HELP! My Ball Python hasn't eaten in months

[BPNewb]

I posted a similar thread almost a month ago on the same topic .. all of you concurred that this might be a normal cycle that my BP is going through right now .. but I just want to ask again, and see what my next steps should be.

My BP hasn't eaten since January 25th, so now it's been 4 months - I haven't changed anything in her habitat. She is approximately 6 years old. She's only refused food maybe twice in the whole time I've had her, so this is Very out of the norm. She appears normal in all other senses; she's active when I take her out, she looks normal (mouth, eyes, skin.) I even tried the last 2 times when offering her food (I keep offering her food every 2-3 weeks), of putting the rat in her cage (I have always fed her live rats - I usually feed her in a separate container.) She just does nothing.

At what point/how long should I be concerned, and what action do I take? Take her to a veterinarian to gain a professional opinion?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and offer feedback, much appreciated!

~BPNewb

[Kaorte]

If you aren't already, start weighing her. This will at least give you an idea of how much weight she is loosing or maintaining.

4 months, while a long time to go without food for us, is not all that detrimental to a well established adult ball python. A hatchling or yearling should not be going off feed for this long though.

I missed the thread from before, so sorry if I ask you things you have answered before.

What is her enclosure like? Temps? hides? Size of the enclosure?
Knowing the snakes age and weight would also be helpful.

What different feeding methods have you tried so far? Other than feeding live in a separate tub and live in the home enclosure.

Perhaps you could try mice, a smaller rat, or ASFs if they are available to you. I would agree that feeding her in her home enclosure is a better idea.

[Annarose15]

For anyone who doesn't remember your first thread, here it is:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...81#post1810381

It's a shame that no one thought to suggest you get a scale and monitor her weight. I still wouldn't be concerned after only four months, especially at that age. I do recommend that you get a scale and start watching her weight now, so you can know if she's losing too much. In the meantime, you could post pics here and we can offer our thoughts on whether she looks overly thin. She knows how to eat, so she will start again when she's ready as long as your husbandry is straight. Since I know others will ask, what are your temps & humidity, how are you measuring them, and what is your cage setup (hides, etc.)?

Add: Ha! Steffe was faster than me!

[Slim]

Take her to a veterinarian to gain a professional opinion?

Unless you have an experienced Herp Vet, a veterinarian is the last place you'll get a professional opinion on a ball python hunger strike.

Keep the husbandry optimal and keep offering. She will start to eat again when she's ready.

I know 4 months feels like a lifetime, but we have several members here who have been through fasts that lasted over a year.

[el8ch]

To be honest I wouldn't worry too much after 4 months if she is not showing any sign of illness or change in behaviour.

What I can suggest is to triple check your husbandry and make sure everything is good. I have had success with boosting the ambient air temp in my reptile room for some of my females that have gone off food.

What size prey item are you feeding? You might just intice her to eat if you give her a smaller prey item, something smaller then what she normally eats.

Keep an eye on her weight and feed her on her normal feeding schedule and when she is ready she will start feeding again.

[Kaorte]

Add: Ha! Steffe was faster than me!

I'm a ninja

[BPNewb]

I'm not sure how much she weighs, I'll have to find that out ... she is between 6 and 7 years old now, I've had her since she was about 1 year old.

She is in a 40 gallon terrarium, hide on each side; warm side has a heat lamp and heat pad, set to about 80 degrees, give or take a few degrees.

I've always fed in a tub, but after my post a month ago, the last 2 times, I've tried feeding in her cage. She's been on rats for about 2 years now, but yesterday I actually tried a large mouse ... still no interest.

If you aren't already, start weighing her. This will at least give you an idea of how much weight she is loosing or maintaining.

4 months, while a long time to go without food for us, is not all that detrimental to a well established adult ball python. A hatchling or yearling should not be going off feed for this long though.

I missed the thread from before, so sorry if I ask you things you have answered before.

What is her enclosure like? Temps? hides? Size of the enclosure?
Knowing the snakes age and weight would also be helpful.

What different feeding methods have you tried so far? Other than feeding live in a separate tub and live in the home enclosure.

Perhaps you could try mice, a smaller rat, or ASFs if they are available to you. I would agree that feeding her in her home enclosure is a better idea.

[BPNewb]

WOW, a year -- ok I don't feel so bad now. I'll for sure get a scale and start keeping track of weight.

Thank you!!

Unless you have an experienced Herp Vet, a veterinarian is the last place you'll get a professional opinion on a ball python hunger strike.

Keep the husbandry optimal and keep offering. She will start to eat again when she's ready.

I know 4 months feels like a lifetime, but we have several members here who have been through fasts that lasted over a year.

[BPNewb]

I downsized just this last time (yesterday) -- have been on small to med sized rats this past year or so, but yesterday just went with a large mouse, but still no interest. So I'll just keep at a regular schedule, making sure all settings are ideal.

Does it make a difference whether or not I take her out and hold her for a bit first, kind of get her moving before I put her back in to feed her? Or should I just plop in the food, and not touch her right before?

To be honest I wouldn't worry too much after 4 months if she is not showing any sign of illness or change in behaviour.

What I can suggest is to triple check your husbandry and make sure everything is good. I have had success with boosting the ambient air temp in my reptile room for some of my females that have gone off food.

What size prey item are you feeding? You might just intice her to eat if you give her a smaller prey item, something smaller then what she normally eats.

Keep an eye on her weight and feed her on her normal feeding schedule and when she is ready she will start feeding again.

[el8ch]

She is in a 40 gallon terrarium, hide on each side; warm side has a heat lamp and heat pad, set to about 80 degrees, give or take a few degrees.

You should boost your temps. Cools side should be right around 80 with your hot side at 90!