When it comes to pet snakes, ball pythons are a thicker-bodied species. This can make it hard to tell whether they’re holding onto too much weight. Yes, you can weigh them, but the number on the scale might not give you the information you need. Ball pythons vary, sometimes significantly, based on sex, age, length, and even the snake’s individual build.
With all these variables, how can you tell whether your snake is overweight? An accurate measurement comes from multiple angles at once.
What’s the Number on Obesity?
Your ball python’s weight on the scale might not tell you everything you need to know about their health, but it’s still a useful metric. In general, females tend to be larger than males at their adult size. However, even within the same sex, snakes can vary. On top of that, younger snakes are consistently gaining weight while they reach their adult size.
Newly hatched ball pythons might be less than 100g. Adult males can climb toward 1,000g, but females may reach more than 1,500g. Weight is best tracked over time so you can notice significant loss or gain rather than using one number as the sole means of determining obesity.
Signs Your Ball Python May Be Overweight
In addition to the scale number, you should be paying attention to the overall body condition of your snake. Some of the attributes to look for include:
The spine is less defined
If your snake has healthy fat pads, they might be round, but you should still be able to see the line of their spine. It doesn’t have to be extremely pointed or triangular, but the spine should rise higher than the surrounding back.
Snakes with too much fat can carry some of it on their backs. This may cause the spine to appear sunken compared to the surrounding tissue. Pay attention for a groove that suggests your snake is storing fat near their spine. The goal isn’t a sharp spinal ridge, but it shouldn’t sink in, either.
The tail is bulging
Another place ball pythons often store fat is around the vent. Because of this, you might notice that your snake has a distinct lump in front of its vent opening. In much the same way as a human’s stomach can stick out when they’re overweight, this lump is a sign that calories are too high for your pet.
The scales are wrinkling
While it’s normal for a snake’s skin to wrinkle as they turn and coil, significant wrinkling can be a hint that your pet is carrying too much fat. This is especially true if those wrinkles are less like thin creases and more like rolls. When the fat has nowhere else to go, it must bulge outward when the snake moves, creating these bumps.
The muscles are less tangible
Fat sits on top of muscle, so your snake might be especially squishy to the touch if they’re overweight. You should be able to feel the shape of your python’s muscles beneath their skin. If you can’t, your snake might be building up too much fat (or they might not be getting enough exercise, which leads to muscle atrophy).
Why Obesity Matters for Ball Pythons
A thick ball python is experiencing changes not just to its appearance, but to its overall health. The body needs somewhere to put the extra calories, so it turns them into fat cells inside the liver. This leads to a condition called fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis), which interferes with the liver’s ability to filter blood and control bile necessary for digestion.
On top of that, extra fat can make it harder for your ball python to move. This decreases activity, which further contributes to fat gain. Fat changes bodily processes, from hormonal production to how your snake uses water.
How to Stop Your Ball Python from Getting Fat
Your ball python relies on you to manage their diet. In fact, your snake might eagerly eat even when they don’t need it. In the wild, pythons don’t know when their next meal might arrive, and they’ll take advantage of any food they can get. In captivity, that feeding response often remains, regardless of hunger.
A digital scale can help you understand whether you’re feeding too much. If the number is going up consistently and your snake has reached adulthood, cutting back on food is the most effective way to manage weight. You have multiple options. Some owners choose to feed less frequently, while others opt for smaller meals.
You may also find it helpful to take pictures consistently. Even if the scale isn’t moving, your snake’s body condition might be changing, and a history of pictures can help you identify when their shape is getting rounder over time. The number on the scale might remain fairly steady as fat increases but muscle atrophies.
As you manage your snake’s weight, consider the quality of your feeders. Calorically dense food items can contribute to obesity, even at the appropriate size and feeding frequency. If you need to vary your pet’s diet, Reptilinks are one method of taking a break from fat-heavy rodents. Ball pythons tend to respond best to quail or rabbit links (or the combo links that blend the two). Or, if you’d like to transition your python to other whole prey, consider scenting juices to entice your pet to try something new!