dinker hatchling... feeding query

My dinker female (230g) is looking for food constantly, but when I showed her a mouse the other day she wouldn't strike at it, yet since this point she has continued to restlessly patrol her cage for food.

This is the first feeding she has missed in months, she eats every 5 days normally.

What could this mean?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Richard Hanson

My dinker female (230g) is looking for food constantly, but when I showed her a mouse the other day she wouldn't strike at it, yet since this point she has continued to restlessly patrol her cage for food.

This is the first feeding she has missed in months, she eats every 5 days normally.

What could this mean?

---

Try killing the mouse and leave it in there over night. She should take it. If not, don't worry she is a ball python and they are notorious for going off feed at this time of the year. Also, I would be feeding rats at her size. You don't want a spoiled ball python that will only eat mice at 1000 grams. First off, she won't grow very quickly for you IMO. Second off, rats are easier to bulk a female on for breeding season. Good luck, keep us posted.

Sure, thanks Mike.

I would feed rats but they were out this this time.

I have had a couple go off food, but they havn't patrolled afterwards so much. I wonder what that patrolling in particular means.

If she is patrolling during the day, it could be stress, which could also explain the missed meal. I'm sure you have already, but double check your husbandry. Have you made any changes?

Someone in another thread mentioned an UTH in the tank with the BP that had urate around it that was putting off a 'weird' smell that caused their BP to roam a lot.

I would personally do a good cleaning of everything in there, and then make sure everything is still functional. That is if you can't find something in particular that could be causing it.

I have heard of wadding up a bunch of newspaper and putting that in the tank as well. Gives a more 'secure' feeling I believe.