Feeding underweight/thin baby ball python...

[Cohazard]

Okay, so the baby pastel I got at the anaheim show on sept. 6th is underweight, and seems to be getting skinnier by the week!

I'm very worried.

a week after I first got him, he took a rat pink.

today, I fed him a crawler mouse, but he looked really thin today, and his belly is so flat.

I don't want to push him too much, but I really am starting to think I should give him a rat fuzzy.

The mouse crawler and rat pink were very small, there's really no bump in his body after feeding the hopper today.

would I be pushing him too much by feeding a rat fuzzy in two days?

 

[TheMightyOscar]

whats his weight? any pics of him?

there really isn't any reason to be feeding such small prey items UNLESS he's tiny (under 60g). if he's over 70g he could probably take a rat pup or medium sized mouse.

 

[Cohazard]

he was 67 grams haven't weighed him after last night. No recent pics, or any that show how skinny he is.

 

[TheMightyOscar]

i would start offering a rat pup every 5-6 days, they really help in getting some weight on these guys. i bought a tiny normal july 13th, she was 75g, she's now 208g..she gets two rat pups a week.

 

[Jessica Dring]

Get him onto small adult mice dude! They can easily take it and he needs a boost. Be grateful hes eating so well and give him one. If he won't take mice then yes give him a rat hopper. Rats are technically a bit more nutritional for them, but I think the most important thing here is getting some weight on him!
Good Luck!

 

[davo]

Personally I'd leave it on rats. If it's taking rats already, then you don't have any problems trying to switch later on. Just my opinion, you could go either way.

How old is this little guy anyway?

 

[Cohazard]

Thanks for all the advice so far everyone.

He is an '08'.

I only gave him a mouse crawler last night because I wanted somethign in his stomach. I should've waited till sunday when I can get him a rat fuzzie from my herp shop.

What do you say to me giving him a rat pink tomorrow?

 

[jason longboard]

Is the temp right in the tank,and is he drinking water?Also,I would feed him again now but thats just me,Ive gone through that same crap but just feed it,he should eat it.THis is what I would do anyways.

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

Nice avatar, mighty. I know those tats!! sexy.....

 

[Cohazard]

Is the temp right in the tank,and is he drinking water?Also,I would feed him again now but thats just me,Ive gone through that same crap but just feed it,he should eat it.THis is what I would do anyways.

Temps are good, not much of a gradient though, my room stays 80 all day, drops to 76 at night.

I haven't seen him drink water, but he's got fresh water daily (I use drinking water, not tap).

I'm going to feed him tomorrow, a rat fuzzie, see how that goes.