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Rescue ball python...

And if she's lost *6 grams* in less than a week, I think it would be very dangerous to leave her with no nothing for a couple weeks, especially if she was underweight already.
 
She's not an adult...she's barely a yearling...64 grams. She shouldn't be off food for the season. She's evidently never eaten since Petsmart got her in with another ball. The vet had her and was force feeding her with dog food. I then took her and tried f/t ASFR (small the size of a fuzzy mouse). Nothing. Offered again a week later-nothing. Tried live the other night-rat pinky...nothing. I can't be too patient...she's going to lose too much weight. She's showing backbone now and has lost another 6 grams from last week. At this rate she'll be dead in a couple of weeks anyway.
 
Meg, maybe it's better to throw in the towel (as mean as that sounds) and say that "I tried, but I couldn't" and euth her before she just becomes emaciated and dies? I'm nowhere as snake-whisperer as you are, but it seems like euthing before her life quality goes down the drain is more peaceful for poor snakey.
 
I tend to agree. I'm going to try perhaps one more go with live and see what happens. Otherwise I think euthanasia is the only proper thing to do. I can't see anyone spending all their time force feeding her. It's unfortunate that Petsmart brings in these imports. There are so many breeders out there producing balls that DO take f/t prey and are better adapted to captivity. The other one that came in with her ate just fine. The extreme loss of weight concerns me more. She shouldn't be losing condition that fast but perhaps her lack of feeding is catching up with her and she is deteriorating more quickly due to it. She was very bloated when I got her although they were feeding her dog food (and crappy quality Science Diet at that) so her initial weight loss of 10 grams after 2 weeks wasn't especially worrisome. She crapped twice-loose stool- so that would also account for a small amount. She lost the bloated look and now just looks thin. It's possible she has kidney issues as well and part of the bloating is that. I just don't think she's going to do well. Even though I dislike ball pythons, I don't dislike her. She's a sweet little thing, and any snake to me deserves a chance. It makes me feel bad that I couldn't help her out. Just the way it is though-doesn't make it easier to decide to euthanize.
 
I know for a fact, Petsmart doesn't import them. They are bred by a breeder in the U.S., it's Petsmart's inattention to their animals that messes them up.
 
I'm so sorry, Meg. Sometimes they just refuse. Sending good juju that it's a quick decision and a painless end. You're doing the right thing.
 
Carinata said:
I know for a fact, Petsmart doesn't import them. They are bred by a breeder in the U.S., it's Petsmart's inattention to their animals that messes them up.
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My local petsmart has a sign that says "captive born" for Balls, while the corn sign says they're captive bred, so personally, I don't assume the best.
 
Brieana said:
My local petsmart has a sign that says "captive born" for Balls, while the corn sign says they're captive bred, so personally, I don't assume the best.
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C.H. Ball Pythons (like the ones we import from Africa), are as good as C.B., we get them before they even shed out for the first time, so I don't think what country their egg hatches in makes a ton of difference.
 
Ah but it does. They have to be sent across the ocean, placed in quarantine once they reach the US for inspection by USWL and USDA. THEN they are allowed to be bought by the importers who then ship to Joe Public. They go through a great deal of stress. As far as chondros....they are sent here after they are eating but many of the Indonesian farms start them on lizards to get them eating faster. Most come in with parasites (both internal and external) from that and the less than perfect water. There is a HUGE difference between imports (Captive born) and Captive born and bred here. I believe you said that you feed live to all the balls you have. Many CBB do take f/t as I know plenty of people who do have balls that were bred here and not only started on f/t, have only taken f/t. There's absolutely zero reason to import a single ball python these days. Go to any show and there's literally thousands of them for sale from captive breeders. Plenty as a breeding base. It's getting there for chondros too....
 
MegF. said:
Ah but it does. They have to be sent across the ocean, placed in quarantine once they reach the US for inspection by USWL and USDA. THEN they are allowed to be bought by the importers who then ship to Joe Public. They go through a great deal of stress. As far as chondros....they are sent here after they are eating but many of the Indonesian farms start them on lizards to get them eating faster. Most come in with parasites (both internal and external) from that and the less than perfect water. There is a HUGE difference between imports (Captive born) and Captive born and bred here. I believe you said that you feed live to all the balls you have. Many CBB do take f/t as I know plenty of people who do have balls that were bred here and not only started on f/t, have only taken f/t. There's absolutely zero reason to import a single ball python these days. Go to any show and there's literally thousands of them for sale from captive breeders. Plenty as a breeding base. It's getting there for chondros too....
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Wow Meg !!! Where and how did you obtain all that information???
I never knew about how the import process.
That is something that the "Average Joe"" should know about before hand. Like I always thought, buy from a private breeder.
 
I know because I got into green tree pythons and the amount of animals that die during and after the import process is quite high. All imported animals have to be quarantined here for a certain amount of time before being allowed into the country. This is true of birds, horses, reptiles and other animals. I had no idea about importation of wildlife or how snakes are kept in farms oversees until I got into the green trees. Bushmaster is about the best of the Indonesian importers (and there's only a few allowed over there) and they still start babies on lizards. The water quality is definitely not what it is here either. Lung worms, parasites under the skin and blood parasites are quite common and often lead to death within the first couple of years. The money you save on a farmed chondro is nothing to what you'll spend on the vet to get it healthy. I made sure I went cbb for my first animals. I try to stay that way for all mine, but it's not always possible. I have snail eaters that are not produced captively as yet (I'm trying) and so imports are the only way to go. It's a crap shoot when you get them and many are extremely thin from going so long without food. I wouldn't go for an imported ball python at all if I were to get one and I'd be sure the breeder could show the animal took f/t consistantly for at least 10 feedings or so. Or no refusals to f/t for at least 5 feedings in a row. I'd never buy a chondro that hadn't taken 10 meals in a row without working at it either. Most breeders won't offer them until they have.
 
MegF. said:
I know because I got into green tree pythons and the amount of animals that die during and after the import process is quite high. All imported animals have to be quarantined here for a certain amount of time before being allowed into the country. This is true of birds, horses, reptiles and other animals. I had no idea about importation of wildlife or how snakes are kept in farms oversees until I got into the green trees. Bushmaster is about the best of the Indonesian importers (and there's only a few allowed over there) and they still start babies on lizards. The water quality is definitely not what it is here either. Lung worms, parasites under the skin and blood parasites are quite common and often lead to death within the first couple of years. The money you save on a farmed chondro is nothing to what you'll spend on the vet to get it healthy. I made sure I went cbb for my first animals. I try to stay that way for all mine, but it's not always possible. I have snail eaters that are not produced captively as yet (I'm trying) and so imports are the only way to go. It's a crap shoot when you get them and many are extremely thin from going so long without food. I wouldn't go for an imported ball python at all if I were to get one and I'd be sure the breeder could show the animal took f/t consistantly for at least 10 feedings or so. Or no refusals to f/t for at least 5 feedings in a row. I'd never buy a chondro that hadn't taken 10 meals in a row without working at it either. Most breeders won't offer them until they have.
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I didn't even think of the water quality and the affects from that!!!

I'll stick with corns for now. And thanks for sharing this with me.
 
Meg, I know all the info you just stated. I work for an importer. There is a reason to still import. All the cool mutations would not be around if it weren't for importing. C.H. babies all come in before they even shed. They all do great after getting started on live (most baby Balls won't even take F/T their first time. Trust me I've started many Ball Pythons). I had C.H animals in my personal collection last year and they all took F/T fine. Chrondos and Balls are night and day. There is no comparison, at all. I know how Indo imports and I know how Africa imports. They are polar opposites. I know this because I've been there when both have come in and I've unpacked both types of shipments. Baby Balls come in before they even shed out for the first time. They're as good as C.B., how do I know because this summer I took care of thousands of them.....
 
I just asked where you worked, you never told me in pm. I am not trying to fight nor was I even rude. I just simple asked a question. Sorry if that got your panties in a ruffle.
 
beautifullywild77 said:
I just asked where you worked, you never told me in pm. I am not trying to fight nor was I even rude. I just simple asked a question. Sorry if that got your panties in a ruffle.
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The way have responded to me in other threads, leads me to believe you don't really like me. Like I said, I will not respond to you on the open forum and if you'd like to take it to PM you are welcome to.
 
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