Need Advice [feeding]

[PolkaDotPenguin]

So I just purchased 2 bp's about 4 wks ago, Keevo & Kymbo.

Both have ate perfectly fine for the past 2 feedings. Tonight was 3rd feeding.
Kymbo was hungry and gobbled it so fast! Keevo on the other hand is being hard. Now they both eat frozen small rats. Both have never had a problem eating, and take it within 1min of offering. Tonight Keevo just doesn't act like he cares. He will smell all over it, lick it, and even follow it around. But he wont strike at all. I made sure the rats aren't cold, and that we do the same thing each time. Now Keevo did take a HUGE poop/pee last night. I mean like 6cm long. But he hasn't shed at all since i got him. He seems to be a little bit pink on the bottom, but his eyes aren't hazy and he doesn't seem to be totally in shed.

So this is the 1st time i have dealt with this, and don't know what to do. I tried offering if, leaving it in there, and then trying again.
His cage hasn't change, his temps are fine, he isn't sick, he hasn't been stressed or nothing.

The only thing I can think is that the rat is all black, and the last time he has had a white one. But that shouldn't seem to matter.

Am i just stressing for nothing? Maybe he just isn't hungry? But why the sudden change? Maybe i am just having the "1st time mom" worries.

TY!

[joshy171]

for whatever reason it seems ball pythons the most go on strick and wont eat one of my big girls will eat everymeal no problem then all of a sudden not eat for a month just keep offering her a meal every 7 days until she eats or its been over 3 months at which point i say take them into a vet obviously it is a do what you want sort of thing and every1 has there own oppinon on the subject. but thats my 2 cents hop your baby eats soon for you.

[Vypyrz]

Just wait till the next scheduled feeding day and try again, unless he is in shed, then wait for him to finish. He should be hungry by that time. It is also a good idea to keep accurate records of feedings, refusals, prey size ,sheds, poops, weights, etc. Skipping a couple of meals is not uncommon, but if you notice a specic pattern to their refusals, then it may be time to adjust the prey size or adjust feeding days. Accurate records can also potentially help vets because trhey can get a look at the the history and patterns of the snake...

[Kaorte]

Vypyrz: Many snakes will eat in shed. I offer on the scheduled feeding day no matter what. I would recommend that the OP at least try to feed the snake while it is shedding to see if it will in fact eat.

OP: Are the two snakes housed together? If so, this could be why one is not eating and the other is.

Where do you feed them? How big/old are the snakes? How big is the prey item? What are the temps in the enclosure like? How are you measuring them? What kind of hides does the snake have?

Sorry for question spam! This information would be really helpful to maybe figure out why you had a refusal.

[RichsBallPythons]

Also its breeding season where males tend to be less interested in food and more for a female. If hes got weight on him hes fine. 1-5 months is nothing to be worried about no food.

[Karbon]

If his belly is pink, he may be going into shed.

My female BP won't eat at all when she goes into shed but eats like a pig she's not.

Also what others said about breeding season. They can get picky, one week without food is nothing to worry about.

Good luck!

[PolkaDotPenguin]

Noooooo my snakes are not housed together [big no-no]

They are atleast 2yrs old, Huge guys both at 4 1/2ft not sure what their current weight is, but i know they are healthy. They are in sterilit tubs, with their black hides, and heating pads.

thanks everyone for the advice! I do keep records on everything they do. So hopefully he just wasnt hungry this week

[RichsBallPythons]

Dont worry youll get MANY non feeding weeks to come. Im still working on getting my albino to eat after 41days no food. She only wants live rats not PK or FT.

She has eaten FT good 5months so ill wait her out. Just never Give in or they will get oyu everytime

[Kaorte]

Sounds like your setup is fine. I wouldn't worry about the food refusal. He could be looking for some loving.

[greghall]

Wait till they decide not to eat for 6 months,trust me thats what Balls do.Ive had a few go 5 to 6 months without eating.