BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
I have a full-grown male BP (approx 4 ft long) who hasn't eaten since September 3rd of last year. I bought him January of last year, I think a breeder had him and maybe he quit breeding? Who knows. But he used to eat a medium to large rat every 2 weeks throughout the summer, then he started tapering off.
He's in a 40 gallon long tank, has a sufficient hiding spot, plenty of fresh water, it stays approx. 90 degrees F on the warm side, with about 55% humidity. He still defecates about once a week, which to me, is amazing. Not much these days but maybe like 2 pebbles worth?
Is this normal?? I don't want him to die, he's been a great pet.
Re: BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
It's normal.
Offer weekly, if they don't eat...whatever. Eventually he will eat.
I had a 1500 gram male stop eating for 10 months. No harm came from it.
Re: BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
A large rat sounds like a big meal for a male? Smaller meals make for more consistent feeders.
What I usually recommend for bad feeders is
1) A smaller enclosure with tight hides, a 32 quart tub is cozy for a male BP.
2) Higher ambient temps (mid to low 80's) and warm basking spot (92)
3) Live smaller meals. Some get intimidated by larger prey. If he refuses live small rats then try mice. Give him a few days or a week in between feedings.
Most times males go off feed is because of cooler room temps. If it gets into the 70's many males will stop eating while others will stay the same. Many folks say but my other snakes are eating and they are in large enclosures and the same temps but what affects one doesn't necessarily affect other snakes the same.
I would bet $ that once the room cooled down in Sept he stopped feeding;)
Re: BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
Wow--all replies were great and actually spot on. Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I'm actually in Afghanistan and my girlfriend is the one taking care of him right now.
The room temps DID start to drop a little in Sept. so we installed a 150W bulb for his heat to keep the warm side at 90.
I'm going to start feeding him small rats, maybe even mice once every 2 weeks to boost his metabolism and try and ward off another fast. He was eating medium sized rats, once every 2 weeks so I figured nothing was wrong? He's so thick, I wonder if he could even wrap around a mice?
At any rate, a million thanks for the responses, and wouldn't you know it, he ate yesterday. :D
Re: BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
Do most of your ball pythons still continue pooping even when they are fasting? Mine has only pooped once in a few months.. not to mention it was kinda mushy.
Re: BP hasn't eaten in 8 months. Could use some advice.
I suggest ditching the overhead lighting and getting an under tank heating source.
Ball pythons are nocturnal and terrestrial...so a basking light is not really ideal for them.