devon