View Full Version : Ball Python is fasting for 8 months now
Hi all,
Augusta, my 2 1/2 yo female ball python is fasting for 8 months now. I offer her a FT rat every 2-3 weeks, but she just turns her head away and slithers back to the hide.
Otherwise she seems to be happy and healthy. I take her out 2-3 times a week, she behaves like at any other times. She doesn't look sick, no discoloration, no mites, no nothing. She shed twice over the winter.
This is her third winter. She ate throughout the first winter like a champ while she was just a baby. The second winter she did not eat between late November to late May. This winter she had a rat early October and nothing since.
How long did your snake fast the longest? Should I be worried? Should I take her to the vet? I don't want to force feed her. Can't even imagine how can someone shove a fair size rat that she eats down her throat against her will.
I also have a BCC, almost a year old, she eats just fine.
All words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!
A.K.
EL Ziggy
06-04-14, 08:51 AM
Is she losing much weight? If your husbandry is on point, and she seems otherwise healthy, you could try a small live prey item to see if that jump starts her appetite again. My male Cal King didn't eat for 3 months but he got back on track after 2 or 3 live mice. Best wishes.
Is she losing much weight? If your husbandry is on point, and she seems otherwise healthy, you could try a small live prey item to see if that jump starts her appetite again. My male Cal King didn't eat for 3 months but he got back on track after 2 or 3 live mice. Best wishes.
She did not lose weight at all or just a little. I don't know how she does that!
I never tried to feed live, but I might try one undersized mouse or a small rat. How hard it is to transport them on a motorcycle? I guess they come in a box or something? Frozen feeders are easy to transport from A to B.
A.K.
drumcrush
06-04-14, 09:30 AM
My dads pb does this a lot, but he is healthy and still growing:)
My dads pb does this a lot, but he is healthy and still growing:)
Good to know that I'm not alone. Still, I like it better when she swallows a nice juicy rat every weekend.
A.K.
drumcrush
06-04-14, 09:57 AM
Good to know that I'm not alone. Still, I like it better when she swallows a nice juicy rat every weekend.
A.K.
Understandable:)
Will0W783
06-04-14, 10:07 AM
An adult ball python doesn't need to eat every week. If fed an appropriate food item (probably a medium rat), she should be fed every 2.5-3 weeks and will do just fine.
I've found that balls are very very picky snakes. My male would routinely go off of food for 6-8 months at a time and never lost any weight. He'd eventually start eating again.
Since yours has gone eight months, I'd suggest offering live prey to see if that jump-starts her.
An adult ball python doesn't need to eat every week. If fed an appropriate food item (probably a medium rat), she should be fed every 2.5-3 weeks and will do just fine.
I've found that balls are very very picky snakes. My male would routinely go off of food for 6-8 months at a time and never lost any weight. He'd eventually start eating again.
Since yours has gone eight months, I'd suggest offering live prey to see if that jump-starts her.
She was eating medium size rats. In Year 2 I was feeding her every other weekend and she did just fine. I'll try the live feeder, maybe she'll like it better. More action packed than the FT.
I'm no BP expert but she'll be at that age of coming into sexual maturity, many females will not feed for several months throughout this period.
Have you tried putting her in a rub for a few days and then tried feeding in the rub, this worked with my lads.
I would think hard about feeding live, I've a Madu girl here who took a bite to the face from a rat from her previous owner.
I'm no BP expert but she'll be at that age of coming into sexual maturity, many females will not feed for several months throughout this period.
Have you tried putting her in a rub for a few days and then tried feeding in the rub, this worked with my lads.
I would think hard about feeding live, I've a Madu girl here who took a bite to the face from a rat from her previous owner.
No, I fed her only in her enclosure.
If I feed live I'll pick something small(ish). But I'm not desperate yet, especially reading all the comments.
My Male just came off a 6 month fast. He's gone 11 months before. I just watch his weight and activity level and as long as he's not acting different or looking worse for wear I don't sweat it. But it can be nerve racking if your not used to it.
My Male just came off a 6 month fast. He's gone 11 months before. I just watch his weight and activity level and as long as he's not acting different or looking worse for wear I don't sweat it. But it can be nerve racking if your not used to it.
11 months? Wow!
Yes, it is nerv racking, but I'm slowly getting used to it now. Thanks for the info!
I just bought frozen rats from a different supplier. We'll see. If not, I might try a smaller live feeder.
wrecker45
06-05-14, 01:33 PM
My ball went seven months. Ate four hopper rats in the last two weeks. I put one in the entrance to his hind and leave him alone.
My ball went seven months. Ate four hopper rats in the last two weeks. I put one in the entrance to his hind and leave him alone.
I'll give it a shot this weekend. Maybe she is hungry now! I hope.
The hunger strike is over!!! Yay!
Over the weekend I have cleaned both enclosures of the snakes. They both shed their skins, so I did a full cleaning and let them rest for a day. Yesterday evening I attempted to feed them. The little one (BCC) grabbed the rat right away.
With the ball python I needed to be a little more persuasive. It took me about 6-7 minutes of nagging, poking, wiggling until she finally decided to grab the rat. It was one of the longest feeding ever. She grabbed the butt end and couldn't swallow because of the legs, so after about 10 minutes chewing on it she released the rat and repositioned herself towards the head and swallowed it in 3 minutes.
Zen has returned into my life, all is good now!
Thank you all for the support and the ideas!
EL Ziggy
06-10-14, 08:06 AM
Congrats AK. I know it's a BIG relief and a great feeling when a snake finally eats after a long fast even though we know it could, and probably will, happen again :). Best wishes going forward.
Congrats AK. I know it's a BIG relief and a great feeling when a snake finally eats after a long fast even though we know it could, and probably will, happen again :). Best wishes going forward.
Thanks! I AM relieved now.
StudentoReptile
06-10-14, 09:36 AM
My male BP is over 25 yrs old, and he has done the 7-9 month fast a few times. If husbandry is optimal and there is no signifcant weight loss, do not fret.
My male BP is over 25 yrs old, and he has done the 7-9 month fast a few times. If husbandry is optimal and there is no signifcant weight loss, do not fret.
It is good to know that I'm not alone. I do know that balls can be very picky eaters, but this 9-month stretch was a bit too much for me.
philbyi-guy
06-13-14, 12:18 PM
My ball python hasn't missed a feed since he was put on a natural setup. He also has a feed response as good as my brother's burm and almost as good as his retic.
My ball python hasn't missed a feed since he was put on a natural setup. He also has a feed response as good as my brother's burm and almost as good as his retic.
How does that natural setup looks like? How different it is from a regular terrarium?
philbyi-guy
06-15-14, 12:34 PM
How does that natural setup looks like? How different it is from a regular terrarium?
Just dirt, dead leaves, lots of cover and lots of hides.
Just dirt, dead leaves, lots of cover and lots of hides.
I might try that. Thanks!
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