Help! Ball refusing to feed!

[justincturner]

I have an approximately 3 year old ball python, and he has not been taking food since about the middle of january! He is not displaying any signs of illness and there are no local breeders or veterinarians that deal with these types of species.
He has always eaten live mice and rats, but will not accept either right now. I've tried even feeding small mice and fuzzies, but no luck. It's been 3 months since he last fed and I am really getting worried. He's losing some girth and is pretty inactive. I don't know what to do.

Can anyone help me find a solution or point me in the right direction as to why this may be happening?

[psycho]

Well it may be that he is fasting which it'll resume feeding on early spring or in summertime.....or when some ball pythons reach weights of 800 or 900 grams, it is not uncommon for them to stop feeding.....this is a very frustrating time....they may not eat for six months or more.

when this happens do not worry. just be patient and periodically offer food... always offer the same prey it use to eat....

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Just make sure your husbandry is optimal, stop handling him unless necessary, monitor his weight and wait it out.

As said previously it is frustrating but giving it is 3 year old individual with (I would assume) a good body weight there is really nothing much to worry about it.

[waltah!]

At 3yrs old he is probably just waiting for a girlfriend. It can be very frustrating, but as long as he ate well before he can go quite a while. I would offer food occassionally to see if he's ready to eat yet. If it was a baby it would be a different story, but this is pretty normal adult behavior as long as your husbandry is good.

[Neal]

Make sure your conditions are optimal, and just keep offering once a week, no more then that. Also don't handle unless you have to, let him get his alone time, try not to stress him out at all.

[blackcrystal22]

Could you please take a picture of the enclosure your keeping him in and read up on this caresheet: http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...articles&cid=1

Make sure everything is SPOT ON.

List us temperatures on both sides, humidity readings, and what your using for heat source, substrate, and what to control the heat source with.

[Crazy4Herps]

I agree with everything said above.

But let us not forget parasites. You say there is no herp vet, but are any of the cat/dog vets in your area able to do a simple fecal exam and check for parasites? That is, if your snake defecates after so long without food.

[scut]

This is exactly my problem, almost word for word. From what I have heard, it is a normal occurance, but my ball hasn't eaten since Dec. 31 and I too am worried. Hopefully everything turns out all right for the both of us!

[cartman89]

I wouldn't worry...from what everyone else is saying. Plus I keep saltwater fish (aggressive such as lionfish) they go off feed ALL the time sometimes for months and then BAM they go back to eating.....Remember reptiles and fish are NOT humans so they eat differently.