Adopted 5yr old male Diamond Python - help needed regarding winter months and feeding

[pablo11]

Hi all,
I'm hoping someone might have some experience of this particular issue.
My last Diamond lived for 18 years and was a happy chappie and always not fed during winter
Our new one is 5 years old and I adopted it from a lady who could not continue to keep it.
He was fairly over weight when we got him and is huge...But a gentle giant.

My problem is - I think he was fed regularly during the cold months from end of June through to mid September.
This is not great because they need the break from eating during the cold time.
He is now being brought into the same routine of not feeding in the winter for the first time.
He has adjusted to the cooler temps quite well but I believe he is getting a little anxiety about not feeding.

So, has anyone else had to make this change for an adult and was it ok, or did it stress out the snake too much?
It is a real challenge to feed them during the cold months because they don't like any heating above around 19C - 22C during the day at this time of year, and less at night (Blue Mountains NSW).
However, to effectively digest their food they need heat for a few days to aid digestion (in an ideal situation that is) but the catch 22 is he does not like heat at the moment.
He eats XXL rats and I really don't want to feed him during this time if at all possible.


Any feedback from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Herpetology]

just cut the feeds during winter

you shouldnt drop basking temps during winter - just the hours they can access the heat

if you tried feeding it at 22c, you will end up with a undigested regurg

 

[Ajar5]

Continue not feeding till at least September. Curious as to why you think it's giving him anxiety?

 

[pablo11]

Continue not feeding till at least September. Curious as to why you think it's giving him anxiety?

This
"My problem is - I think he was fed regularly during the cold months from end of June through to mid September.
This is not great because they need the break from eating during the cold time.
He is now being brought into the same routine of not feeding in the winter for the first time."

I never feed them during the winter months - but i believe his previous owner did.
After 5 years of being fed through the winter months I am wondering if this maybe stressing him a little as it is new to him.

just cut the feeds during winter

you shouldnt drop basking temps during winter - just the hours they can access the heat

if you tried feeding it at 22c, you will end up with a undigested regurg

Yes - I agree.
That's why I really don't want to feed him at all.
I never feed any of them during winter, but I believe that is what he has beeen used to for the previous 5 years.
I am just wondering if anyone else has had to do something like this for an adopted python?

He basks at 22-23C during the day and has a UVB on from about 8am to 3pm.
Max daytime basking temp is 22-23C and he doesn't like it any warmer.
At 3pm temp goes down to 17-19C at top left corner and 14-16C at the right side.

I think a change to no heat at night would be a good idea.
Just internal house temp which is around 12-16C tops - during winter.
Currently he gets around 17-19C because he was kept warm during winter previously.

Was hoping someone else might have had experience with this...
He's definitely not very happy with the cold and spends a lot of time waiting for prey to appear at the bottom of the enclosure.
He's looking a little bony as well... Poor fella.
Obviously too cold to feed him at the moment but I feel sorry for him...
At night the temp where he is sleeping gets to about 19°C (while he is like the photo. Only 16-17°C if he moves away) increasing to about 23°C for a couple of hours in the morning.
The uvb bulb is on during daylight hours.

Continue not feeding till at least September. Curious as to why you think it's giving him anxiety?

He's also looking like he's going to try and shed... Constantly rubbing up against everything and in his water bowl several times a day...

I have never had a diamond shed during the winter months.
He's definitely been used to all year round feeding and heating I think.

Any advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation would be very welcome.

Thanks

Never mind.
He's pretty boney now and upset.
I'll take him to the vet.
Seems to be almost totally dependent on year round feeding and heating.
Has pink marks now from trying to wrap himself around the uvb bulb cage

 

[adderboy]

The snake's apparent rapid deterioration over winter together with unusually frequent shedding suggests there might be more involved here than a change in feeding routine. Hopefully the vet will pick it up.
Good luck.

 

[Herpetology]

the return of DPS - Diamond python syndrome

you shouldnt have dropped temps. only hours of availability
"he only likes temps like this" - go outside on a sunny winter day and use a temp gun in middle of the road in the sun

 

[pablo11]

the return of DPS - Diamond python syndrome

you shouldnt have dropped temps. only hours of availability
"he only likes temps like this" - go outside on a sunny winter day and use a temp gun in middle of the road in the sun

I am up in the Blue Mountains and I keep the temp similar to the real temperature outside.
If it gets above 20° here it is very lucky at this time of year.
He hasn't shed but looks like he tries sometimes recently.
His last shed was at the beginning of June. He usually sheds once every 3 months. So I wasn't expecting him to start a shed until September..
I guess it is because he is not used to going without food for this long and has dropped a bit of weight, so his skin probably feels like it should be shed.. Maybe?
All I was asking is - if he has been fed throughout winter and kept warmer during the years before I got him - would this explain why he is looking a bit off and seems to be constantly looking for food?

He still has a warm time between 8am - 1pm and uvb on from 8am to 4pm.
He's still quite mobile during the day and still drinks etc..
Vet has found no problem apart from the fact that he is looking a bit bony.
But this could be because he was fed constantly, all year round, before I got him and he was actually overweight. Considerably overweight.

 

[Herpetology]

Sounds like you know what you’re doing! As I said, you shouldn’t have decreased temps only hours. Which vet did you go to? There’s none in blue mountains that specialise in reptiles and they couldn’t tell the difference between a snake and a dog

Go outside on a sunny day and use a temp gun on middle of the road. Ambient temps and basking temps are differerent things in fact todays a good day, otherwise I’ll get you a reading of our backyard tomorrow (I live in blue mountains aswell)


Seems like you’re waiting for someone to validate what you’re doing, rather than taking feedback/criticism on board to better the care of your diamond python

 

[Reptilechick]

"He basks at 22-23C during the day and has a UVB on from about 8am to 3pm.
Max daytime basking temp is 22-23C and he doesn't like it any warmer.
At 3pm temp goes down to 17-19C at top left corner and 14-16C at the right side."

"I am up in the Blue Mountains and I keep the temp similar to the real temperature outside.
If it gets above 20° here it is very lucky at this time of year."

@pablo11

Hey mate,

I'm glad you have seen the vet, hopefully a specialist reptile one, but I think you are missing the point.

The ambient temp of outside can be say 11°, but the sun shines all day allowing the python to absorb said heat and raise his temp to a comfortable range, when you heat the enclosure to the external natural heat range, the heat switches off early thus the python can't obtain a correct heat range, are you following me?

You do not need to "cool" your python to a max of 20°, you only need to limit the amount of time the heat is active for. You would still leave your thermostat unchanged for both summer and winter.
The python can sense the change in seasons from the external room temps and night temps that pass through the glass. They know its winter, you don't need to highlight it for them.

The reason it is clear that you are or were over cooling your animal is A: clutching the heat cage for dear life, and B: the pink belly which suggests the python has been pushing blood to the surface in order to warm its blood as fast as possible with the little heat you are providing.

Some animals eat all year round, some don't, it depends on the animal.

Hopefully the vet has given you some advice which you are willing to follow, however you could have saved yourself a trip had you have accepted the advice offered to you by @Herpetology. There are some very knowledgeable members here mate but the advice is worthless if you ignore them.

Best of luck.

 

[Herpetology]

Post in thread 'Heating in Winter for Diamond Pythons and Outdoor Enclosure'
https://www.aussiepythons.com/threa...ons-and-outdoor-enclosure.222917/post-2518761

 

[pablo11]

Thanks guys - I may come across like an idiot and I apologise.
I really appreciate your advice and I have made sure that I have followed what Herpetology said.
South Penrith vet. Good reptile vet.
There is one in Katoomba but not as good.
I understand why you might think that I am looking for validation but I was just wondering if anyone has adopted one that was fed all year round and then adjusted their diet to exclude the cold months.

I had my previous Diamond for 18 years and he was not fed during the cold months. But I had him since he was very tiny.

This is the first time I have adopted one and it has been kept for almost 5 years in year round heated environment and fed all year round.

I was trying to get a sense of whether I should have gradually reduced those conditions, or just treated him like my previous diamond.

My apologies for my perceived attitude and thanks again.

Post in thread 'Heating in Winter for Diamond Pythons and Outdoor Enclosure'
https://www.aussiepythons.com/threa...ons-and-outdoor-enclosure.222917/post-2518761

View attachment 333877

By the way, thanks for the link to that thread.
It is very good reading and posts from very knowledgeable people
Cheers

 

[Reptilechick]

All good mate....

For me it's never about the person, it's always 100% about the animal.

I'm glad you got the advice you needed and that your animal is on a better path.

All the best.

 

[pablo11]

Thanks mate