fasting??

cjice · 10-24-04, 03:04 PM

Do all balls go off feed for winter, and if so...When can I expect it? Should I just keep offering food?

Jeff_Favelle · 10-24-04, 03:17 PM

Sometimes. But it can happen ANY time of year. Don't expect it. Just deal with it when it happens.

BoidKeeper · 10-24-04, 03:38 PM

Well put Jeff. Some of mine don't go off, some go off in Sept-Oct. This year one went off in Jan and stayed off till September. Another went off in April and stayed off till Aug ate three times and went off again. Once they refuse three meals in a row I only offer once a month.
Cheers,
Trevor

AtlanticReptile · 10-24-04, 04:49 PM

Mine went off food last november till around march, ate like a pig all summer till about a week ago and is now refusing food again.

Nick
Atlantic Reptiles

Invictus · 10-24-04, 06:09 PM

The babies we had a little while back went off feed from November until the following summer. Not a huge concern - they were still healthy and growing.

pinoiballer01 · 10-25-04, 11:31 AM

Is the weight noticeable on the bp's when they go off feed? my bp hasnt eaten since first week of this month and im kinda getting concern cause he has lost some weight. he seems healthy though because he always flicker its tongue and he is pretty active at night. i try to offer food but he just looks at it and move his face away from it.

Jeff_Favelle · 10-25-04, 11:56 AM

Quote:

my bp hasnt eaten since first week of this month and im kinda getting concern cause he has lost some weight.

I'd be really concerned as well since a Ball Python shouldn't lose weight in 2 WEEKS! Holy moly. Are you keeping it at 120F? 2 weeks is nothing in BP Land.

BoidKeeper · 10-25-04, 12:08 PM

I once recorded a weight loss after 3 months. How much weight are we talking here? Like Jeff said 2 weeks is no where near long enough to start losing weight.
Cheers,
Trevor

pinoiballer01 · 10-25-04, 12:14 PM

im not measuring his weight i just figured that hes loosing weight cause when i pick him up its very noticeable how light he is. the body size is still the same except for his body mass. anyway i think i should bring him to the vet so that i can make sure hes ok. by the way he poo twice since i got him and he hesnt eaten. i try to feed him every week but it seems that hes not interested on the mice. i wasted 2 mice already.

BoidKeeper · 10-25-04, 12:29 PM

Quote:

im not measuring his weight i just figured that hes loosing weight cause when i pick him up its very noticeable how light he is.

Give me a break man. There is no way you can tell he lost weight in two weeks just by holding him. With out a scale this whole thread has sort have been a wast of time. This is like asking if you temps are correct because when you touch the hot spot with your hand it doesn't feel right.
Trevor

Tim_Cranwill · 10-25-04, 12:32 PM

Don't waste your time and money going to a vet. Your snake will eat again... maybe not until January or even April, but it WILL eat again. You just need to get in the mind set that some ball pythons will skip meals for months at a time for NO apparent reason. It's nothing to worry about and DEFINITELY not worth a trip to the vet.

Also, don’t concern yourself too much with the snake’s bowel movement schedule. That’s another thing new BP owners get all worried about. They will go when they go. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t pay attention to details but if he poos twice between meals or only once a month, he's more than likely JUST fine.

mykee · 10-25-04, 12:32 PM

Ken, your baby bp's went off food "from November until the following summer....they were still healthy and GROWING". I want to know the secret to not feeding your balls and still have them grow for you! I'll give you a nickel to tell me?....please?