8 Month old not eating ??

[LP.]

My 8 month old pastel hasn't eaten for the past 3 feeding days. I feed weekly, every Tueday. Every Tuesday I offer, he shows very little interest, and bugs right off. I offer 2 mice each week. I've tried small rats with my cinnamon, she's afraid of them, and a little bit to small for them. I've also tried small rats with my pastel, he ate one once (which was the last time he ate), and showed no interest in another one the next week, or at all in the mice the past 3 (also tried a mouse the next day).

My husbandry is almost spot on, the only thing I'm having a little bit of trouble with is humidity. I'm only getting it 2 around 45%. I'm still using tanks (yeah yeah, I'm on to getting tubs soon) but my snakes are treated exactly the same. 2 identical hides, 2 plastic plants, 90* warm, 83* cold, I change both waters daily and completely clean/change the water bowls every 5 days, when ever I mist one tank down, I mist both down. My cinnamon has only refused a meal from me once, and that was because she was in shed. She has eaten all I've offered her the past 3 weeks.

Any suggestions or help as to what I can do?

[dr del]

Hi,

I take it the pastel isn't starting to go into shed or anything?

When you say small rats what weight of rat do you mean ( everyone has different ideas on what a small rat is unfortunately ) and how does it compare to two mice?

I wouldn't worry unduly after only three missed feeds though but keep an eye on his weight to monitor for changes.


dr del

[Big Gunns]

Get the humidity up for starters. This is a form of cycling for a ball python. Since the humidity drops in the winter a Ball can think it's time to breed and begin to fast. Once you've done that pull up a lawn chair and wait for the next few months, because that's how long it may take to get your ball to eat. Like the Doc said, keep and eye on the weight of your Ball....and wait it out.

Of course you need to check your ball carefully to make sure it has no sign of illness though.

[saber2th]

Both of mine where sporadic on feeding, but all of a sudden they are eating like crazy! Just give it time. They will eat.

[LP.]

Dr.Del: Actually he just got out of one 3 days before the schedualed feeding date. Right after being in one 4 weeks ago (Somehow???) And as the the gram of the rat I do not know. My dads friend breeds rat for his snakes so he gives me appropriately sized ones (same size as the thickest part of the body), he said he'll start weighing everything out though


BG: Trust me, I'm working on the humidity, I bought a room humidifier 2 days ago and I turned it on last night but havent noticed any real change. And as for the sicknesses I have him in a different room because I do think he has something (Vet appointment on Monday)