Nicki's not eatting

[NASAAN101]

Hey Guys,
I'm very worried about my two-year old Female Ball Python, Nicki! She's down to 614grams and the last time i feed her she was feb. 8th, she was 779grams so she lost a total of 165grams and I don't know what to do, Should i get her a live Fizzie Mouse???? then I weight her on the feb. 19th and she was 735gram. then when i weighted her on march 16th, she was 703grams. The top or first weight was from last night!!! I don't went to feed live to her, but I'm sacred i might have to?
Nikki

[Lankyrob]

You need to give us full details of her enclosure - size, heat, humidity, substrate type etc etc etc

The more info you can give the better advice you will get - how long have you had her?

[MoreliAddict]

Pictures of the enclosure, temperatures, and snake would help.

Excellent care-sheet on housing (http://www.strictlyballs.ca/housingfaq.htm)

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
ok, she and my other three snakes are in a 34qt rack, but its got the back heat with the heat type, and the Temp is set at 107.4!! I got all four snake on April 29th, 2011! and Nicky was born on April 1st, 2010! she's two years old!!! the humidity is between 40 to 60! I hope that helps!!!

[NASAAN101]

here are the photo! the first photo is Nicky and the second is my rack!!! its not the while one!
nikki

[MoreliAddict]

Guys,
ok, she and my other three snakes are in a 34qt rack, but its got the back heat with the heat type, and the Temp is set at 107.4!! I got all four snake on April 29th, 2011! and Nicky was born on April 1st, 2010! she's two years old!!! the humidity is between 40 to 60! I hope that helps!!!
Your temp is way too high! At the hot end, it should be around 90-95 degrees. The cool side should be 75-80 degrees. Please check this care sheet out that a posted above, here it is again:
Housing FAQs (http://www.strictlyballs.ca/housingfaq.htm)

[youngster]

107 is waaaaaaaaaaaay too high like Morelia said, it should be set to 95 at the highest

[Lankyrob]

The heat is quite likely your issue, drop it down as above, leave the snake a week and then try feeding it then - let us know how it goes.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
ITS BACK HEAT!!! the front of the tub at at 70 and the back is at 90!!!
Nikki

[SpOoKy]

ITS BACK HEAT!!! the front of the tub at at 70 and the back is at 90!!!

and the Temp is set at 107.4!!

Which one is it???

[NASAAN101]

OK,
the rack i have has the back heat not the bally Heat, like normal cages do!!! But At the Front of the 34QT bin, the temp is at 70!!!!
Nikki

[Will0W783]

No need for all the exclamation points- no one is yelling at you. We are just trying to help. What I think is confusing people is that you mentioned that you had the heat set at 104.7, then in your next post you say that the temps are 90 at the back of the tub and 70 at the front, because you are using back heat to heat the tub.

What kind of gauge are you using to measure your temps? A digital temp gun is the only reliable, accurate way. If you have those little stick-on dials, throw them out. They will do you no good. If your temps are truly 90F in the back of your tub and 70F in the front, why mention 104.7F at all?

I find it odd that you can get that much of a gradient in a 32-qt Sterilite tub. I doubt it can really vary by 20 whole degrees, unless you have some serious draft problems in your room or your room is cold overall. If you truly do have the heat tape set at 104, and are only getting 90F ambient in your hot spot, with 70F in your cold end,....I would start searching for drafts and reasons why you are losing so much heat. Inadequate temperatures and drafts may be your problem.

How is Nicki's breathing? Does she make any whistling, popping, or wheezing sounds when breathing? Is there any mucous coming out of her mouth or nostrils?

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
Other then not eating, she's active and she poops and is breathing ok!! I'm wondering if its the fact that she's two years old and wants to breed!! Micki her mate is three! but My mom and dad wouldn't let me breed them!!! any idea!!!! I had a scare with micky a few mouths about, cause the bottom two bin stay cool, and most of the heat stays on the top three bins!!! and part of the reason the heat is so high is, I'm on the third floor and its always cool up here!!!
Nikki

[youngster]

I don't get why it's set to 107, where is your probe(s)? If the probe is correctly placed you shouldn't have to set it higher than what you want. It doesn't matter whether it's belly heat or not.

That could create a big problem.

[mykee]

Your husbandry sounds good, but a weight loss like she's been experiencing is really bad news. Try feeding live. If not, get a blood smear and a fecal done at the vet.

[NASAAN101]

The guy that i got her and my other four snakes from Did a home make Dimmer switch for the Rack!!! but Like i said: part of the reason the heat is so high is, I'm on the third floor and its always cool up here!!! But its only during the winder that i had it up so high!! I'm getting live tomorrow!!
Nikki

[Terranaut]

What size of prey do you feed her? Did you weigh her pre or post feed at her heavy weight?
Just tossing this out there. Could it be she has taken a little break but the weight loss was just the meal pooped out? If she has pooped normaly as you stated above then of course her weight would drop. Now from what you posted she has dropped a lot but if you weighed her initialy with 180 grams of rat inside.... well you can see where I am going with this.
Again just a thought.

[exwizard]

Guys,
ok, she and my other three snakes are in a 34qt rack, but its got the back heat with the heat type, and the Temp is set at 107.4!! I got all four snake on April 29th, 2011! and Nicky was born on April 1st, 2010! she's two years old!!! the humidity is between 40 to 60! I hope that helps!!!

107 is waaaaaaaaaaaay too high like Morelia said, it should be set to 95 at the highest

Guys,
ITS BACK HEAT!!! the front of the tub at at 70 and the back is at 90!!!
Nikki

Which one is it???

Ok I understand this since I too have racks. The thermostat is set higher because the probe is not in the tub. It is in the back outside the tubs. The ambient temp from what I understand is in 90 even tho the thermostat is higher than this. If in fact the ambient temps in the tubs are 90 in back and 70 up front, I dont think heat is the issue.

[NASAAN101]

Ok,
before she stop eating she was on med mice! But the breeder that i got her from Gave me rat for them, and that were all the problems started!!!! its Not the heat!! it the fact that i tried to move her to med small rats right way! and she hasn't eaten since!!! So I'm not sure if i should try and get her back on mice for a little long, or should i try and feed her live just once and then not feed her for a mouth til she's ready to eat again??? what do you guys thing?
Nikki

[Lankyrob]

Does your full stop button not work? Is hard to read your posts with all those exclamation marks :)

So she ate one rat and has not eaten since? Personally if she isnt ill wait her out just offering rats every couple of weeks - answering the questions about her weight and when you weighed her will help tho :)

[NASAAN101]

Lankyrob,
sorry about. Any way, I just er-weight nicki, i a goofed on the weight yesterday. She's 648grams, as of tonight!!! Ok her weight from the last four time is as follows: feb. 8th, she was 779grams. feb. 19th 735gram.Then when i weighted her on march 16th, she was 703grams. and I just er check, SHE'S AT 703gram!! .. The reason its in black is that's the weights!!! But the breeder i got her from also told me that her weight would flucuate a bit up or down.. But I'll get a photo of the thermostat, so you know what i'm talking about ok!
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

Bin one has the Childern's python in it and the Back heat is set at 91 and the Front is at 80, Bin two which is were Nicki is. and the the Back heat is set at 91 and the Front is at 80. Bin Three is Micky, the back heat is also 91 and the front is 80. and the last shelf is were my boa is, and that's Back heat is set at 91 and the Front is at 80.. Remeber the temps are just the shelves were the bins are!!! they not the temp in the bins!!! sorry, if I'm getting you all mad at me :(
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

Here are the temps in the bins are! Bin one has the Childern's python in it and the Back heat is set at 83 and the Front is at 78, Bin two which is were Nicki is 83. and the the Back heat is set at and the Front is at 78. Bin Three is Micky, the back heat is also 83 and the front is 78. the last shelf is were my boa is, and that's Back heat is set at 83 and the Front is at 78... Thoses were the temp in the bins!!! the heatstrip is set at 97.0F

[exwizard]

Here are the temps in the bins are! Bin one has the Childern's python in it and the Back heat is set at 83 and the Front is at 78, Bin two which is were Nicki is 83. and the the Back heat is set at and the Front is at 78. Bin Three is Micky, the back heat is also 83 and the front is 78. the last shelf is were my boa is, and that's Back heat is set at 83 and the Front is at 78... Thoses were the temp in the bins!!! the heatstrip is set at 97.0F

Nobodys getting mad at you. They were just not understanding your description of the difference between the heat from the heat strip and the heat inside the tubs. Thats all. :)

[NASAAN101]

youngster,
you asked with the prob is for the Heat, its actully on the heat, I'm i'm looking at getting a temp prob for each bin!!! but I don't know how much they are?
Nikki

[youngster]

The probe generally comes with the thermostat, I don't think it would be safe to modify one.

[Lankyrob]

How do you measure the temps INSIDE the bins front and back?? The heat outside may be perfect but the temp inside could be different by a huge degree depending on the ability of the tub to transfer teh heat and how much air movement there is around the bin also.

[Snakefood]

youngster,
you asked with the prob is for the Heat, its actully on the heat, I'm i'm looking at getting a temp prob for each bin!!! but I don't know how much they are?
Nikki

you can get a thermometer with a probe for about $10 at home depot. Use it in cunjunction with the thermostat probe, set the thermostat to wherever the thermometer stays @ 90-95f inside the hot end of the tub. 83f is too low for a B/P

[KORBIN5895]

Epic misunderstandings!

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
My step dad had i temp gun, but it not for reptiles!! but it works for now, it i can get the one for Reptiles!!
Nikki

[mykee]

A temp gun is a temp gun is a temp gun.

[youngster]

The normal temp will probably work loads better than any marketed towards reptiles. No point in getting a new one. What would even be the difference between a reptile temp gun and others?

[Snakefood]

none, I have both. They read the same so long as you keep the batteries fresh!!

[NASAAN101]

Guys
I did find these and i was wondering if anyone uses them: Digital Terrarium Thermometer (http://zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=172&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=5) ... let me know ok!!! Well, I'm going to try and get the head of the Fizzle rat in Nicki mouth, bad idea or should i give it a try?? Any ideas???
Nikki

[mykee]

Meh. Better than nothing.

[NASAAN101]

well, I manged to get Nicki to eat a rat pup!!!! But No go on my small moues!!!

[Snakefood]

awesome!!!

[NASAAN101]

but I had for force her!

[Snakefood]

but she ate it!! progress sometimes comes in small doses.

You can stuff it in her mouth, but ya can't make her take it down (you know, lead a horse to water......)

[mykee]

How did you "force" her?

[youngster]

How did you "force" her?

This also kinda concerns me. Did you assist her or force her?

[NASAAN101]

Guys!
I was able to get the head in her mouth and she did the rest!!! but her rapped my hand and got a tooth in me, at the same time!!! But she also took a fizzie mouse to!!!
Nikki

[mykee]

So you assist fed her. Still not outta the woods yet.

[NASAAN101]

Next week, I'm two rat pups!
Nikki

[millertime89]

There's really no reptile specific one, there are ones marketed as such, but they all do the same thing.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
I'm just Happy She finally took something!
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
I just weighted Nicky and she's back up to 730grams!!!! so that's a good thing!!
Nikki

[Terranaut]

So there was never an issue?

[Gungirl]

Your story doesn't match up. You weighted the snake before you got it? It gained over 100 grams over night? Something isn't right.

[Terranaut]

He is weighing the snake before and after meals as well as post pooping. No consistancy = no wonder :(

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
Nikki's was AT 703gram.. I messed up with i weighted her the last time!!!
Nikki

[millertime89]

He is weighing the snake before and after meals as well as post pooping. No consistancy = no wonder :(

I always try and weigh the day before feed day for this exact reason.
Just like with us humans. If you're trying to gain/lose weight you need to be consistent with when you weigh yourself because after meals in the evening you're obviously going to weigh more than you do first thing in the morning.

[NASAAN101]

millertime89,
Thanks for that!!!
Nikki

[mykee]

I don't know, maybe it's me, but I kinda feel that this thread was a waste...

[Terranaut]

Can I finish your sentence???

I don't know, maybe it's me, but I kinda feel that this thread was a waste...
.... Of 4 pages of useless reading and debating :(

[millertime89]

I don't know, maybe it's me, but I kinda feel that this thread was a waste...

Don't like it? Don't read it, don't respond to it. Its quite a simple concept.

[mykee]

Be gone, PARTYPOOPER!!

[millertime89]

Nah, work is boring.

[mykee]

Thing is, we were led to believe that there was some real urgency with this animal that had lost a lot of weight and refused to eat. We all offered the best insight we could, and turns out; no problem.
MEH!!!
Three minutes I won`t get back.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
I was just worried and Panicked ok! That's for the help all of you!
Nikki

[youngster]

Is your name Nikki? :confused:

[NASAAN101]

Guys
Yes! If you guys are going to keep the criticism up, I'm getting off of here! I don't like that ok! And I said i was sorry ok!!! So pls, quit giving a hard time!
Nikki

[KORBIN5895]

We are such a happy lot.

[exwizard]

And yet another one gets run off :(

[mykee]

Yet YOU'RE still here.
Go figure...

[NASAAN101]

mykee,
what;s your problem with me, huh???????
Nikki

[KORBIN5895]

Mykee is just like that.

[mykee]

Not you, Ex.
He talks too much.

[NASAAN101]

mykee,
Like! I paniced ok!!!
Nikki

[Trollbie]

You're 28 and you have to get permission from your parents to breed your snakes?

[millertime89]

You're 28 and you have to get permission from your parents to breed your snakes?

huh? did I miss something?

[Trollbie]

Guys,
Other then not eating, she's active and she poops and is breathing ok!! I'm wondering if its the fact that she's two years old and wants to breed!! Micki her mate is three! but My mom and dad wouldn't let me breed them!!! any idea!!!! I had a scare with micky a few mouths about, cause the bottom two bin stay cool, and most of the heat stays on the top three bins!!! and part of the reason the heat is so high is, I'm on the third floor and its always cool up here!!!
Nikki

The OP posted this earlier on in the thread.

[millertime89]

Ah, I missed that, I went back and look but just skimmed quickly.

[youngster]

Edit: nevermind, pointless post

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
The point my mom was trying to make is, I might not sell any of the babies and i would have room to house them all!!!
Nikki

[millertime89]

Easy tigre, no need for bold letters and exclamation marks.
I would avoid breeding until you're at least out on your own and able to care for all the offspring if you're unable to sell them. You'll have to care for them for a few weeks at least until they get a few feedings down. Or you should.

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
Til I know Nicky poops, Should i keep her on the rat pup????
Nikki

[millertime89]

I would bump her up anyways, feed her what she needs and she'll poop when she has to.

[NASAAN101]

What i found out, try to help her eat she got a tight grap on my arm!
Nikki

[millertime89]

cuz she's nervous. Put yourself in her scales, how would you like it?

[NASAAN101]

no, Off topic, They can't hear you can they?
Niki

[youngster]

They don't have external ear openings so probably not. There's been a lot of debate about that. They are very sensitive to vibrations however.

[Lankyrob]

Guys,
Til I know Nicky poops, Should i keep her on the rat pup????
Nikki


When they eat pups they rarely poop as they digest pretty much everything, once they eat prey with hair then the poops get bigger and more frequent :)

When mine goes it looks like a dog has broken into its viv and had a dump :p

[exwizard]

When they eat pups they rarely poop as they digest pretty much everything, once they eat prey with hair then the poops get bigger and more frequent :)

When mine goes it looks like a dog has broken into its viv and had a dump :p

Once again, clarification is needed. Does the term "pup" mean rat pinkie 3-8g or does it mean fully furred preweaned 20-29g? This makes all the difference in the world.

[Lankyrob]

Fair enough, mice pups, rat pups, pinkies all mean prey with no fur in the UK feeders market (or at least all the shops i have used to get prey items from)

[millertime89]

here pups are as Gary explained. 20-29g and ready to go. My SD and BRB are going to be on them soon.

[NASAAN101]

the rat Pups are Fourteen to eighteen days of age. I hope that helps!
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

The Childern's python is on the Fizzle Rats, and there even to big for her, but she has no problem with them!! the pup are bigger, right?
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

Guys,
I just looked and she got a rat picky!! I'm going to try and get her and the baby fizzle rats, and then try and get her on the pups!!! here is a photo of the Fizzles: https://micedirect.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=36&zenid=f455ccc928f0459049079b5aac0b01f3 and pups: https://micedirect.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=37&zenid=f455ccc928f0459049079b5aac0b01f3 .. let me know what you guys thing ok!!!
Nikki

[millertime89]

did you mean fuzzy and pinkie instead of fizzle and picky?
yay autocorrect?

[Trollbie]

For fizzle my nizzle!

[zaroba]

2 Months of not eating is nothing to worry about. Ball Pythons regularly go off feed.
As long as they are still drinking, active, and not showing other signs of illness there really is nothing to worry about.

Was something like 5 years ago that I had 4 ball pythons, all similar aged and kept in 20 Gallon Long tanks next to each other. Same humidity levels, same temps, same lighting schedule. Snakes were the same size and fed adult mice weekly.
1 snake ate like a vacuum cleaner all year. It was a veracious feeder and never skipped a meal.
2 snakes would stop eating sometime in November and start again sometime in February
1 snake *always* stopped eating late October, *always* resumed early March, and would often skip various meals during the summer time as well. He seriously only ate 1-2 dozen times a year.

Never force/assist fed any of these snakes.

[Snakefood]

the first pic that your calling "fizzles" are "fuzzies, which are 8-14 days old and 9-19grams.

the second pic you posted looks like "hoppers" which are 15-21 days old and are 20-29 grams-

Here in BC "pups" are weanlings which are 28 days old and are 30-44 grams.

[mykee]

OP, is English your first language?

[NASAAN101]

Snakefood and mykee,
Your both in Canada! Yes, English is my First Language!
Nikki

[Snakefood]

]Snakefood and mykee,[/B]
Your both in Canada! Yes, English is my First Language!
Nikki

Yes, we are..........but I think I'm missing your point in mentioning that:hmm:

[NASAAN101]

Snakefood,
All i was saying is, Some places, have diffident ways to size snake food, that's all!
Nikki

[exwizard]

@ OP...

I took this pic of our size chart which directly reflects rodentpro...

PI= pinkie
F=fuzzy
PU=pup
W=weaner and so on.

This is for our rats. I hope this helps. :)

[mykee]

Nikki, I was referring to your tenuous grasp of the language.

[Snakefood]

Snakefood,
All i was saying is, Some places, have diffident ways to size snake food, that's all!
Nikki

Yes, that is why I specified where I was and what is considered what HERE.

[NASAAN101]

ya!!!
Sorry, If what i'm saying isn't make scene for some of you! I type two fast some times!
Nikki

[mykee]

Yeah, your sentences can be hard on the brain.

[NASAAN101]

Mykee,
Sorry about that!!! I wasn't trying to do that to you guys!
Nikki

[NASAAN101]

Anyway,
After so Pullling My Hair Out, Nicky is back to eatting!
Niki