BP not eating after molt.

TarantulaSteve · 11-17-13, 04:32 PM

My BP is about a year old and last shed was three weeks ago. Before this shed she was just fine, very strong feeding responce, never any difficulties with her in any way.

The first time I fed her, she didnt look directly at the prey, and almost seemed a little blind. She striked at the prey twice but never took hold. The following morning I pulled her from the enclosure and looked for eye caps. I couldnt see anything, so I bumped up the humidity in the hopes it would help loosen the eye caps if they were still attatched.
I fed her the next day and fairly quickly she took the prey item.

I tried feeding her again two nights ago. She seemed slightly interested in the rat, she wasnt looking directly at it, but she started smelling around and even went into a strike pose. She striked at it, and let it go. Didnt pull it from the tongs. From there, I kept dangling the rat, and eventually she just balled up so we put her back.

Im really stumped on this as Ive never had a single problem with feeding any of my snakes before this last shed, and I havnt changed how I do things.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-13, 07:37 PM

Feed it in the enclosure because from what I read I think you aren't. I could be wrong though.

Secondly, it's a ball python. They eat when they eat.

robertjnovak59 · 11-17-13, 07:45 PM

Mine hasn't eaten in 6 weeks. Closing in on winter here so I figure she's off feed for a few months.

TarantulaSteve · 11-18-13, 03:58 AM

Ive always heard to feed outside the enclosure so that the snake wont accidentally think your trying to feed when your not, so thats why I do it. Is there a problem with this way of feeding?

**Aaron_S** · 11-18-13, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarantulaSteve

Ive always heard to feed outside the enclosure so that the snake wont accidentally think your trying to feed when your not, so thats why I do it. Is there a problem with this way of feeding?

No evidence to actually suggest that.

The same knowledge works the other way if you think about it. If you always remove it from the enclosure to feed it why wouldn't it presume that it's being fed EVERY time you take it out? It holds no water.

DeadlyDesires · 11-18-13, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Feed it in the enclosure because from what I read I think you aren't. I could be wrong though.

Secondly, it's a ball python. They eat when they eat.

lol mine hasn't ate in 2 months... hes stubborn :P

**EL Ziggy** · 11-18-13, 09:40 AM

I see I'm not alone. My Cal King hasn't eaten in 2 months either. Best wishes everyone.

**lady_bug87** · 11-18-13, 09:48 AM

its breeding season. Stuff is going to stop eating. Unless the animal is losing a TON of weight, is dehydrated or emaciated just wait it out instead of offering every week you can offer every 2 or 3 its not a huge deal,

Mikoh4792 · 11-18-13, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

No evidence to actually suggest that.

The same knowledge works the other way if you think about it. If you always remove it from the enclosure to feed it why wouldn't it presume that it's being fed EVERY time you take it out? It holds no water.

Basically this. More stressful to move the snake in and out as well. A long with the weather, that could be the reason your ball python isn't eating.

shaunyboy · 11-18-13, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarantulaSteve

Ive always heard to feed outside the enclosure so that the snake wont accidentally think your trying to feed when your not, so thats why I do it. Is there a problem with this way of feeding?

if you apply the exact same logic to taking a snake out its tank to feed...

then surely it would associate being taken out with feeding,and bite everytime you took it out

its complete crap that feeding in their enclosures make them associate doors opening with feeding,so they bite everytime the door opens

cheers shaun

Chris72 · 11-20-13, 07:53 PM

I had a female yearling go off food in June. She was on small rats.

We tried.....eeeeeverything.

Two weeks ago I dropped a pup in her tub and she killed it and left it.

The following week I dropped a pup in and she took it instantly. Over the following two hours I gave her three more. (Now shes in deep shed)

So try something live and small if it becomes an extended period but a healthy year old ball can go 5 months without food no problem at all. (relax) Like Aaron said...they eat when they eat.

Since you are feeding FT: First try what Lori said and leave him alone (as much as you can) for two weeks. You can try to drop in some paper towel that the rat thawed on to get him rev'ed up before you offer the rat. Then go back in 5 or 10 minutes and hopefully he will be in feeding mode.

**lady_bug87** · 11-20-13, 09:45 PM

Also, I thaw my feeders in the same room as my snakes and by the time they're thawed and hot everyone is out stalking