just an update

[lanalizard]

My ball python is now on its 9th month of fasting :(

[reptilez]

WOW!!
Have you ever tried feeding it a live mouse/rat??

[Pixie]

9 months! That's quite some time now!

Is it a male or female? Full grown? Been losing weight?

Hope it snaps out of it and has a good meal soon!

Pixie

[killaclown]

As long as its not losing wight its all goood

[lanalizard]

he has lost *some* weight...200grams..im not sure thats much for a bp who hasnt eaten for a long time...btw he is a male, 4.5 feet.
i have tried live mouse/gerbils, f/t everythign from rats, mice, gerbils hamsters, etc

[HetForHuman]

damn thats a long time
hope you get him to eat soon

[fateamber]

What methods have you used to try to get him to eat?

[Pixie]

I wish I could help more with this type of problem but I have luckily not experience a long fast from a BP...

How often do you offer food? I found that when mine refused a meal I would make it wait a bit longer before I offered another (i.e. 2 weeks instead of one). The longest fast I had was 2 months.

My thinking behind it is if the snake is offered food often, it'll just wait till it feels like it. If the food doesn't come around often it might take it because it's not sure when the next meal is coming.

There is absolutely NO basis for my thinking but it's worked for me. But as I said, I never had a snake fast as long as yours.

I also don't offer the food for a long period of time. If the snake hasn't snatched it up in 15 minutes well it's just too bad!

Some may say I don't have much patience with feeding and maybe I don't! I just can't see myself dancing a mouse in front of a snake for an hour!

Pixie

[Mike177]

get some pics up. what was the last meal he ate? and what is his current weight

[lanalizard]

ill get some pics when i find some...but here is the last pic i took of him
http://www.geocities.com/ratgals/reptiles.html
his pic is there
also his current weight is 900grams
and i have tried methods from braining, to the paper bag, etc etc

[jncoclub]

Has he shed at all during this time frame?

[lanalizard]

yes 2 times.

[dlucka]

9 month it's long but if he shed 2 times, well just wait and keep
trying, a fat ball can fasting for 1 year 1/2 for sure it's not a perfect situation. If he's still fat and shed keep eyes on.
Hope for you that he'll get back on food soon.

[stretch]

That is quite a long time for a snake not to eat, but I've heard cases of snakes not eating for up to a year. If your really worried you could try taking it to a vet. Or make sure its temps and humidity are fine. As the last choice if EVERYTHING else fails you could try force feeding. Because everyone knows that bp's could be really finicky eaters. Well thats all I have to say good luck and I hope you get your snake to eat.