Change in Eating

Hi all - I have had my girl for almost a year. I know that the BP sometimes go on hunger strikes. She is about 15 months old and up until a few weeks ago -- was eating two rat pups about every 7 to 9 days. She is about 33 inches long and may be 2 inch diameter (not good at sizing that but she has a nice width to her not skinny).

So about 6-8 weeks ago (note weather changing here - cool then warm then cool), she has started turning down the mice. She scared me when she went about 15 to 16 days and then ate. Then she turned down the next offering a week later and waited 12 days for the past two feedings. She acts interested and sniffs then turns and ducks into hiding.

This is the other change -- she was snapping those from me quick and eating fast so that is why I went to two a week over the summer. Now --even when she does eat....she will not take them from me. I now have to leave them with her in a corner and wait about 4 hours....she may or may not eat it.

Could there be something wrong with the rat pups that she does not like? Something with her? Is she just forming a new way she wants to eat and telling me she does not want to be fed as often? Should I be concerned?

Thanks!!!! I am hoping that she is slowing her eating now that she is getting a little older and not a baby.....I am not sure if they do that.

Without knowing a little more about your girl, there's really no way of knowing/telling you what's going on. It could be husbandry... and then again, it could just be teenage angst. Around 900g, a lot of females slow down.... it hurts... but She'll get back on track!

You mentioned Rat Pups, and then you mentioned Mice..... If you're flip/flopping prey, then you can expect refusals.... stick with one prey item... If you're feeding Rats.... I wouldn't even let her SMELL a mouse..... Could get her stuck on mice for the rest of her life.... or for a long time anyway. :)

Have you tried all the methods of eating?

I do only feed her rat pups (but sometimes I call them mice...oooopppss). So as far as I know -- what the lady sent me are rat pups. I am not sure I would know the difference...hints?

Her housing is an AP cage with office carpet -- temps have been good and not changing. Other than the season changing....so she just seems to now want to go longer between food and I am wondering if that is normal. Also -- she is not taking it from me but instead I have to leave it in there.....could she just not be too hungry but then sometimes goes "well it is here so I will eat it".

I also am not sure what the second post was -- all forms of feeding??? Do you mean frozen versus live....she has always eatten frozen. She is not starving herself so I do not see a reason to try live -- because I do not want to feed her live.

She might just be being a Ball Python and not feeding at the onset of fall. Or she might not be hungry. Keep offering and she'll eat. My big male went off feed for like 8 months last year. Its stressful. But keep up with her weight and as long as she is not lossing a ton of weight she is cool.

Hope this helps

So I have silly question...should I get the scale like you weigh food on? Suggestions on weighing a snake....my bathscale is probably not going to register her details - old one.


Also - if I do see her weight go down, is there a safe amount of weight loss or is any weight loss bad?

Just overly worrisome mom here....she still has not eatten but she is happy and active acting. When I take her out she is all over me (acting normal). Actually she has been a little more active lately when I go and put her back.....she often stays out and if I open the cage again -- immediately heads for my arm to come out. Her temps and such are fine....not sure why she is sooo busy right now. She seems fine....it is not a panic action....just seems to want to be out more than normal.

double check your temps, all temps. pay close attention to the cool side temps. in fall/winter your house changes, in the summer your house is gaining heat. in the winter it is losing heat. balls can sense the changes even in a climate controlled room.


keep the feeding routine exactly the same. have you ever had this snake sexed? sometimes males like cruise around alot in breeding season.


vaughn

I have kept a close check on temps because yes...denver weather changes at the drop of a hat. So they have stayed consistent.....I check in the morning, evening, and night --- that is when I am home and I verify what the weather is for the day so I can guage whether I need to adjust. So I do feel the temps have been okay and not going nuts.


I have had her sexed....it is a girl. Would it be mating season now? She has actually been really funny a few nights. I will have her out and then put her back....I look up and she is just on a branch looking out of the door (AP cage so that is the only clear part) -- I can just hear her "hey I am not ready for bed yet". That is unusual. Usually she will cruise around a little when I put her back but after about 10 mins of exploring she picks a hid and goes in. The other night -- she stayed out for well over an hour - turning things over and just moving around. She did not seem paniced so I did not worry...she just seem to be busy looking. When I opened the cage - she immediately came up my arm to come out.

That is one reason why I thought her not eating is strange. I thought may be she is looking for food....but she is not too interested. I may pick up another from the store...in case may be something is funny with these?

if everything is good with the husbandry and setup, i wouldn't worry too much. i've had a couple girls get picky when they are around that age and around 1000 grams. kind of like a "teen" thing. they all went back to feeding strong again a month or so later.


vaughn

Great thanks!


I just worry with any changes....worried mom I guess -- first snake. I do at least know she is full of energy!