oh no not another "my bp isnt eating thread?!?"

[nikitajane25]

Ok, I know the deal, bp will go without eating especially around winter I know its not a big deal. However the bp in question is my 69g (now 63g) black pstel boy. He last ate the 29th (day before we got him). I've left him with the mouse hopper for over a hour, still nothing. He's at the begining stages of shed (blueish coloring, pink belly ect). I know bps will refuse if they're shedding. 1st question, is it normal for smaller bps like mine to skip a meal during shed. 2nd, he seems to be looking thin which is what's got me a little worried, should I just wait untl after he sheds or should I do something about it now. If so what should I try?

Humidity is good, and heat is good, and he's still pretty active. He's not nippy, and h doesn't seem stressed, just looks a little thin.

[isanta666]

Ok, I know the deal, bp will go without eating especially around winter I know its not a big deal. However the bp in question is my 69g (now 63g) black pstel boy. He last ate the 29th (day before we got him). I've left him with the mouse hopper for over a hour, still nothing. He's at the begining stages of shed (blueish coloring, pink belly ect). I know bps will refuse if they're shedding. 1st question, is it normal for smaller bps like mine to skip a meal during shed. 2nd, he seems to be looking thin which is what's got me a little worried, should I just wait untl after he sheds or should I do something about it now. If so what should I try?

Humidity is good, and heat is good, and he's still pretty active. He's not nippy, and h doesn't seem stressed, just looks a little thin.

assuming dec 29 is the last time he ate, 9 days of feed isn't going to kill him. some of my balls will eat during shed and some will not. my male pastel never eats during a shed but always eats right after. i would wait fo him to shed then try feeding.

[Skittles1101]

It's not normal for a baby ball to go off feed for the winter, that rule is really only meant for breeding sized balls. If you can describe your set-up in detail, including how you read temps and humidity, we can help you more. I disagree that 9 days for a 69 gram ball is not a big deal. It's not a long time, but I also wouldn't "just wait".

[VEXER19]

I would agree with lgray23. It usually wouldn't matter but a baby needs food. I woul try and feed again before you just wait until after shed. see what happens and hopefully it will eat. If not then I guess wait until after shed but keep a close monitor on his weight and post a pick so we can see how thin he is.

[Skittles1101]

I didn't see the part where you mentioned he's in blue, you can wait until after he sheds since it's only days away, but I'd still double check all the husbandry and attempt a live hopper mouse to feed after a successful shed.

[RobNJ]

Agreed, there's no rule that balls go by when it comes to eating while in shed, some do and some don't. Has the snake defecated since you got it? If not, I would wait not only until after it sheds, but until after I see a bowel movement. It seems to me that babies tend to get backed up rather easily.

I'd also like to say that the timeline here is perfectly normal...if the snake is going blue, it's not right at the beginning of the shed, but a couple days in. If it ate on the 29th, and today being only the 6th, everything should be fine if your snake is an established feeder, and it should eat right after shedding.

[nikitajane25]

My husband has a substrate mix cuz we were having humidity problems. But he is in a 20g tank with coconut fiber on the bottom, a layer of aspen on the top, and very little sphagum moss sprinkled. He has 2 hides (one is a humid hide) 2 water bowls, and the back and sides of the tank are lined (from the outside) with black contact paper. We have an accurite digital thermo/hydro readin arund 80 cool sideand 90 warm with a range of 50-60 humidity. We also have an anolog hydrometer (60-70) and thermometer(83-88) mid tank. I'll take some pics of him. I thought about just putting a hopper in his tank but I really don't wanna do that, all our snakes feed in a seperate bin and I don't wanna risk changing that.

[Skittles1101]

I have at least 3 snakes that would NEVER eat for me again if I ever tried to feed them in a separate bin. Not all take to it as well as others, and if you refuse to at least try feeding in his enclosure then your risking your snake. I strongly suggest attempting it if he refuses just one more time.

[RobNJ]

he seems to be looking thin which is what's got me a little worried

I would also like to add that if he seems to be looking thin, it's for one of two reasons....

1) he was looking thin when you got him.

2) you are just worrying too much.

[Royal Hijinx]

I would wait until he sheds. My little guy missed a meal because he would not eat in shed, and went right back to it the next week. So he went right at 2 weeks without a meal. I would be concerned if he refuses after the shed.