fasting periods

[jharris08]

ive got a 2011 female pinstripe approx. 800 grams give or take...all of the sudden she went off feed about 6 weeks ago, and is out of her hide moving around more than usual...my thermostat is still sitting on 85 ambient temp....but the ambient temp in the room had dropped to about 70...she did this very same thing about this time last year, so Im wondering if most likely it has to do with the drop in room temps or the drop in the natural photoperiod outside?
any opinions?
I was hoping to get her up to breeding size this winter, but that looks all but impossible now....just frustrates me since my 2010 male has never went off feed and is approaching 1200 grams and I cant use him yet.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It is very common for animal in the 800/1000 grams range to go of feed especially females, it the time at which they reach a plateau...........of course weather can be a factor as well, make sure your husbandry is spot on consider moving her to a smaller tub (15 quarts) and be patient.

[snakesRkewl]

Sounds like you allowed the temps to drop too soon, not something you want to do if you are trying to feed a female up to size
Males don't mind the drop and in my experience it helps males start breeding a bit easier, but if the female isn't to size dropping temps can certainly throw them off feed.
I like a good hot spot for the snake to lay on to help digest faster and take in more food, without that they tend to slow down eating since digesting slows down.

[Kaorte]

This is pretty common. I've had two girls start eating very sporadically after they reached about 900g.

If all of your husbandry is spot on, then there isn't much you can do. Try ASFs, smaller tub, clutter the tub, Increase temps. Any kind of small change could trigger her feeding response. I was lucky if I could get a meal into my girls once a month while they were fasting.

Part of owning ball pythons!

[jharris08]

It is very common for animal in the 800/1000 grams range to go of feed especially females, it the time at which they reach a plateau...........of course weather can be a factor as well, make sure your husbandry is spot on consider moving her to a smaller tub (15 quarts) and be patient.

thanks deborah...I actually bought this girl from you now that I realize your logo...she had been taking f/t small rats pretty readily and I was just gettin ready to move her to medium rats...but Im pretty sure its the drop in the room temperature in my basement since the weather here in the mountains of Virginia has been cooling off lately...im planning on finishing my basement and enclosing my reptile room so I can run a small heater in there to keep the ambient temps a little higher....beautiful girl btw, thanks again! hopefully she will go next season!

[oskyle1567]

I have one that has been eating ferociously until now. It definitely has to do with the temps starting to naturally drop this time of year. I wouldnt worry to much thats ball pythons for you its all natural for them..

[S.I.R.]

Typical BP behavior. I have a few girls that do the same thing when they hit that mid range in size. I have had to learn even more patience since we started raising and breeding BP's. Sometimes it really bites! Just check your setup for any flucuations and make sure they have a nice hot spot to bask.