Need reassurance

[kreaturekeeper]

Hi there, I know bp going off food is not uncommon. But I have a 1.5 year old bp female that I have had for over a year. She has always loved her food with no problems, and I handle her every day. About three months ago I tried giving her a small rat because she was eating multiple mice at each feeding. She gobbled it in seconds. It was a much larger sized rodent than she was used to but she ate it fine. Then she stopped eating. I thought she was full so I waited 2 weeks to try again. Both mice and rats. She didn't eat for over two months. Then one day she took a jumbo mouse after reheating it 3 times. I was so excited!! And now she has not eaten since.... I don't think she has lost weight yet but she is definitely not getting any bigger.
I have not handled her in over three months and miss her very much.
Any thoughts about the rat messing up her routine and why that would kill her appetite?
I'm getting a tad impatient now
Can anyone help with suggestions?

[Lankyrob]

Three months ago would be in breeding season - most likely that is what put her off food. PErsonally i would stick to offering rats as she will need them when she is older anyway, offer every 7-10days until she feeds.

Unless in the meantime she starts to lose weight or you have other concerns i would just persevere.

[kreaturekeeper]

Now looking back on some photos from before her fasting, I think she has lost a bit of weight :(
Her temps are right. Humidity over 50. she had a good shed 3 weeks ago.
She never went of food last year at this time either

[Lankyrob]

Last year she was only six months so breeding could have been off the radar. When you say she has lost weight are we talking grams or lots of weight? Post the before and after pics and we can offer advice.

[kreaturekeeper]

Not much but to me who handles her often I can notice she is not as thick. I have not weighed her. I'm talking just how big around she was and is.
I wish I could figure out how to put pics up off my phone... I don't have a Computer and I can't figure out how yet

[Dehlida]

I've had balls go off food frequently and it isn't uncommon at all. I had one big male go off food for something like 8 months and was still a very healthy snake.

[stephanbakir]

He stated weight loss, that can be an issue if there is an underlying cause for the weight loss.

[kreaturekeeper]

I am a she.. Not so much a he.. Haha
My girl has always been a healthy snake with no issues. I'll try to be patient and hope she gets hungry soon. I hate waiting

[stephanbakir]

Sorry, but yeah waiting sucks :(

[SnakeyJay]

Very true.. All I think after a missed feed up untill the next is... Will they, will they? Lol

[Lankyrob]

IMO the more you stress about the snake feeding the less likely it is that the snake will feed as it will pick up on your stress. Just keep chilled, keep the normal routine and be patient.

[shaunyboy]

i had a hatchling carpet python not take its first feed until it was 10 months old with no ill effect

its never missed a feed since

leave the snake in peace and quiet for 10 to 14 days,only go near it to change the water ever 5 days.

give the prey item a good heat and offer just as its getting dark in the late evening


you could also try braining the item,puncture the skull 2 or 3 times with a pair of scissors

grey liquid will come out the puncture holes,give the head another quick heat before offering

cheers shaun

[kreaturekeeper]

Thanks shaunyboy. I might try the braining method next.. Although being an animal lover of all species it will be gross... :S Haha

[kreaturekeeper]

Hey everyone. Trying to feed Kahlil again right now and she is CRAZY interested. She coils up, pokes it, tastes it, but won't strike! Ugh haha she looks like she wants it sooo bad.. Reheating it again...

[marionsclan]

Whoohoo... I'm rooting for her. Come on, lil girl, you can do it. Say.. AHHHHHHHHHHH.... :)

[Lankyrob]

Leave it in her enclosure overnight on a plastic plate under the heat lamp - you mat be lucky and find she eats when no one is about to watch.

[kellcore]

I am assuming you are feeding frozen? Have you ever tried live? Maybe she is just wanting to hunt?

We feed live only not frozen our snakes wont take dead it has to be live they enjoy the hunt and kill. My fiance is always saying we took them out of the wild threw them in a cage dont take thier way of eating to. Let them enjoy the hunt and kill.

I have a male that goes off his feed every 2 months and stays off for 2 weeks up to several months. We stopped keeping track they can go several months without food before losing weight. He is still on 2 small rats our mediums are just to big for him. Sometimes he wants one every week sometimes he just kills and doesnt eat. We always offer to him if he passes up a meal we try next week. If he passes up again then we just leave him be in the cage till he starts hunting then put him in the feeding cage and give him something.

But maybe try live maybe she just has the thirst for killing something.

[Lankyrob]

I am assuming you are feeding frozen? Have you ever tried live? Maybe she is just wanting to hunt?

We feed live only not frozen our snakes wont take dead it has to be live they enjoy the hunt and kill. My fiance is always saying we took them out of the wild threw them in a cage dont take thier way of eating to. Let them enjoy the hunt and kill.

I have a male that goes off his feed every 2 months and stays off for 2 weeks up to several months. We stopped keeping track they can go several months without food before losing weight. He is still on 2 small rats our mediums are just to big for him. Sometimes he wants one every week sometimes he just kills and doesnt eat. We always offer to him if he passes up a meal we try next week. If he passes up again then we just leave him be in the cage till he starts hunting then put him in the feeding cage and give him something.

But maybe try live maybe she just has the thirst for killing something.

there are very very few snakes that wont take frozen/thawed food. THe risks of feeding live are just not worth it in terms of the damage a prey item can do to the snake.

[kreaturekeeper]

She didn't eat last week but is scarfing down a plump meal right now! :D I knew she would start soon!! Soo happy right now :)
I barely had time to get it infront of her face!
Woot woot

[kreaturekeeper]

O and yes frozen thawed. The only thing I changed is I offered it to her in her tank not her feeding tub and didn't disturb her. Only offered food when she was already out and about in her enclosure

[TeaNinja]

i don't even pay attention if my bp is hiding or not. yesterday i put a f/k rat in his tank while he was in his hide and he Flew out to eat within about 5 seconds.

[kreaturekeeper]

If she wasn't having feeding problems I wouldn't worry about if she was hiding or not.
In that case I would be feeding her in her tub that doesn't have bedding in it haha I'll try that next week. She took it with such vengeance haha I hope she is done fasting now!