winter feeding habits

[Snakeman]

would winter time affect how a snake eats? even my BP,who normally eats first and asks questions later, has refused food for 2 weeks(i know they can go long periods of time without food) and it's strange to me that he suddenly stopped eating.i doubt he's gonna shed so i was wondering if winter time would affect snake eating habits.it has been pretty cold around my house(a little below the 60's and bove that).

[rabernet]

I've been told that even a degree down swing in temps, in combination with shorter days can cause a ball python to fast. I haven't experienced any fasts this winter with my crew.


There are other factors, of course, that can throw a ball into a fast - overhandling, enclosure too large, hides not tight and snug, overfeeding previously. Figure it out and he should be back to feeding in no time!

[Amy05]

i have heard that it can cause them to fast, but i havn't had that problem yet. Well, it is florida, so it doesnt get too much colder. lol.

[Entropy]

Never had many issues with winter. If your enclosure temps and humidity are correct then the temp of your house isn't really that important, so I do hope you aren't keeping this snake at room temperature.

[SatanicIntention]

Everyone here is still eating just like they were in June, with the exception of one girl who has always been a picky eater(stinkpot Amani *shakes finger at her*), and this new adult female(but I've only offered once, so that doesn't count, LoL). Temps in the room have dropped slightly(from 75-78 to 70-72), but that obviously hasn't affected mine much. Their enclosures are all the same temp and humidity as they were during the summer, so no biggie to them

[West Coast Jungle]

Hey Snakeman how's it going? Living as well in Southern Cali the weather we have been having lately can definately cause fasting especially for the older ones but it has alot to do with the ambient room temps. I have one room that never gets under 78 at night 84 day and they are all eating fine.My breeding adults are in another room that gets down to 74-75 nights and 79-80 days and most of them are not eating much. So I think it comes down to the night temps in the room they are in. Try checking temps with a digital thermometer. I have 400 watt oil filled heaters in each room on Herpstat pros to control rooms otherwise they could get into the 60s, real cold for a BP! Cool snakes will go off feed.

[djslurp1200]

Everyone is eating without a problem here!

[Darkways]

I have a few of mine that have gone off feed this winter. All of my females that have been bred have gone off feed, a few of my males dont seem to want anything. It could come down to me cooling them all a little during the winter as I always do. I have to males that have been on a fast for 3 months, one is keeping there weight just fine without food. The other has drop weight fast. So I have been heating him up more this winter and assit feeding him. But yea balls do go off feed during the winter if you let temps to drop.

[Snakeman]

i see.well i've had my BP's heat lamp on most of the day and he stays right under it most of the time.i have a digital thermometer but its in my living room and in the mornings it can get to somewhere above the 60's but i make sure my snakes are kept at higher temps than that.

[geralyn dooley]

Kinda glad to see this out there, I hadnt thought of the weather change (CRAZY temp swings here in Charlotte)....my BP hasnt been eating for a while now, I posted something a few days ago. So maybe it does have a little something to do with the weather.