jennrosefx
*Insert Witty Title Here*
I've got an ongoing problem with Pumpkin. Over the past couple years, she's become rather plump. It's been a gradual thing, I suppose, so it wasn't until recently when the severity of it smacked me in the face. I noticed her developing "Hips" if you will, sometime back. I reduced her feeding schedule to 1 mouse every 10-12 days (before that is was 1 every 7, so it's not like she was ever power fed or anything of the sort). It's been that way for the past year, and she's just gotten... fatter. I don't know what it is. Do you think some snakes within a same species might just have different metabolisms and hers is just abnormally slow? Is less frequent feeding then hurting her metabolism like in humans? Would more frequent, but smaller meals do her better? Can snakes develop thyroid problems? (do snakes even have thyroids?)
I love her regardless of how she looks (and in my eyes, she's still beautiful), and have no intentions of ever breeding her. But, I am concerned for her general health and quality of life. Is this something vet-worthy in your eyes? Is there an obvious change in diet I should be making? I'm trying to up her handling to 5 days a week instead of 1 or 2... that should help perhaps? I might try moving her cage to a darker area of the house. Maybe more privacy will encourage more activity?
Am I over thinking all this?
Here's some pics. You know me... you know I take good care of my babies. I feel awful looking at these pics. I know a little bit of heft in female corns isn't unheard of... but she's only 4 1/2 years old or so.
I love her regardless of how she looks (and in my eyes, she's still beautiful), and have no intentions of ever breeding her. But, I am concerned for her general health and quality of life. Is this something vet-worthy in your eyes? Is there an obvious change in diet I should be making? I'm trying to up her handling to 5 days a week instead of 1 or 2... that should help perhaps? I might try moving her cage to a darker area of the house. Maybe more privacy will encourage more activity?
Am I over thinking all this?
Here's some pics. You know me... you know I take good care of my babies. I feel awful looking at these pics. I know a little bit of heft in female corns isn't unheard of... but she's only 4 1/2 years old or so.
![2897159025_cf4ee8e81e_o.jpg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2897159025_cf4ee8e81e_o.jpg)
![2898003480_cf312001be_o.jpg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2898003480_cf312001be_o.jpg)
![2897159955_a0d3eb030a_o.jpg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2897159955_a0d3eb030a_o.jpg)
![2897160627_32da609933_o.jpg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2897160627_32da609933_o.jpg)