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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
 Posted - 01/12/2009 : 12:53:24
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My male hoggy hasn't eaten for 8 weeks now and while I wasn't worried at first, he's now started losing weight. It's only about 2% of his body weight at the moment, but he was quite small to start with so I don't feel like he can really afford to lose a lot.
Is there a point when you would start to worry about weight loss, and what would you do about it? I do have a good vet who would probably be happy to force feed him for me but obviously that's a last resort and I don't want him to be stressed.
Any suggestions?
Thanks! |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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sexychef
Hognose Moderator
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 14:44:42
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He's 18 months old, he did weigh 47g and now he weighs 45g. He's slightly over 12 inches long. His skin isn't loose as such, but he does look less chunky than he did.
Nothing has changed in his set-up, but he seems to want to hide all the time, so I was wondering if he has responded to the shorter days by trying to hibernate. I leave the light on in his room during the day to keep him "awake", is that a good idea? |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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sexychef
Hognose Moderator
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 15:54:38
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Yes, I've tried giving him very small pinkies and braining them, and all the other tricks. He has gone on hunger strike before but not for as long as this.
I will keep weighing him but I wish he wouldn't be so difficult! My corn snake is practically angelic in comparison! |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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sexychef
Hognose Moderator
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 15:14:44
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| Yes, my corn is a reptilian dustbin! Think the hoggy is difficult enough without lumbering myself with a royal as well! |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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talkativesprout
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 18:55:40
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| im not a hoggie expert,but i think u will find lots of not eating posts on all the snake forums this time of year, i was talking to my local rep bod and she had to defrost her prey in a tin of tuna juice, dont know if it works or you tried it , but she said hes made upfor lost time since ...gobble gobble |
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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2009 : 15:24:07
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| That's the one thing I haven't tried yet - might be worth a shot. I did try scenting with cod liver oil once, but all it did was stink the house out and he still didn't eat it. |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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scubamedic
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2009 : 19:39:27
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| my hoggie has not aten since I got him back in october. Hes a fiesty little SOB. have tried tuna juice, pinkies, cod liver oil but no joy. i believe hes a year old. he weighed 20g when I bought him and hes now down to 12g and im starting to get really worried because he is so small and he cant afford to lose too much. |
1.1.0 Western Hognoses (Harry and Hermione)
1.1.0 Royal Pythons (Monty and Matilda)
1.1.4 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Rankins Dragons
0.1.0 Jack Russel (Lucy)
Tropical, Pond fish and koi carp |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 21:44:27
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Is there a experienced reptile keeper or a vet you could take him to near by? If he's losing a lot of weight then it's a good idea to let someone else have a go. Worse case scenario he might need assist feeding, but only someone with a lot of experience should try this.  |
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sexychef
Hognose Moderator
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
Posted - 13/12/2009 : 11:57:16
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quote:
Originally posted by scubamedic
my hoggie has not aten since I got him back in october. Hes a fiesty little SOB. have tried tuna juice, pinkies, cod liver oil but no joy. i believe hes a year old. he weighed 20g when I bought him and hes now down to 12g and im starting to get really worried because he is so small and he cant afford to lose too much.
im with kaz on this one my hoggie lost the same sort of wieght and had to get an exprienced person to pinky press feed him |
1.0.0 western hognose 1.1.0 royals 2.1.0 corn snake
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LouiseB
Yearling Hoggie
United Kingdom
624 Posts |
Posted - 16/12/2009 : 13:24:43
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I have just managed to successfully feed Baldrick, although he did have to go to the vet and have some precautionary antibiotics in the meantime. He looks a bit better already, so hopefully I might be able to get some more weight onto him now.
In the case of the above poster, I would definitely get a professional to look at that snake. He has lost 40% of his body weight and I would be concerned about anything more than 10%, especially for such a small one. |
1.0.0. Western hognose (Baldrick)
0.1.0. Amel bloodred corn snake (Cornflake)
R.I.P. Bob (Western hognose) |
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Kazerella
Hognose Admin
United Kingdom
746 Posts |
Posted - 16/12/2009 : 22:01:19
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| Congratulations on getting him to feed. Hopefully he'll keep at it now he's started. |
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sexychef
Hognose Moderator
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
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scubamedic
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 19/12/2009 : 12:14:15
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thanks everyone for your advice
still not eaten but he has had a full shed this week
have a very good reptile shop locally who also breeed hogs, and have been seeking advice from them from the get go. they have offered to have a look at him and see what they think. they have also offered to see if they can get him feeding for me, which i am going to have to seriously consider. Female hoggie has also stopped eating now as well 
I realise the time of the year and they may be starting to bruminate?? sorry not sure on spelling.
Could I trick them into "coming out" of this by increasing temp and adding a light. I know humans can be affected by seasonal affected disorder- guessing snakes have a similar thing. Problem is im not convinced they have enough light really, but then I have seen them in some shops and they only have slightly more than me. would it be worth investing in a small light bulb or UV (know they dont really need UV per se) but am looking for ideas
Thanks again everyone for your ongoing advice
Neil |
1.1.0 Western Hognoses (Harry and Hermione)
1.1.0 Royal Pythons (Monty and Matilda)
1.1.4 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Rankins Dragons
0.1.0 Jack Russel (Lucy)
Tropical, Pond fish and koi carp |
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Topic |
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When is weight loss a worry?
