Not eating- on going

[Kat's Toy]

I posted on the general python board last week that my 1 yr old ball hasnt eaten in over 4 weeks, now we are on 5 weeks - I am not trying to stress about it since I have been reassured with the colder weather/ barametric pressure change ,this is normal... but he has gone from a consistant weekly feeder to not interested and runs away from the rat (we feed live) really bothers me!! ... the thing that is confusing to me is his level of activity... I would assume with his lack of eating / cooler temps outside- that it would be time to hide in the hole and hibernate... not the case... he is so active even in the AM and throughout the day.... this behavior seems abnormal to me. I had him out last night to soak as he is turning blue, and he was just cruzing all over the place that i had to hold him down in the tub to soak... he just cant be still...

So, just wondering if this over active behavior has been seen amongst others, the signs are the same as when he is hungry/ hunting... but he is still refusing food....

I have a call into a new vet... the one I had originally been referred to is no longer in practice, so now I am also trying to find someone that does reptiles here North of Seattle... any referalls are greatly appreciated.. i dont mind travelling a little to a good vet...

Any insite/ suggestions are greatly appreciated....

[Purrrfect9]

What size rat are you feeding your bp now? My BP's went on a 2 month hunger strike this past winter, so I tried offering rats that were a size smaller than what I normally feed them and they started feeding again. If you wanted to, you could also try to entice them into eating a few jumbo mice (if your bps an adult, if not, then one or two jumbo mice should be fine). But as a caution, you might have to deal with hastles from switching back to rats later on.

[Kat's Toy]

Not sure how to term on here how old a rat we feed... it was probably 3 weeks old,now 4 going on 5 weeks... size is bigger than a large adult mouse (its a handful) ..someone suggested that we dip the head into chicken broth, but it didnt phase my BP...

He is just under 4 ft... my scale is broken so need to find out how much he weighs now...

We had to switch one time back to mice when my supplier didnt have the size rat we needed and had big issues getting him to take a rat again... I was advised that due to his size he needs a rat (more calcium) ... is this true, could we stick to 2 adult mice...? That is what he was eating before we switched to rat...

[Purrrfect9]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with feeding your BP strictly mice. Many members here feed mice only. If that's what your BP eats, feed it to him! Lol. They are notorious for being imprint feeders, and usually will only stick to what they have grown up on. I personally don't like to feed live mice because it takes too long to feed multiple prey items to 4 snakes. You said that your BP is 4 foot long? I think 3 or 4 jumbo mice would be the best bet to feed to a BP that size. But don't take my word on it. Someone will mosey on over into this thread and will be more knowledgeable on how many mice you should feed him.

[Argentra]

Not really sure what's going on with your snake, but I can give you the tale of what happened to two of mine that is similar:

My pickiest feeder started out on live hoppers/small mice and she attacked them with great enthusiasm and regularity. Then, out of the blue in fall she stopped and seemed almost afraid of the mouse. I tried lots of things to get her to resume eating but she wouldn't have it. Finally in desperation I tried offering her a pre-killed mouse slightly smaller than what she had been getting. WHAM! She took that thing faster than I'd ever seen her strike. My guess is that for some reason she became afraid of the live prey.

Also, this is simply the season for refusals. Even when not ready to breed, BPs will often refuse food in colder months sometimes for the whole winter.

As for prey type/size, a snake that is that long is most likely an adult of well over 1000g (or a really skinny but long one). In that case, 2 adult mice would not be enough. You really should try to find a way to weigh your snake again, since going by the '10% of weight' rule seems a sound way to determine prey size.

[Kat's Toy]

thanks for your input... he was 1000g about 2 weeks ago... so i am going to shop for a scale today... and get 2 adult mice... or maybe just one to see if he is even interested... my house is looking like a rodent farm ...

Any ideas as to his unusual high level of activity? I just find it so strange... not eating and all....

On another note, it seems he has stopped in the middle of his shed mode... I soaked him two days ago when he was turning blue, but nothing has happened since... raised the humidiy/temp... hum....?

[Kat's Toy]

Sorry miss typed... he was 1200g two weeks ago...

[starmom]

I'd be offering an 80g prey size....
Also, sounds to me like he just 'feeling his oats' at this time of year....

[JayBP]

thanks for your input... he was 1000g about 2 weeks ago... so i am going to shop for a scale today... and get 2 adult mice... or maybe just one to see if he is even interested... my house is looking like a rodent farm ...

Any ideas as to his unusual high level of activity? I just find it so strange... not eating and all....

On another note, it seems he has stopped in the middle of his shed mode... I soaked him two days ago when he was turning blue, but nothing has happened since... raised the humidiy/temp... hum....?

Maybe he wants to breed.

[Kat's Toy]

Breed???? wow I guess I thought he'd be too young for that.... he's only one... anything to do to relieve the "need" ? My first and only BP here....