Re: Another Non Eating BP
I think it's fine but medium rats once a week seem a bit much to me. I feed mine every 10-14 days when they get to small/medium rats or bigger prey. Thats just my opinion though.
I would think you should wait every two weeks.. i guess? I'm not really sure, mine went off feed for only two-three weeks so I haven't really had this problem.
How long has it been? If it hasn't been to long I wouldn't worry, especially if he doesnt seem to have lost any weight.
Re: Another Non Eating BP
i think its because you were feeding him too much b4. hes fine he'll start right back up again when he wants too
Re: Another Non Eating BP
BPs do go on fasts - some as long as not eating for 9 months. Nobody really seems to know why they do it, but my own theory is that it's their way of keeping their weight down to stop themselves becoming too fat - sort of a snake diet.
BPs in captivity have a tendency to become obese.
It would seem that so long as your snake doesn't lose too much weight, they'l start eating again when they are ready and want to.
Probably more worrying for us (I'd be concerned if my BPs stopped eating too) than it is for the snake.
A check up with the vet will put your mind at rest.
Oh, and BPs can be incredibly fussy. One of mine will eat one small weaner rat, turn his nose up at a second weaner, but happily eat a medium sized mouse. Might be worth your while trying him with a mouse for a change.
My other BP won't look at rats at all. You can almost see him curling his nose up at it but he loves eating mice.
Re: Another Non Eating BP
double check your temps, if temps are low they can fast. and try smaller rodents to see if that works. has he been around any females?, sometimes males can get into the breeding mode and not eat also. keep your routine steady and temps good and i'm sure he'll come around.
vaughn
Re: Another Non Eating BP
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Python
BPs in captivity have a tendency to become obese.
They do?
-adam
Re: Another Non Eating BP
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
They do?
-adam
actually ive heard that too, if they dont fast they become obese. ive never seen it though
Re: Another Non Eating BP
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr~python
actually ive heard that too, if they dont fast they become obese. ive never seen it though
I'd really like to see a ball python that had been diagnosed by a vet as "obese". I'm sure people have seen animals that in their OPINION are "obese", but many times the opinion of an inexperienced eye are a far cry from reality.
-adam
Re: Another Non Eating BP
i dont think its likely either but i read it in the Ball Python Manual by david and tracy barker and Phillip de vosjoliz, i think that hi last name
Re: Another Non Eating BP
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr~python
i dont think its likely either but i read it in the Ball Python Manual by david and tracy barker and Phillip de vosjoliz, i think that hi last name
That blurb is a general catch all that can be applied to most snakes and my guess is that it probably reads almost exactly the same in a burmese python book or boa book written by de Vosjoli. (FWIW, I'm pretty sure that Dave and Tracy did not work on that section). Authors that write multiple different books on similar subjects (generalists) often cut and paste to save time. I don't think that there's anything wrong with that, but I do feel that if de Vosjoli had as much experience working with ball pythons as he does with other species, that section might read a little different or not be there at all.
If you give a ball python too much food, in my experience, they will correct that all on their own by fasting way before they get the chance to become "obese" in the clinical sense of the word.
-adam