BP Refusing Food - I Need Feeding Help

[smakemom]

This is sort of a continuation of this post: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...a-New-BP-Owner

My snake, Smake, has been refusing to take food for 3 weeks now. He weighs 187g. He was eating f/t consistently for about a month, and suddenly stopped. I have a couple ideas as to why, but I'm not sure. One reason might be because I reset his tank, but I put everything back the same way it was before, and cleaned it the same way I typically do. He has eaten for me fairly soon after a tank clean, though. This past attempt, I attempted to feed him a week after the clean. I gave him the rat after sundown, and put a towel over his tank to make sure it was dark and private.

In the previous thread, his tanks' temperatures were unstable due to putting the thermostat probes in the wrong place. After correcting this, his temperatures have been very stable with minimal fluctuation (only about 1-3º) and had held stable for over 24 hours prior to the most recent feeding attempt. I feed him f/t and he didn't have an issue with it until now.

When I first got him, I went through a similar issue where he refused to eat for me, but I now know that was because his tank was too cold. I also had to figure out that he would rather I leave it in the tank with him and lay it on the ground than try to wiggle it and imitate life. (He appears to be somewhat afraid of the tongs..)

His tank temperatures are 76-78º on the cool side and 86-88º on the hot side. There is insulation on the back, side, and top of his tank, with just two sides exposed. His humidity is at about 60% right now. He was poking his head out of his cave on the cool side, periscoping, so I thought that was a sign of appetite. I guess not.

I will be attempting to feed him again one more week from now, unless suggested otherwise.. He is a juvenile, about 5 months old. He has been eating rat pups in the past, which is what he was raised on as soon as he was big enough to eat them. I've moved on to very slightly bigger pups, but he's eaten this size for me before.

Should I just wait a week to try to feed him again, or should I take some sort of action?

Thank you in advance for your advice and help!

[vivi]

https://mypetpython.com/the-ultimate...hooting-guide/

[smakemom]

https://mypetpython.com/the-ultimate...hooting-guide/

none of the situations mentioned in this post apply

[vivi]

It's possible he could just be fasting then.

[smakemom]

It's possible he could just be fasting then.

Do they really just fast for no reason??? Yeesh

[EL-Ziggy]

If your temps are good, and the snake has eaten for you a few times, it's just rinse and repeat until he becomes a more consistent eater. Some snakes can be hit or miss when you first get them. I would avoid handling and space out the feeding intervals to every 10-14 days to avoid wasting feeders and to let his hunger grow. Hope he gets on track soon.

[Craiga 01453]

Yeah, I'd just wait a week and try again. At that age it's important to get him eating, but I assure you he won't starve himself.

Just stick to the basics for now: no handling, minimal activity in his enclosure (spot cleans, water change), and keep an eye on temps.
It seems your husbandry is dialed in and on point now. So as frustrating as it can be, try to be patient.

Great work picking up on his head poking out as a sign of hunger. That's typically a good indicator, but obviously not set in stone.
But that's exactly how I feed my adult BPs. I basically wait for them to "tell me" by displaying that behavior on consecutive nights. If I see it two nights in a row, I offer on night three. Works like a charm.

I might wait til later at night to try again though. And make sure you're getting the prey warm enough. You want to aim for around 100° focusing on the head. Since pups are pretty small, they cool quickly too, so it may require re-heating once or twice.

It sounds like you're on the right track. Just try and be patient. Good luck!!

- - - Updated - - -

Do they really just fast for no reason??? Yeesh

No, not at that age.

[PeteV]

I keep short tails and bloods, but I do have one young ball python, and he is the biggest pain in the butt out of all of them. I am definitely not a BP expert or anything, but what worked for me when mine would go off of frozen thawed, is to get him a live mouse. My guy, Tarmac, is a 2019, and about 500g or so. He is hit or miss with frozen/thawed, never refused a live mouse. Yours would probably take a hopper or small adult(2 hoppers probably). I always figured my top priority was to get the snake eating consistently, no matter what it was. Frozen/thawed could wait. Maybe you could try that until you get his size up, and then try the frozen again. Good luck.

[Craiga 01453]

I keep short tails and bloods, but I do have one young ball python, and he is the biggest pain in the butt out of all of them.

That's so funny, my Borneo STP is my only pain in the butt eater in my crew. My BPs are both fantastic eaters.
Just goes to show, animals within the same species are still individuals and there are no "one size fits all" troubleshooting methods.

[Bogertophis]

I keep short tails and bloods, but I do have one young ball python, and he is the biggest pain in the butt out of all of them...

I can also attest to BPs being PITAs to feed...