Ronnie

[Kathryn]

Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone can help me out there.

We have a 3 year old male ball-headed python and we are struggling to get some answers, so if anyone can suggest or help in anyway it would be much appreciated.

It is coming up to three months since he last ate.

We have sought advice from professionals and unfortunately we haven't got any answers and they have been baffled by some of the questions we have asked. So here I go.

it has been suggested that we try different types of food such as; small rats, larger rats, gerbils (because apparantly they love them), then there is what I call "a fatty rattie" and finally if this didn't work we were to try baby chicks (much to friends disgust as she keeps chickens as pets.

We find he is just not interested, he even cuddles up to the food, he doesn't constrict it he just cuddles it and I know how stupid this sounds but it's true.

When he was a baby we nearly lost him because was showing signs of "star gazing" could this have anything to do with his current behaviour?

Thank you.

Kathryn

[Reinz]

Welcome to the forum Kathryn.

No no need to worry. It is quite common for these snakes to go on a hunger strike, usually during winter months and at breeding age.

My female adult is like clockwork every year, September/October through April/May.

Many folks with hunger striking snakes have said that their snakes usually start eating around Easter.

Hunger strikes can go longer or shorter.

As long as your snake does not look physically underfed by being triangle shaped with the spine showing starkly, then no worries.

Theses snakes are a marvel at maintaining their food intake over a course of a year roughly, because most captive Ball Pythons are overfed.


Here is a picture of Elvira. She has not eaten in 5.5 months. She doesn't look thin at all.
She is under the heat lamp after spending 4-5 days on the cool side and ambient areas.
I also previously poured water in that spot to maintain humidity. Maybe she likes the cool and warm combined or "fresh" humidity?

[Reinz]

Also, your questions may have been addressed more quickly and by more people if you had placed your post under "Husbandry" or "General Ball Pythons" rather than the "Off Topic " area which is normally about anything But snakes.

[dr del]

Moved it for ya.