Coastal Pythons

Question
I have two coastal pythons, from the same clutch, hatched in captivity in February this year.  One is doing very well and growing, but the other is not feeding nor growing.  The good eating one has today been probed as a male and the non eating one a female.

Last weekend, the smaller one was force fed with two pinky rats, but we have not managed to get it to eat again.  When force fed, it twists until it spits it out.  It is now quite thin, and a snake man we went to see today, said he was concerned but not worried.  Well, we are worried.  We have today upped the heat to 32 deg and tried to feed it again tonight to no avail.  I am worried we will lose the snake, but also I don't like the idea of force feeding it, in case it gets injured in the process.

The snakes did have a heat mat on half of their enclosure, with heating cable under marine carpet, but today the heat pad was removed and they were placed in a smaller tank and placed on top of the pad.  There is also now a thermostat.

Do you have any suggestions?

I look forward to your reply

Kind regards
Donna Anderson

Answer
Hello Donna,

I need some more information on your snake such as:

1. Was it your clutch of eggs?
2. If it wasn't your clutch, did the breeder tell you they ate before you bought it?
3. Are you talking 32 degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit?
4. Have you actually gotten the snake to eat by force feeding or does it regurgitate every time?


When you contact me again, please visit our website at www.ballpythonplanet.com and click on "contact us"

I will be looking forward to getting the answers to my questions.

Thanks,
Eric Rovegno