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Sporatic feeder, losing weight... any ideas/suggestions?

maxfox426

maxfox426

Can't Keep A Secret
I've mentioned this before in DYK so some of you might be familiar with this story, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to share here, as well.

Let me recap as best I can remember without having exact records in front of me...

She regurged at the very beginning of October, and then follwed that up with 4-5 weeks of straight refusals. However, during this time she was not losing any weight.

In early November, she started eating again, but has been kind of hit or miss. I offer a pinky every 5-6 days. She will eat 2-4 meals then refuse one, eat another 2-4 and refuse, etc.

This next part confuses me some... Since she's been (mostly) eating again, she's now been losing weight. She's an '09 and now weighs less than 25g. (I hate to admit that I haven't put her on the scale since Christmas. I've been doing everything in my power to focus on her eating rather than stressing her out.)

Needless to say, she's teeny-tiny.


Is there anything here I'm missing? Any thoughts? Ideas? Or does this just sound like my first experience with a tricky baby?


Thanks in advance!
 
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I haven't yet been able to get a decent stool sample for my vet since she started losing weight, but that IS on the to-do list as soon as I can.

Thanks. :)
 
My thought is that you have one of those "problem" hatchlings that have some sort of internal issue. She may have a developmental problem that will enable her to function up to a certain size (like a malformed kidney for example) but won't support her over a particular weight. The regurge/refusing may be nature's way of trying to keep her below the tipping point.

All guesswork on my part really. Eating but still losing weight really doesn't sound hopeful. Sorry to be a bit negative.
 
bitsy said:
My thought is that you have one of those "problem" hatchlings that have some sort of internal issue. She may have a developmental problem that will enable her to function up to a certain size (like a malformed kidney for example) but won't support her over a particular weight. The regurge/refusing may be nature's way of trying to keep her below the tipping point.

All guesswork on my part really. Eating but still losing weight really doesn't sound hopeful. Sorry to be a bit negative.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad about being negative. I have a bad feeling about all this, too, hence why I made the post to begin with, just in case I'm missing something.

While I'm hoping that a genetic defect/internal issue isn't the case, I know that it is certainly a possibility. It's all just so weird...

Thanks for the input.


baitman said:
i'm with max on this...sounds a bit wormy to me.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely taking her to a vet as soon as I can. I just know they can't/won't be able to give me any answers without a fresh stool sample.


Just as a curiousity, having never dealt with worms before... but what are the ways that worms could get into an otherwise healthy collection? I'm not trying to be dense, but I figure that in any case I could learn something from this.
 
I have an '09 that last weighed in at 20g. I believed her problem was genetic, but now I think it may have been the environment. We moved to a new place and got her a new dimmer, new thermometer. I keep her cooler then the other snakes and I've noticed this has helped with her digestion. She gets three pinks a week along with a hopper tail, unless in blue. I wish I knew more about snake parasites, I've only experienced a tapeworm with one of my cats.
 
As long as you can't get a sample to a vet, you might try to obtain Nutribac and/or Parazap for reptiles (if that is available over there). Nutribac enhances gut flora, increasing appetite and promoting optimal intake of nutritions. Parazap is a powder of natural components like black walnut which is said to be good against worms and parasites and to increase appetite too. I have used it sometimes but not watched the results carefully enough to be ablte to say something about the effectiveness. I do know an experienced bearded dragon breeder though who is very enthusiastic about it. It's promoted as being the natural solution for those reptiles that just don't thrive.
 
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