Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 658

2 members and 656 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,104
Posts: 2,572,097
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud
  • 04-13-2011, 04:15 PM
    K1llSw1tch
    Help!! Ball python went off food
    Hello, I need some help my ball python went off food about a month ago and i do not know what to do, Ive tried mice and baby rats she just doesn't seem to be interested... how long can they go without eating? temps are 90-93f hot side. Cool side is 77-81f. humidity is 75%. She is on a mix of Eco-Earth and Cypress mulch. 2 identical hides on each side. one big round water bowl in the center.
    A UTH on the hot side plugged into a thermostat also using a Acu-rite thermometer for the temps.. Also shes about 24inches long.. she doesn't look skinny or dehydrated at all though.. Any info/help would be great thank you!!!
    the tank is also covered with a towel to keep heat and humidity in! also the tank is only temporary till i can save for a boaphile cage

    http://img823.imageshack.us/i/20110413160548417.jpg/
    http://img688.imageshack.us/i/20110413160612293.jpg/
  • 04-13-2011, 04:24 PM
    Clint Bundy
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    My female spider went without eating for 2 months and they can go longer than that. I was in panic mode myself but she came right around. If you notice that your snake is loosing weight try offering a soft furred rat (asf). I haven't had a snake that is off feed refuse on yet. I currently have 2 females that are off feed but it is also breeding season. While I am not breeding, this time of year I kind of expect some of my snkaes to go off feed.
  • 04-13-2011, 04:47 PM
    K1llSw1tch
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Clint Bundy View Post
    My female spider went without eating for 2 months and they can go longer than that. I was in panic mode myself but she came right around. If you notice that your snake is loosing weight try offering a soft furred rat (asf). I haven't had a snake that is off feed refuse on yet. I currently have 2 females that are off feed but it is also breeding season. While I am not breeding, this time of year I kind of expect some of my snkaes to go off feed.

    Alrighty, Thanks atleast i know its normal and im not freaking out anymore lol
  • 04-13-2011, 09:09 PM
    Homegrownscales
    There's no way to tell by eye if the snake is losing weight. I highly suggest to get a notebook and a grams scale and weigh the snake weekly which he's not eating. If he's not losing dramatic weight you have nothing to worry about. If he is you need to take him to the vet. They can go a long time without eating. But you will only notice he's lost weight without a scale Is when it's too late. It's part of their defense mechanism. Don't let anyone see that I'm sick. My breeding males that do go off feed every winter will stop eating anywhere from 1-6 months. The only reason I know they are ok IS because of my grams scale and record keeping. Trust me if you have 1 or 41 snakes an activity log and scale are two of the most important things to have for maybe under 20$. Saves you a hell of a lot of sleepless nights and worry.
  • 04-13-2011, 11:03 PM
    Clint Bundy
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    I got my scale on Ebay for less than a dollar. I keep track once a month on my snakes. IT was a great investment.
  • 04-13-2011, 11:06 PM
    Homegrownscales
    A scale and notebook is literally a must have for any ball owner. It was also the best investment I ever made. The knowing and no worry makes my life 100000x easier.
  • 04-18-2011, 03:43 AM
    K1llSw1tch
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    yea im gonna find out of if this other pet store are soft furred rats tonight and try that
  • 04-18-2011, 04:22 AM
    AkHerps
    Use Soft furred rats as your last resort because sometimes BP's can get hooked on those and in many places they are hard to find.

    Give your snake some time, not much handeling and just try every week to feed.

    The only thing I'd do is probably lower the humidity to a 50-60% range. It only needs to be in the 70's when they are about to shed.

    The tank is fine because it seems like you can hold the proper temps and humidity in there very well :)

    My snakes going through the same thing, he's about a year old, didn't eat for 4 weeks, then ate last week, and hasn't eaten again for about 2 weeks and nothing has changed. Sometimes these snakes can just be odd.
  • 04-18-2011, 04:29 AM
    Kingofspades
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    Once had a male normal stop eating for 10 months. In that total time he lost about 100 grams (he was 1500+), then decided one day he was done fasting.

    It's normal.
  • 04-20-2011, 05:15 PM
    K1llSw1tch
    Re: Help!! Ball python went off food
    I got her to eat today finally seems she likes live hoppers :D i got 2 of them for her yays!
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1