If your ball python has not eaten in two weeks is it o.k to feed it twice??
12-10-2004, 02:13 PM
Jeanne
I would feed it one appropriate sized prey item.
12-10-2004, 02:18 PM
Marla
Ditto.
12-10-2004, 03:07 PM
Smynx
Ball pythons can and often do go two weeks or even longer without eating. Unless the BP is very young, it's very seldom of any consequence. Missing one meal one week is kind of like you skipping one meal. Some snakes will not feed if they're getting ready to shed. Some snakes go off feed for seemingly no reason at all. Keep offering an appropriately-sized meal once a week, but do not try to feed more to "make up for" the meals it has missed.
12-10-2004, 03:21 PM
Adam_Wysocki
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smynx
Some snakes go off feed for seemingly no reason at all.
I've found that offering ball pythons slightly smaller sized meals than you would offer other species of the same size is one of the things that you can do to help them become more consistent weekly feeders. I don't have any ball pythons that are not being cycled for breeding that don't take food every week, with a large majority even eating while in shed.
Hope this was helpful.
-adam
12-10-2004, 04:53 PM
Smulkin
Sometimes it is difficult to truly know why they won't eat. Then again the same could be said for kids.
12-10-2004, 05:02 PM
Adam_Wysocki
Actually, the reasons why ball pythons fast are well documented, and in almost all cases easily circumvented or prevented.
Now if I can just get my kid into a hide box, maybe I can get him to eat as well as my ball pythons!
-adam
12-16-2004, 02:58 AM
Deven
isn't it true that some ball pythons will not eat through breeding season?
12-16-2004, 05:19 AM
Cody
Yes sir it is. Usually if they're at breeding age, in the breeding months they'll be less interested in food, and more interested in finding a mate.
12-16-2004, 10:05 AM
Adam_Wysocki
All of my ball pythons are still eating and we're 2 months into the breeding season here. Last few years I've had zero refuse food when offered for the entire breeding season and so far, it looks like this year will be the same.