Ball Python wont eat...?

I got a female ball python 12/10/11. Her eating was normal up until now. She shed a couple weeks ago but still wast eating before that. She hasnt eaten in about 2-3 months. She hasnt lost weight or changed in appearance but has been hiding alo, shy and curled into a ball. Is there anything to worry about or should i wait a while and try to feed her again? Should I try live mice? Please Help!

-SydneyLyn

Weight? What's her setup? Two identical hides? What're the temps and humidity? Do you feed in a separate container?

Without that info, there's not much we can do to help you.

Can you describe your husbandry? Has there been any changes to her enclosure or surrounding areas recently?

Balls are notorious for going off feed. If she's not losing any weight, I wouldn't worry too much yet.

Trying live will help get picky eaters to start up again.

Welcome to BP.net!

A photo of your set up would be worth a thousand words.

Sounds like she's got a case of the " I'm a ball python and I'll eat when I'm good and ready's".

I have a female Super Pastel I bought from a friend of mine that lives two miles from me...got her in September....same set up as his...same temps and she has not eaten for me yet...offer the same food everything is the same but she is a Ball Python and wont eat for me....I did ask him to stop by and have a talk with her to see if that helps....because thats the only thing I can think is different...she misses him...lol
Seriously...she just doesnt want to eat for me....it is the time of year for some to quit for a while and some longer that a while...she is loosing weight but not at an amount to make me worry....yet
Travis
Lair of Dragons

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SydneyLyn

I got a female ball python 12/10/11. Her eating was normal up until now. She shed a couple weeks ago but still wast eating before that. She hasnt eaten in about 2-3 months. She hasnt lost weight or changed in appearance but has been hiding alo, shy and curled into a ball. Is there anything to worry about or should i wait a while and try to feed her again? Should I try live mice? Please Help!

-SydneyLyn

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Sometimes switching prey works. Live almost always works. Preparing frozen/thawed differently can work. Try hotter or cooler. Try leaving at room temps for an hour or two before heating. Try hitting it with a blow dryer right before feeding, especially arount the head. Try holding the nose to a hot light bulb. Try different colors of prey. Try different sizes. Keep notes on everything and try to remember what worked in the past.

If you're not holding her much, try holding her some. Give her a gentle bath. Keep sessions short. The idea is to let her build some confidence in her new home. Open her cage sometimes and sit in front of it so she can come out on her own, if she will. Just don't forget to close it!

The cage environment's important too. I like to provide a difference of at least ten degrees between the warm and cool areas. I also like to provide a difference in humidity of at least 10%. Try giving her cage a complete cleaning.

Outside the cage, check your room for hot & cold spots. If the temps aren't even, get a fan. A ceiling fan's great, but a box fan will do.

Here's something I've discovered recently that improves feeding responses on some BP's: A piece of butcher paper to cover the bottom of the cage covered by a larger piece of butcher paper that I form into a lair in the middle. I form the opening in front where I can place prey. They really like to hit prey from the enterence to their den.

Good luck & try not to worry. Their hunger strikes are harder on us than on them.