Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 653

0 members and 653 guests
No Members online
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,106
Posts: 2,572,115
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud

Why isn't my bp eating?

Printable View

  • 12-21-2019, 01:24 PM
    Bumblebee my snake
    Why isn't my bp eating?
    Hello. I have a 3ft ball python (lemonblast) I got her about a month ago and she ate live at her previous home. She ate her first meal frozen/thawed. It was a small rat.the temp of the warm end
    Is about 90 and the cool end 70 to 80. Her seco d meal was a frozen/thawed medium rat
    which she ate perfectly fine. I fed her another medium 2 weeks ago. This week I offered her
    A small and she struck wrapped and let go. The next day I offered her a medium and she wouldn't
    Even strike. I put her in a separate bin and she still wouldn't eat. She hides all day like normal and it
    Has just got into the colder winter months.
  • 12-21-2019, 01:40 PM
    Bumblebee my snake
    Also this is my third snake. My other two are perfect eaters
  • 12-21-2019, 02:19 PM
    Lord Sorril
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake View Post
    the temp of the warm end Is about 90 and the cool end 70 to 80.

    Given that the snake is 3ft long and has a good feeding record--I would not be concerned for at least a month or two. Very possible that the snake just isn't hungry. :)

    If you suspect there is an issue: The first thing I would do is check the exact temperatures within the enclosure. For my collection: anything below 78F is too low, and hot spot surface temp should be at 90F (or within at least a few degrees). If you have a day/night fluctuation in temperature due to the winter temps then a thermostat (or two) connected to your heat sources should solve this issue.
  • 12-21-2019, 02:47 PM
    Bumblebee my snake
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    Thank You! Do you think a heat gun would read exact temp?
  • 12-21-2019, 04:22 PM
    Lord Sorril
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake View Post
    Thank You! Do you think a heat gun would read exact temp?

    A heat gun will read the exact surface temperature (which is good to measure your hot spot to keep it 90). A digital thermometer is good for measuring the air temperature (ambient) to make sure it stays above 78F (I keep mine at about 80). Using thermostats you can set the temps on your heat sources and then use a heat gun/thermometer to make sure they are producing the correct temperature for your setup. :)

    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/BhjJ6tk.jpg
  • 12-22-2019, 04:33 AM
    Mr. Misha
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    What does your BP weigh? A medium rat sounds too large of a meal for a 3 foot BP. I usually feed med rats to my large females. The adult males get small rats.

    Also, you said the cool spot is between 70-80? That's quite a large temp difference. Your cool spot ahould really drop down below 76.
  • 12-22-2019, 12:00 PM
    Bumblebee my snake
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    the temp is closer to 80. my bp weighs 3 pounds. a reptile breeder said that the med rats are a good size meal for her.
  • 12-22-2019, 01:11 PM
    Craiga 01453
    Sorry, edited because I thought I read "male".... Disregard this part
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    I'm guessing your heating equipment isn't regulated by a thermostat if there is that much temp variation????

    Do you have a thermostat???
  • 12-22-2019, 01:13 PM
    Mr. Misha
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake View Post
    the temp is closer to 80. my bp weighs 3 pounds. a reptile breeder said that the med rats are a good size meal for her.

    If she's 3 pounds then med rats are ok but I doubt she's 3 feet long at that weight.

    If she's not taking the medium but she's taking the small, give her two smalls instead. Try to feed in the evening and once she takes the meal, turn off the lights in the room and leave so she can eat in peace. It's hard to tell why she doesn't want to take it. How are you heating up the med rat?
  • 12-22-2019, 08:37 PM
    Bumblebee my snake
    Re: Why isn't my bp eating?
    my bp ate the meds perfectly. she is 2.8 pounds exactly, and stopped eating when i offered her the extra small that i had leftover. i thaw in warm water. not hot but warm. my other two eat like pros and i treat them the same. she ate many meds so i dont think its the size.
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1