Tired of Eating Problems

I know research tells you that one of the downsides of a BP is the possibility of not eating but I am aware of how you feel. The frustration (and I was worried sick) isn't really put on the paper!

Leaving the BP without food is inhumane whether they eat what is offered or not. Food should be offered on a schedule! This is an animal, it's brain process and personality is not like a humans; at all! If you think that allowing him to starve would be, was you put it, 'Not the end of the world' then I honestly suggest that you look to rehoming this little guy. Maybe he really isn't for you :(

One of my BP's is the biggest pain in the ass you can think of, eats if and when she pleases, likes to strike at me on occasion and is just a sod. When she doesn't eat and I find the rat in the enclosure the next morning, of course I get frustrated! I take the rat out, discard of it and offer the next week.

Was the little guy on F/T from the person you bought him off? Some BP's are live feeders and switching some is basically impossible. Other BP's like their hunger strikes (one of the reasons their care is categorised at easy/medium)

I think consideration must go into whether you truly want this pet, you may have typed what you did without thinking of the implication and cruelty in letting a defenceless animal starve to death in your care through your own negligence (I am so sorry if this sounds harsh but in effect this would be what you were doing) I'm quite sure you didn't read the implications in this, such cruelty would likely lead to you not being allowed pets. If this is the way you truly feel still, rehome the poor guy and take up any extensive research on any animal you may get in the future. BP's are wonderful animals but if you don't have any patience you're going to have a hard time.

Best of luck.

Just an afterthought: is there anywhere near you (a breeder or respected small pet store with experience in BP's) who would be willing to take in your guy and get him on an established eating routine? I know in my area in the UK many people are willing to do this when they hold more experience than the owners and keep the animal until it is feeding properly. Some of these people only charge for prey items used, others will charge a fee but it may be an option which would help you and allow you to reap the full benefits of these amazing animals :)

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

This is in the way of a general rant about ball pythons as pets. So I got my son a ball python because he loves them and because he is allergic to

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anything with fur. He loves it. I admit I loved him too. I set up the cage with hot and cold hides, got the requisite heaters both uth and lamp, and even put a thermometer and set it at 92. Temperatures and humidity are at the right range, but I am tired of feeding it F/T. He goes off food for no discernable reason. He's too young to be breeding, as he is only 20 inches. I am tired of trying different techniques to try and feed it, and this is a captive bred animal (I made sure of that). I am aware these things are flighty, and knew feeding would be an issue. As a radical measure, I'm going to see how long it can go without being offered food. I don't intend to starve it, but if that happens, it's not the end of the world. I think people should really think twice about keeping these animals as pets. I'm doing this for my son, but I can't see how he will keep interest in it if it won't eat. I may switch to a dwarf red tail if this one bites the dust. I heard they don't have the same feeding problems. Thanks for listening. End of rant.

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Seeing how long something can go without food....until???....starvation?
What "techniques" have you tried?

Where did you get your bp from? Some lps will let you take it back if you're having problems. At least the good ones will. Is it being handled before you feed it? It could be stressed and you not realize it. Does your son handle it often? I know its hard. I've helped at 1 of the lps here for a bit anf when 1 of the young bps wouldn't eat I got really frustrated. It happened over and over for a month. Come to find out they were handling him right before I got there, and they didn't check on him in between. Not even to give him water. I finally got them to let me take him home with me for a couple months and I got him all sorted out. He fed perfectly, and was happy. When I returned him they thought I traded him for a different snake. What I'm saying is don't give up. Try feeding your's live, try covering the enclosure while you feed. Make sure the light is off to prevent fires. Don't let your son handle it for 3 days a week, the day before, of, and after feeding. Your bp will come around. Also go by the largest section of your bp. It might be that your feeding too small or large.

Just another thought... depending on the size of the animal, you could be waiting months for it to starve. Like, 18 months. That's the longest I've heard a ball refusing food from a breeder on here, and it still bounced back.

As with everyone else, PLEASE give that snake to someone who can and is willing to treat it properly. Most of the time snake issues are due to improper husbandry, although ball pythons do go off feeding and can be picky. If you aren't ready for that, there is no point in putting everyone through stress.
If your child really wants a pet, get it something they will and can maintain mostly on their own. I suggest african water frogs, or newts. I don't know much about other reptiles, but maybe a gecko if you've got a lot of reptile equipment already. Or just something that will eat reliably, if you're so frustrated about that.

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

As a radical measure, I'm going to see how long it can go without being offered food. I don't intend to starve it, but if that happens, it's not the end of the world.

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May not be the end of the world for you, but it will be for your snake who can't even begin to understand that it's doing something you consider wrong.

I'm not sure starving a snake to death because it won't eat when you want it to is something you want to be teaching your kid, either.

Some BP's are finicky. They will go off food at times. You either need to figure out why it might be happening (issues in the environment that can be corrected) or if everything in the environment looks good, just accept that it's going to happen from time to time. Then decide if you want to keep the animal.

Waiting until it "bites the dust" because you're frustrated at an animal for being an animal is not really an option for responsible people.

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

Now that is said better than before. If it's male it may be due to the "season" that he is not eating, in which case you could probably hold off on offering for a couple of weeks. But please don't try to starve it out. It does not understand how frustrated we get at something that is "normal" to them.
If you take on ANY animal, you as the caregiver that brought that animal in should be willing to do whatever necessary to give that animal proper care. Some animals are not for everyone, if it's that bad, rehome him and search and research for something more suitable.


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Originally Posted by titanoboa

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

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I know you have found that he is perhaps not for you but I wouldn't state that people should reconsider them as pets. A lot of BP's do flourish in captivity and have no problems with eating. All animals can have their problems from dogs, to horses to BP's (trust me, I've been an owner of all three at one time of another). The problem with BP's is eating and this is widely publicised, some people hit it lucky and basically purchase a dust bin who will eat anything in sight at any time other people don't get it so lucky and get an animal prone to going off food (I have both in my collection)

My first BP had major problems when I first got her and she really pushed me through the trials from a bad shed and retained eye cap, to mites off the bedding and not eating consistently to top it all off. I now have 6 and I wouldn't change that for anything. I honestly couldn't imagine my life without them now.

Leaving feed for a couple of weeks is your choice, if he still doesn't eat offer again the next week. Many of us offer on a weekly basis whether the prey is taken or refused. My problem eater has struck from the floor when the prey was left, struck from the tongs as I wiggled the prey and also taken over night when the rat was left in her hide door. She has refused more times than she has eaten though. Have you been leaving the prey item in with your BP overnight if he has refused? Or have you given up when he hasn't struck?

I would perhaps suggest, as you honestly sound like you don't want this guy, to rehome him if he won't eat and perhaps look into something like a bearded dragon or another type of lizard. These are more expensive to keep and can also stop eating because of stress but it is less likely than with a BP. They should also be perfectly fine for your sons allergies.

How long have you had your BP and how often in that time has he eaten?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

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Your research would tell you that they do go off feed and that they are like pet rocks.

You say you don't know alot about them yet you want people to reconsider them as pets and say they are not well-suited for captivity...says you.

Get a poodle.

Or

engage in this community, share and absorb information, magical things happen when you talk to people that own these "not well suited, i only own these because they are placid animals"

Post a pic too