My male SP is driving me crazy

[Smitty33]

Walter went on a fast from December until first part of june. He finally ate a small f/t rat then but I had to leave it overnight for him. He hasn't ate again since. He's 900grms in a T-8 with RHP on cypress. Hot side 90F cool side 78F with 65% humidity. I think my husbandry is spot on and he looks and acts completely fine but this not eating crap is driving me nuts. I've actually toyed with taking him to the next expo and getting rid of him for another male.
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[pariahdog]

That's a decent size and I wouldn't be worried about fasting tbh, especially if you have other snakes who will take his leftover food.

I've sold a male who was a fussy eater before though (fasted 9 months) for a different reason. But don't expos usually prohibit selling animals unless you're a vendor?

[Smitty33]

That's a decent size and I wouldn't be worried about fasting tbh, especially if you have other snakes who will take his leftover food.

I've sold a male who was a fussy eater before though (fasted 9 months) for a different reason. But don't expos usually prohibit selling animals unless you're a vendor?

Yea I didn't think about that your probably right. Oh I can't get rid of the guy as much as he drives me nuts. He always ate fine until he hit about 950 and ever since he's been driving me nuts.

[chrid16371]

Check for other signs of stress such as hides no being secure, mites, and you could try putting in more decor unless you already have it cluttered quite a bit. I personally would not get rid of a fasting snake unless it had health problems I couldn't take care of myself and then I would make sure it went to a reputable breeder who could give it that care it needed. Fasting happens and it's best to just let the snake be and keep checking husbandry to make sure it is perfect. Do you notice him using the hot or cool side more than the other? Are you using a reliable temp gun or thermometer?

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[mrbugz_bunny]

Yea I didn't think about that your probably right. Oh I can't get rid of the guy as much as he drives me nuts. He always ate fine until he hit about 950 and ever since he's been driving me nuts.

It's normal, especially around that weight. I've heard of them fasting around the 600-1000 gram range and then during breeding season for males. Give it time and watch his weight. I've read stories of balls not eating for 9-10 months and then going on a tear for 2-3 before fasting again. He'll be fine as long as everything else is good to go. Just offer once a week and he'll eat when he's ready.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If you get rid of your BP out of frustration because his feeding habits don't meet your expectation, be prepared to get rid of a lot of BP, they are BP that's what they do not to mention they are often overfed in captivity anyway hence fasts.

Feed smaller preys every 7 to 10 days for a male, skip a week every now and than, keep him in a very cramped enclosure, try out reptichip, lower your expectations and learn get a better understanding of the species, their metabolism and how efficient those animals are.

If you get rid of him do not get another BP because sooner or later you will experience the same frustration, find another species that s a garbage disposal or don't get an animal at all.

[BMorrison]

Your husbandry can be dead on and a BP not eat 5/6 for me eat like a champ. My big normal make just ate his first since February. It's what they do. Doesn't mean anything is wrong unless he's losing significant weight. To give you an idea my female is 1700g and he's 1300g and 4 years older.


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[Smitty33]

Check for other signs of stress such as hides no being secure, mites, and you could try putting in more decor unless you already have it cluttered quite a bit. I personally would not get rid of a fasting snake unless it had health problems I couldn't take care of myself and then I would make sure it went to a reputable breeder who could give it that care it needed. Fasting happens and it's best to just let the snake be and keep checking husbandry to make sure it is perfect. Do you notice him using the hot or cool side more than the other? Are you using a reliable temp gun or thermometer?

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Using a really good temp gun I bought that was suggested on here. No mites and as far as I know never had any.

I thought his enclosure was good décor wise but I am adding some more.

He has two of these hides one on hot side one on cool. He seems to prefer the cool one but does use both. He looks great and acts completely normal. I don't handle him a lot, maybe once every couple weeks and he acts completely fine stress wise. Doesn't ball up and has never hissed or struck. he's not very head shy and like I said you take him out he seems and looks fine. He's in his hide a lot, which I think is probably pretty normal.

[Smitty33]

If you get rid of your BP out of frustration because his feeding habits don't meet your expectation, be prepared to get rid of a lot of BP, they are BP that's what they do not to mention they are often overfed in captivity anyway hence fasts.

Feed smaller preys every 7 to 10 days for a male, skip a week every now and than, keep him in a very cramped enclosure, try out reptichip, lower your expectations and learn get a better understanding of the species, their metabolism and how efficient those animals are.

If you get rid of him do not get another BP because sooner or later you will experience the same frustration, find another species that s a garbage disposal or don't get an animal at all.

Oh I'm just saying that out of frustration Deborah, I couldn't get rid of my boy no matter how much hair he makes me pull out. I was so happy when he broke his fast in june that it just made me double disappointed when he quit again and just had to vent

[chrid16371]

Looks pretty cluttered to me. Do you take your temps inside the hides as well? Also look for black specks in the water bowl, that's a good way to see mites and also look for moving black specks on the lighter parts of your snake. Your probably right that he doesn't have mites but it doesn't hurt to look. Do you feed in the T8 or a separate enclosure? Have you been offering every week since the fast started?

Great looking snake BTW!

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