Adult Male (1.5 years of age) randomly stopped eating?

Hey guys,

My adult (or sub-adult, he's 1.5 years of age) male ball python is fasting. Its been a month, and I know I shouldn't be too worried, its just very strange behavior for my little guy. Well, not really little, before he stopped eating he broke 2100 grams empty! He was an incredible eater; struck fast, never had to do a dance or anything. He'd even eat while in blue! For about 2-3 months he was pounding 2 small rats every 7 days, and suddenly he stopped. Now I offer the prey, same prey item, and its like he's terrified of it! No defensive strike, he just tries to get out of his feed box.

My husbandry is spot on, always has been for Shrike. Nothing has changed, the boa in my collection continues to feed like a garbage disposal, and I'm worried about Shrike's odd behavior. In addition, he's already lost a good amount of weight, and with only one bowel movement! He went from 2100 grams to 1600 grams, and while he doesn't look skinny... he's no longer "fat and happy".

So when do I start to worry? When do I take him to a vet and bring in his most recent stool sample?

Thanks guys, this community has always been there for me :)

-Fataltix

I got a adult female in October of last year and she took her meal every week no problem, and sometimes took seconds if I let her. Then she stopped for a good couple months and is just starting to get back into the groove again. Your guy is probably thinking of other things other then food (ladies...?) and should come around in time. If you're worried about significant weight loss or if he's becoming noticeably skinny I would try something live with him: it may jump start his eating again for you. I doubt he has worms also.

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

I got a adult female in October of last year and she took her meal every week no problem, and sometimes took seconds if I let her. Then she stopped for a good couple months and is just starting to get back into the groove again. Your guy is probably thinking of other things other then food (ladies...?) and should come around in time. If you're worried about significant weight loss or if he's becoming noticeably skinny I would try something live with him: it may jump start his eating again for you. I doubt he has worms also.

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Thanks for the reply! That's what I was hoping for, can never be too sure! Also, I'd rather stay away from live food for Shrike... he has literally never had live prey and while I know his instincts are still intact... it worries me.

Thanks!
-Fatal

Breeder aged ball pythons stop eating for months. Most of my adults stopped eating in October/November and probably won't want to eat till June...... Girls will start within a week of laying eggs. Perfectly normal..... I still offer every month or so just in case they want to eat - most refuse.

My male is going on a month here, no food. Nothing to worry about. :)

keep an eye on weight, other than that no worries

My adult male ate once since October, that's what ball pythons do. As long as your husbandry is correct and no big weight loss, dont worry. Just the way the switch turned off, it will turn on again..

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Originally Posted by Fataltix

Hey guys,

My adult (or sub-adult, he's 1.5 years of age) male ball python is fasting. Its been a month, and I know I shouldn't be too worried, its just very strange behavior for my little guy. Well, not really little, before he stopped eating he broke 2100 grams empty! He was an incredible eater; struck fast, never had to do a dance or anything. He'd even eat while in blue! For about 2-3 months he was pounding 2 small rats every 7 days, and suddenly he stopped. Now I offer the prey, same prey item, and its like he's terrified of it! No defensive strike, he just tries to get out of his feed box.

My husbandry is spot on, always has been for Shrike. Nothing has changed, the boa in my collection continues to feed like a garbage disposal, and I'm worried about Shrike's odd behavior. In addition, he's already lost a good amount of weight, and with only one bowel movement! He went from 2100 grams to 1600 grams, and while he doesn't look skinny... he's no longer "fat and happy".

So when do I start to worry? When do I take him to a vet and bring in his most recent stool sample?

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The stool sample isn't a bad idea, if you're worried. However, with that feeding schedule, he could easily have had a few hundred grams of food + poop in him when he weighed in at 2100g (think about it: 2 80g rats (food) + 2 80g rats (poop) + urates passing = 350g easy, just depends on your definition of "small rat"). Many people (myself included) only feed one small rat every 7 days to an adult male BP (my smalls are closer to 60g, and my male is 1700g+). This means he may not have lost any significant body weight yet. At his age, going off feed isn't anything unnatural. Just keep monitoring his weight, and maybe make a vet visit if he drops another 150g.

My Male Pied last ate in December. No worries.

I agree that it is probably just breeding season striking but I did notice you said he tries to escape his "feed box". Maybe try feeding in his enclosure? His security preferences may have changed.

sent from my EVO