Feeding

[padiente]

is there any reason my male bp would suddenly change eating habits drastically after a year? Last night he wuoldn't eat the offered food. I had been 3 weeks. The first time he didn't seem to recognize his food, was obviously hungry but didn't catch on, the secind week he was in shed, this week he just shied away from the rat. After 30 minutes if trying everything I know I put food and snake in a carboard box under the lamp and let them sit. Sometime during the next hour Kitty ate the rat but I have no idea why the sudden change. Will it get better?

[Adam_Wysocki]

Welcome to the fall. Even though it may seem like his cage temps have not changed, your male bp can tell that its getting to be that time of year when he should be looking for a female. At about a year old, male bp's are beginning to sexually mature and his focus may turn from food to breeding.

It's likely that he will continue this sporadic feeding pattern for the next several month. Hang in there, it will get better.

-adam

[padiente]

Well crap. I got him last year in the fall, I was under the impression that he was about 3 years old now, being a little over 3 feet. How old are the pnes they sell at Petco?

[Blink]

He might of not been in the breeding mood last year from all we know.
All we can say is, MANY ball pythons are going off fed, do to the breeding season.
Don't worry.

[padiente]

ok, so should I just continue on my regular feeding regeme, once weeking a small f/t rat and put them together in a box if he doesn't take it right away. or what would be the best thing to do? I really don't want him to go without feeding as he is having wieght problems already. If he is going to eat less often, should I add supplaments to his meals so he doens't loose anymore weight than he already has?

[led4urhead]

I would definitely continue with your regular schedule. Both of my boys are pushing three months without a meal now, i know what you are going through. How long do you generally leave the rat in there with him? Is it dark? Do you leave him alone? Have you tried leaving one in overnight?

[padiente]

Actually, yesterday was the first time I tried that at all. First I tried the usual way, dangle over the feed box for over 30 min. Then they were in a cardboard shoebox and it took somewhere within an hour for Kitty to eat the rat. I am not sure how long exactly because I could not see inside the box. From what everyone has said so far it looks like this is the kind of feeding I have to look forward to.