3 months off feed

My normal BP named "The Admiral" has not fed for going on 3.5 months now. I figured it was because of winter, but here's the deal:
- he is in a 32 quart rack and is around 2.5-3 years old and has been eating live small rats
- his temps have stayed a constant 82/93 with no drastic changes
- 1 hot and 1 cold hide, water bowl
- he has lost considerable weight and has become quite skinny
- I tried to feed today (1/19/08), he came out of the hide in strike position, checked out the rat, and returned to his hide
- I moved the rat closer to him and he made a very fast defensive strike, but there was no feeding response
- after 1.5 months off feed I offered a gerbil which he killed but did not eat
- He has acquired a temper and likes to hiss at me when I take him out to make sure he doesn't have any physical problems, and he had never done this prior to going off feed.

I have always fed live, but I have also tried f/t and pre-killed but to no avail. I'm nearly out of options and it's becoming a real pain to deal with, so if you have any other suggestions for me, please let me know.

Hi,

Have you considered taking him to a vet to double check there are no underlying causes?

How often do you handle him and are you certain there have been no changes at all to his environment?


dr del

I have not taken him to the vet yet, and yea, unfortunately I'm absolutely sure nothing about his environment has changed. He gets handled maybe once or twice a week at most, and seems as lively as ever when he's out, he's just not maintaining his weight. My other normal BP is an eating machine and would eat himself to death if I let him. I've been hoping it was something simple to fix but at this point I'm not so sure.

I have males that go off feed for 6-8 months.. Keep a close eye on there weights. They lose more then 300g take them to the vet. If not just save the food for someone that will eat..

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. My ball went 6 months from Nov 06 through to May 07, but never seemed to lose weight. She was on p/k and f/t small and medium rats, but now have the most frequent success with live albino mice.

I agree with Dr Del; if my girl had been loosing weight, I would have taken her to a vet just to be sure. But my other recommendation would be maybe even less handling and try different feeders...live mice, dead mice, maybe ASF's if you can get...

Are you feeding live prey?

Every time my pythons go off feed for more than a month, its because of prey related parasites. This will require intervention from a herpetologist vet.

Also, it sounds like you are trying to feed your snake in his enclosure, which is best not to do. The reason he has "acquired a temper" is because he is association you with "kill prey time" in his enclosure.

Sometime to resolve feeding issues, all is needed is a different method to feed. However, feeding snakes in their enclosure is always a no-no.

Months of not feeding means there is a problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPBeth

Also, it sounds like you are trying to feed your snake in his enclosure, which is best not to do. The reason he has "acquired a temper" is because he is association you with "kill prey time" in his enclosure.

However, feeding snakes in their enclosure is always a no-no.

---

I have to disagree. I feed everyone in my collection in their enclosures and have never been associated with food, its just a myth.

Have you tried a smaller prey item?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPBeth

Are you feeding live prey?

Every time my pythons go off feed for more than a month, its because of prey related parasites. This will require intervention from a herpetologist vet.

Also, it sounds like you are trying to feed your snake in his enclosure, which is best not to do. The reason he has "acquired a temper" is because he is association you with "kill prey time" in his enclosure.

Sometime to resolve feeding issues, all is needed is a different method to feed. However, feeding snakes in their enclosure is always a no-no.

Months of not feeding means there is a problem.

---

WRONG!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPBeth

Sometime to resolve feeding issues, all is needed is a different method to feed. However, feeding snakes in their enclosure is always a no-no.

---

Actually, many of us feed in their enclosures, I've NEVER fed anywhere but in the enclosure, and I've never had any problems, no mistaking me for food, hasn't affected their temperment or made them more aggressive, no problems with substrate ingestion. I'm curious why you feel it's a no-no?

Jas, while I did mis-state with the month, more like 3 mos, and someone mentioned 6 mos! it seems kinda pointless to just respond to a post with "WRONG". I would never consider a snake who didn't eat for 3 mos., on a regular basis, ok.

I mentioned already a good reason for not feeding your snake in the enclosure. I didn't make that up, most herpetologists will tell you the same. Personally, I think it is a good idea to have your snake have some variety in life, and not just sit in an enclosure for 20 years. Emulating, to whatever limited way we can, what a snake may do in nature is a healthy thing. Personally, I use a small black narrow dedicated garbage can and offer live prey to my snakes. They usually sit above it and take whatever time the want to ease into the can (simulating a hole in the ground) and catch live prey. They are never exposed to prey until the moment of kill, and, of course I am monitoring the whole process from start to finish to ensure the snakes' safety. My snakes eat regularly right through winter, with no "off feed" episodes.