Olive Python Feeding Help

[ForgottenXo]

We have an 18 month old olive python, who we have had for just over 3 months. He was fed constantly on mice and we have recently got him onto rats, fuzzys actually. He doesnt have alot of weight on him and is quite small for his age.

The biggest issue with him is that he is slightly deformed. He has a kink in the first 3rd of his body, which was one of the reasons i purchased him. He is slightly special needs. We took him for xrays the first week we had him to ensure that the kink isnt impacting on him and that he is developing properly (he will continue to have these every 6 months for the rest of his life) The vet...both of the ones we have sent the xrays to...are of the opinion that he will be able to live a full and happy life if managed correctly. He cant take huge feeds, but he needs a bit of weight to help support the spine.

Hence my dilemma. We are desperately trying to get him onto rats, but he is insanely fussy. He is unable to strike properly because of his kink, just like he finds it hard to move sometimes. Its like he is a little hatchie all over again.

Is there any advice at all you can give me to get him excited about the rats? I would literally do anything for this little guy!

Thanks in advance ^_^

 

[Skeptic]

I have an 18 month old olive who's around 6ft, so in no way small for his age, but he'll only eat mice. He just gives a defensive strike to rats and hides up the other end of his enclosure. Wuss!! I'll obviously have to get him on to rats one day but until then I just give him half a dozen large mice every meal. Kinda hurts the wallet but hey, they all do that I'm gonna try him on quail next feed to see if he'll take that.

 

[Tsubakai]

One option, if you can source them, is to get him on to quail. These can then eventually be upgraded to chickens once he gets some size to him. I think you'll find that he'll absolutely smash quail if you can find some.

If you haven't sent the xrays to reptile specialist vets I can reccommend a couple that might give an opinion if you want to send me a PM.

 

[PythonLegs]

So...can't support his spine,can't strike, can't move properly. The definition of full and healthy life must have changed overnight...no breeder worth a damn would have sold this snake in the first place.

Anyway, post rant....If he was eating mice fine, why change?

 

[jairusthevirus21]

i store my rats with my mice so they are scented the same. And if i get really desperate i smear mouse brain and blood all over the rat! drives em crazy and never has failed me!

 

[ForgottenXo]

Thanks for the responses ^_^

The xrays were performed by our local vet and were on-forwarded to specialists and a vet i requested they go to. We have recieved more than one opinion on him and all were the same. We are his 3rd owner. Sad to say that the breeder sent him on with this injury as a birth defect, but there is scaring around the kink which leads me to believe that he had something hefty dropped on him when he was young and was sold to noobs.

The kink just means he cant "slither" properly and can only half strike. When he is calm, you wouldnt even know he has it. When he is excited or stressed, its like he forgets how to manage it. To be honest, he is getting better everytime we get him out. We are also closely monitoring his weight. They seem to think the more muscle he has and the better condition will help him support his injury. All we can do is try.

I only wanted to get him onto rats because i thought there would be more nutrition in them. He refuses quails (we have tried that) isnt interested in scented items, we have even tried rat with mouse blood and he wasn interested in that either. Even with the mice we were having a bit of trouble getting him to take them. Small meals at a time.

Maybe i should look at small meals more often? At the moment he is getting (when he eats) 1 adult mouse every 3-4 days (unless shedding) Do you think that would be enough to get him to grow constantly, but not rapidly?

Kayte Xo

 

[bigjoediver]

When he's not sulking my stimmie has two adult mice every 7 days and he is only 1 metre long. Try 2 adult mice every feed for a while then progressively up the numbers and spacing until he puts a bit more weight on. Good luck and well done for taking this on, most would has just euthanased the animal

 

[PythonLegs]

Do you know who the breeder was?

There is better nutrition in an adult mouse than a pink rat, and only quantative differences between a mouse and a sub adult rat...I'd stick with mice if you can afford it...as tsubakai said, quails may be the way to go down the track, however a day old quail is roughly the same size as a mouse and the calcium content is lower.

 

[katjase]

i have found that muttonbird oil is brilliant when used properly, its like steroids for pythons, a little hard to find sometimes, herpa boost is great simple instructions on the bottle, Stimulates juvenile reptiles and difficult feeders to feed. Provides emergency nutrition to sick, stressed and injured reptiles. Provides a nutritional boost to underweight or gravid reptiles. Can be fed directly to sick animals, injected into food items or smeared on food.Directions: Give 3-8mL per 100g body weight, per feed or as required. Dose orally via feeding tube, syringe or inject into a food item.

 

[ForgottenXo]

Unfortunately, i dont know who the breeder is. We are the 3rd owners, like i mentioned before.

I may keep him on adult rats and just up the quantity until he gets some size on him.

Thanks for the advice ^_^