ball hunger strike

Lrptls · 05-03-05, 03:52 AM

i know bps like to stop eating alot, especialy during the winter, iv dealt with it before. i'm just worried about this guy cause hes one of my very favorite snakes and i dont want any thing to be wrong with him. i had another ball that wasn't eating sence december but she finally ate today, just one mouse when she usually takes 3. but this guy hasn't eaten sence october. he was a great eater before that, was picky in what sizes he liked, would want either large or small rats.i keep offering both sizes to him. hes always taken FT fine and sometimes i offer freshly killed though i havn't tried just killed and still twitching. im going to try that next week or sometime probably. this is probably all normal and i'm just paranoid but could there be something wrong? thanks

BP-R-US · 05-03-05, 10:25 AM

I had 2 ball pythons 100% Albino that hadn't eaten since Nov, and one took his meal first meal 2 weeks ago, as for the female she still refuses to eat and I have tried everything lately from F/T - Fresh killed - and Live of all sizes, nothing works. I think as long as she seems comfortable, has water and proper heat, that is all we can offer. I guess we have no choice but to stick it out.

Frillie · 05-03-05, 11:14 PM

As long as it is inactive and maintains its body weight leave it alone.

I know of a ball python that once went 18 months without a single meal, came out of brumation perfectly fine.

Offer whatever it has taken in the past, there is no need to change feeding patterns, it's most likely to eat what it's used to.

A live rat is rarely a good idea and can only cause trouble.

Like I said its best left alone, it'll let you know when it needs to eat. If anyone knows best, its the snake.

nita · 05-04-05, 07:54 PM

Balls typically go off feed for the breeding months. All of my males stopped except one 05 hatchling, and the one female that was breeding size also stopped. My males all just came out of fasting last month except one male who is still going. He hangs out in his hide and has not really lost any weight except a few grams when he has a bowel movement or a shed. As long as your ball isn't losing weight don't worry, they let you know when they need to eat.

EDIT: Sorry that should be they will eat when they are ready not they will let you know!

joey · 05-08-05, 03:16 PM

I just got finished feeding my bp her 2nd live mouse in two days. She had gone for 4 months without taking a f/t so I offered her live. budda-bing she went for the live guys. She had been losing weight too so I opted for live. It was ~very hard to do~ but she ate.

She was so quick and the mousie was gone ( dead) within 10 seconds. Never knew what hit him---that goes for both of them.

Lrptls · 05-08-05, 04:17 PM

unless he starts really really losing weight (and he hasnt lost any) i really dont want to put a live rat in his cage. i know he would have the instincts to constrict it but hes so use to eating dead he just goes up to those and eats them, no constricting at all. i think he would get bit definetly. i only atempt to feed him about once maybe twice a month cause i do want to leave him alone but i really want to get him eating. i offer small and large rats cause thats what he ate before. latley iv just been trying small because i remember when i got him he wanted small instead of large. yesturday i bought a small live rat and thumped him so he was twitching. the ball went up to him and stuck his nose right on him for about 5 minutes, iv had alot of snakes do this, sometimes they eat and sometimes they dont. well he didnt, but i know now that he seems quite interested in food.