Why wont he eat? :(

So I bought a very lovely '09 breeder spider male from South Central Herp, and he is gorgeous! (maybe I should post some pics of him later :D)

But he is acting totally uninterested in food. I tried with a live medium rat, he really didn't care and removed the rat after watching for about 20 minutes. I figured out he eats f/t and live no problem and he should be okay to eat again now. But I tried a f/t today and he was like "Whatever" :( Im kind of nervous, but then again maybe I just have those 'new hobbiest' jitters! Hah!

Check ur temps,make sure hides are snug so the fella is comfy. And wait a week before trying to feed again.

Well medium rats are too much for ball pythons unless you have a massive 3000g+ female.

Try live rat pup over night and check back in morning. Be sure you wait 5-7 days between refusals. If he has size on him dont worry. My mojo male went off food 3 months ago once he stopped breeding.

Is he in a rack tub the same size that he was use to where he came from? If not, then be sure he has tight fitting hides and you leave him alone for a week. Breeders that feed FT usually just put the rodent in the tub or lay it in front of the hide at dusk and check back a little while later.

Many FT eaters are shy eaters.. That's the one problem with FT feeders. They become the snakes that don't want food that moves and so they usually only eat when it's dark and still.

So give it another few days at least, make sure the enclosure is right, and try again. Also make sure the rat you're offering isn't too big.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Well medium rats are too much for ball pythons unless you have a massive 3000g+ female.

Try live rat pup over night and check back in morning. Be sure you wait 5-7 days between refusals. If he has size on him dont worry. My mojo male went off food 3 months ago once he stopped breeding.

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Oh well I was just using the "girth" test, and was reccomended by many keepers and have been doing that with my normal female for a while :X! But I'll take your word for it and try something smaller, maybe hes just shy/intimidated? But he is a hefty boy, and seems alright, Im just real particular about that kind of stuff ;D!

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Is he in a rack tub the same size that he was use to where he came from? If not, then be sure he has tight fitting hides and you leave him alone for a week. Breeders that feed FT usually just put the rodent in the tub or lay it in front of the hide at dusk and check back a little while later.

Many FT eaters are shy eaters.. That's the one problem with FT feeders. They become the snakes that don't want food that moves and so they usually only eat when it's dark and still.

So give it another few days at least, make sure the enclosure is right, and try again. Also make sure the rat you're offering isn't too big.

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Hes in a 32 quart tub with a hide and large water bowl. But yeah thats kind of what I thought of , that he may just be shy. I guess I'll just leave him be for now ;]

I'd get a weight ASAP, and watch for any weight loss. Maybe contact the breeder and find out what he was eating and how often before you got him.

How long have you had him? If you just got him he may not eat for a few weeks until he feels secure in his new environment. Don't worry about the not eating thing so much.... Yes it's never good but unless he's losing weight or shows signs of being sick then I'm sure he's ok. They all go off feed.....That's just what they do. Plus if hes a proven breeder then he may know the routine and he may know it's getting to be about that time of the year lol. Don't stress over it. Give hime a week of no feeding attempts and no handling. Just some time to settle in.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Well medium rats are too much for ball pythons unless you have a massive 3000g+ female.

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I disagree. My 700 gram male is almost needing to be moved up from small rats. I like a little lump in my snakes bellies, and my friend's adult balls all eat mediums to larges.

Now, as for the OP. If he is a breeder male... It's still breeding season. Males go off feed for anywhere from 2 to 8 months. It's completely normal unless he starts to lose weight. My little 700 gram guy even went off feed this year. I keep offering him one every week, but he only eats about every 5-6 weeks. Enure that your husbandry is proper, and if he still does not eat and is not losing weight... he just wants a girlfriend

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Originally Posted by AliCat37

I disagree. My 700 gram male is almost needing to be moved up from small rats. I like a little lump in my snakes bellies, and my friend's adult balls all eat mediums to larges.

Now, as for the OP. If he is a breeder male... It's still breeding season. Males go off feed for anywhere from 2 to 8 months. It's completely normal unless he starts to lose weight. My little 700 gram guy even went off feed this year. I keep offering him one every week, but he only eats about every 5-6 weeks. Enure that your husbandry is proper, and if he still does not eat and is not losing weight... he just wants a girlfriend

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Congrats Feeding that large of meals to BPs is Overfeeding :gj::gj:. Just cause they can eat it dont mean they have to eat it. And 700g snake eating mediums is over kill and not needed.

But what do I know...