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McSlo2.0
11-08-11, 11:50 AM
Hey all,

I'm not sure if I should be worried or not, but my BP who usually has a spot-on feed response every time hasn't eaten in 3 weeks now. I know they can be stubborn eaters but I've never had a meal refusal with her and she's gotten skinnier than I have ever seen her.

She comes out of her hide every night and looks around her enclosure (I'm not sure if shes hunting or looking for a way to escape, or both) but I've tried feeding her a few times and she wants nothing to do with the rat. Her heat/humidity levels haven't changed, so I don't think it's due to husbandry.

Any ideas/suggestions?
youngster
11-08-11, 11:58 AM
How old is she? If she's older than 2 years I would say she's getting ready to breed but I dunno
McSlo2.0
11-08-11, 12:05 PM
Shes about 10 months old
youngster
11-08-11, 12:10 PM
Try taking her to a vet
alessia55
11-08-11, 12:21 PM
Is she going into shed? Some ball pythons don't like to eat when they're going into shed.

Also something to consider is that some ball pythons may refuse some meals during the winter months. My adult ball python is a great eater, but in the winter he may opt out of a meal here and there.
ZARADOZIA
11-08-11, 12:47 PM
1. Do you normally feed her rats?
2. Are they F/T (Frozen/Thawed) or live?
3. If F/T, is it freshly thawed or re-thawed?
4. How was it thawed? hot water? boiling water? microwave?

Reasoning for questions:
1. If she is accustom to Mice she won't like rats right off.
2. Some snakes started on thawed will refuse live and vice versa.
3. A rat that has been re-thawed (thawed once then refrozen and thawed again) may not smell good (starting to spoil).
4. Thawing with boiling water and microwave will partially cook the rat and the snake may not like the way it smells.
KORBIN5895
11-08-11, 01:00 PM
Does it have a color preference? My BP would only eat dark rats and mice. It avoided whites like the plague.
alessia55
11-08-11, 01:06 PM
Does it have a color preference? My BP would only eat dark rats and mice. It avoided whites like the plague.

Haha mine's the opposite! Kaybe will only eat white mice :crazy2:

But it's a solid point- Ball pythons can be quite picky. Have you been offering her something different from what she's used to eating?
Lankyrob
11-08-11, 01:24 PM
Recheck everything about the husbandry - just in case.

If it is looking seriously skinny then get it to a vet, if not just offer food once per week - more often will just annoy/stress it.
KORBIN5895
11-08-11, 02:53 PM
My BP had a nasty scar on her tail so I assume a white mouse tagged her.
McSlo2.0
11-08-11, 03:19 PM
1. Do you normally feed her rats?
2. Are they F/T (Frozen/Thawed) or live?
3. If F/T, is it freshly thawed or re-thawed?
4. How was it thawed? hot water? boiling water? microwave?

Reasoning for questions:
1. If she is accustom to Mice she won't like rats right off.
2. Some snakes started on thawed will refuse live and vice versa.
3. A rat that has been re-thawed (thawed once then refrozen and thawed again) may not smell good (starting to spoil).
4. Thawing with boiling water and microwave will partially cook the rat and the snake may not like the way it smells.

Shes been on rats for the past few months and the switch was no problem (which I was very surprised and happy about). They are F/T, I've never fed live. They've been thawed in hot water which is the same way I've been doing it since I got her.

Does it have a color preference? My BP would only eat dark rats and mice. It avoided whites like the plague.

lol She hasn't seemed to care in the past. These ones are white which is what I get 9 times out of 10.

Recheck everything about the husbandry - just in case.

If it is looking seriously skinny then get it to a vet, if not just offer food once per week - more often will just annoy/stress it.

KK will do.



Thank you to everyone for all the help. :beer:
alessia55
11-08-11, 03:35 PM
......



Thank you to everyone for all the help. :beer:

:eek: Don't you know there are minors on this forum?! Offering beer like that ... tsk tsk :p :p :D

...but in all seriousness, I hope you figure out what's buggin your bp and that she eats soon for you :) Is she going into shed? That might also be a reason
lady_bug87
11-08-11, 04:03 PM
it could be the time of year some BPs go off food during the winter months regardless if you cool them or not some just do. Or she could be ovulating
Lankyrob
11-08-11, 05:30 PM
Thinking back our bp stopped eating dec-mar last year, could just be time! ;)
mattchibi
11-08-11, 07:13 PM
I really dont think you need to be too worried. Hunger strikes can last way longer than 3 weeks, and ball pythons are known for it. I've heard of ball pythons striking for 5+ months and being completely fine after. You should get a digital food scale if you are actually worried, so that you can track if she is losing any weight. Things to think about: do you usually feed in the enclosure? If not, its something you could try to make your snake feel more secure. Have you kept the same feeding routine (ie feeding at the same time of day as you normally do)? Like rob said, just keep offering every 7-10 days. I would also try to handle your ball python less while it is striking because theres no need for added stress. Good luck
mykee
11-08-11, 08:11 PM
Lol, no need for a vet visit.
'Tis the season.
Wolfus_305
11-08-11, 08:29 PM
I really wouldn't worry. my BP doesn't eat January to September every year, he's a pain, but he's just fine afterwards
snake man12
11-08-11, 08:31 PM
Your ball only eats 3 months out of the year
Wolfus_305
11-08-11, 10:23 PM
usually, it drove me nuts at first but now that I know he's ok and he doesn't really lose weight or get unhealthy looking and I haven't noticed any underlying health issues, it doesn't bug me as much, saves me money in food :P
SnakeyJay
11-09-11, 07:40 AM
usually, it drove me nuts at first but now that I know he's ok and he doesn't really lose weight or get unhealthy looking and I haven't noticed any underlying health issues, it doesn't bug me as much, saves me money in food :P

Surely only eating for 3 months your ball wont build up enough fat to starve for 9 months reguarly? Ive never had a snake strike for that long so i dont know...
Wolfus_305
11-09-11, 10:36 AM
This year his last meal was January 5th. He started eating again September 5th. I have pictures of him in another thread, he's not a slim fella :P
SnakeyJay
11-09-11, 10:41 AM
As long as he's a fatty then he'll be ok. Lol...
mykee
11-09-11, 08:19 PM
I had a ball python not eat for 23 consecutive months. She was fine.
Don't stress it.
CK SandBoas
11-09-11, 08:44 PM
My Ball Python goes on his fast November-May, every year, like clockwork, and as soon as May hits, he starts eating like a champ again:)
ZARADOZIA
11-10-11, 03:23 AM
Mine went 7 months without eating last year and she is very healthy. Just watch for mass weight loss, lethargic, slow reflexes, etc
jarich
11-10-11, 07:50 AM
I had a ball python not eat for 23 consecutive months. She was fine.
Don't stress it.

Wow! Thats crazy and really interesting. I had no idea they could go that long without food. Thats really incredible that their metabolism is able to deal with that.
shaunyboy
11-10-11, 08:42 AM
Wow! Thats crazy and really interesting. I had no idea they could go that long without food. Thats really incredible that their metabolism is able to deal with that.

with my diamond pythons i only feed them 6 months of the year,that equates to 6 or 7 feeds

if you over feed diamonds they die

first rule you learn with them is.....

" a fat diamond is a dead diamond "

snakes metabolisms are pretty amazing mate

re heat
they only get a basking spot of 95f for 4 hours per day,then NO more heat supply

in winter that basking time gets cut to only 2 to 3 hours per day

giving them night time temps of 50f to 60f

again its truely amazing how some species have adapted to survive

any other type of carpet would die pretty quick in diamond python conditions

cheers shaun