Eating problems

[f22raptor95]

So I bought 2 ball pythons a few weeks ago and before I bought them they were fed live rodents. I tried for a few weeks to switch them but they wouldn't eat so I bought them live. STILL wouldn't eat. My adult female let the rat crawl all over her and I didn't want her getting bit so I took the rat out after a while. Why won't they eat? It's been a month at least

[bcr229]

What are their enclosures like? Tanks? Tubs? What are their heat and humidity? What kind of hides do they have? How old are they? How was their former owner keeping them?

[f22raptor95]

They're in tubs, belly heat flexwatt at 95. They have plastic hides, one adult 1.5 years old the other is around 300 grams so a few months old.

[rlditmars]

95 is probably too hot unless the interior temp of the tub surface is reading differently. You don't want the tub surface to exceed 90 max, even 88 or 89 is probably acceptable. That may not resolve the eating issue, but should be adjusted regardless.

[f22raptor95]

I'll lower it then, would this really affect their eating?

[SRMD]

I'll lower it then, would this really affect their eating?

Anything that could potentially stress a BP out can stop them from feeding.


My BP went 10months without feeding, so don't worry too much just monitor your BPs weight make sure it isn't dropping to significantly

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[goddessbaby]

as I'm sure you know, Bp's can be finicky and might still be stressed after the move even if its been a while. Many can go quite a while without eating and it's not as unusual as it seems. Offer food occasionally and monitor their weights. If no extreme weight changes occur, chances are it'll be fine until they come to their senses lol.

[f22raptor95]

Jeez it stresses me out haha. And I don't know what to do with the live rodents if they aren't gonna eat them!

[rlditmars]

Jeez it stresses me out haha. And I don't know what to do with the live rodents if they aren't gonna eat them!

It always stresses us out, even when you're used to them going off feed.

You can euthenize the rats with a C02 chamber. Just use dry ice and put them in a small cooler. Then you can freeze them and if you can eventually get your snake switched to F/T, you'll already have some stock.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

95 is very hot I would suggest 88/90

As far as the adult female it is pretty common for adult females to go of feed from a few week to several months when changing environment, 50% of all adults female that I ever received have fasted for at least 6 to 9 months.

For the other one address the temp issue first, move into the smallest available tub, and provide aspen bedding to allow him to burrow.