Question about hunger strike.

[mattb]

Ok here is my situation my female pastel stopped eating about 3 weeks ago. She was 906 full and then weighed about 850 empty. Feeding on a med rat once a week. I weighed her tonight and she is at 820. Temps are 89 to 90 on the warm side and 79 to 80 on the cool side. Humidity is a little low at 50% but i mist a few times a day. I know they can go on hunger strikes around the 900 to 1000 mark. I only have one over 1000gm and never stopped eating. So I guess I am just asking. Do I keep offering one to her every week or skip a week? I just need some advice on it since I have never had it happen yet. Thanks everyone.

[Dwp1979]

Are you feeding ft or live? I have had an issue in the past of switching from ft to live for just one feeding. That snake never ate frozen thawed again. Also you can try ASF rats. I usually get a response that way. If that doesn't work try a large mouse. Sometimes switching to a smaller prey item will trigger feeding. As for the duration I wouldn't be concerned. Ball pythons are picky eaters to begin with and something as simple as the changing of the seasons can cause their feeding response to slow. If she is set in a location where she is subjected to natural light and the ambient room temp is lower then it was a few weeks ago she can be naturally cooling. I do not keep my balls in tanks for this reason only racks so I can control their temps and light better.

[mattb]

Are you feeding ft or live? I have had an issue in the past of switching from ft to live for just one feeding. That snake never ate frozen thawed again. Also you can try ASF rats. I usually get a response that way. If that doesn't work try a large mouse. Sometimes switching to a smaller prey item will trigger feeding. As for the duration I wouldn't be concerned. Ball pythons are picky eaters to begin with and something as simple as the changing of the seasons can cause their feeding response to slow. If she is set in a location where she is subjected to natural light and the ambient room temp is lower then it was a few weeks ago she can be naturally cooling. I do not keep my balls in tanks for this reason only racks so I can control their temps and light better.

Thank you for the response. She is eating FT rats and has been for a few months now. Before she was eating live mice. I keep all but one of mine in tubs so the temp is kept pretty normal. I guess I will give her a week off and try again and leave her alone as much as possible except for cleaning and things like that.