Day 51 of feeding strike

Snake has gone from about 480 to 454 grams.

I'm starting to really freak out.

[Male 9 month old Fire, always been a very fussy eater of live only]

Seems fine otherwise.
Husbandry is spot on.

He's just not 'solid and round' any more....sort of soft and flabby.

Herp guy wants to assist feed but I know this 'spayshul' snake and that would certainly send him around the psychological bend.

Have tried small live mice, frozen everything.

I am going to get him a mouse or rat crawler tomorrow or Monday.

I've run out of ideas.

[the thread about males during breeding season starving themselves to death has my anxiety in overdrive]

:(

I wouldn't be concerned QUITE yet. It IS possible he thinks he's going to get some lady action. Have you tried a weaned rat? Something that will have quite a bit of movement and stimulation?


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Originally Posted by KatStoverReptiles

I wouldn't be concerned QUITE yet. It IS possible he thinks he's going to get some lady action. Have you tried a weaned rat? Something that will have quite a bit of movement and stimulation?


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"Movement and action" seems to be really turning him off right now.

That's why I thought about going with something non-threatening but breathing like a rat pup or tiny mouse.

He coils up in his hide with his face under him if I dangle a regular mouse for him.

He's acting like he has food phobias again.

:rolleyes:

He hasn't eaten since his last shed.

I never know what's up with this little prima donna.

Just to test the action theory, I put him with Agnes last week.

Neither of them could have possibly cared less about the other.

He didn't even sniff around her to see if she was interested.

I love him to bits but man is he ever a royal PITA.

Have you tried a gerbil? I've heard from numerous sources that even the pickiest ball pythons will almost always take a gerbil. Not sure if it's a myth, but it's worth a try.

I would not resort to trying to feed a gerbil. I would try an asf first. Gerbils are rather expensive. First try a rat crawler and see what happens. My male normal was on a feeding strike for 58 days. It took me offering him a live hopper mouse to get him feeding again.

I Would try a gerbil near last resort, again it's snake crack. At $20 a pop you do not want your snake hooked on only eating gerbils. Also from what I have seen gerbils are very aggressive and will attack your animal. Putting a timid BP with a live gerbil is not a good idea.

If he physically doesnt look like hes loosing weight chances are hes fine and doing the normal im a ball python an i like to drive my owner insane with food strikes. Just leave him alone an try an not handle him an offer him something smaller. If he doesnt eat remove the item and try again in 2 weeks. The longer i left them alone the easier it was for me to feed the picky ones.

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Originally Posted by Rob

I Would try a gerbil near last resort, again it's snake crack. At $20 a pop you do not want your snake hooked on only eating gerbils. Also from what I have seen gerbils are very aggressive and will attack your animal. Putting a timid BP with a live gerbil is not a good idea.

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20 for a gerbil? we get them here for 7 bucks

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Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

20 for a gerbil? we get them here for 7 bucks

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One word......Connecticut

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Originally Posted by rob

one word......connecticut

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lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob

I Would try a gerbil near last resort, again it's snake crack. At $20 a pop you do not want your snake hooked on only eating gerbils. Also from what I have seen gerbils are very aggressive and will attack your animal. Putting a timid BP with a live gerbil is not a good idea.

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$20 for gerbils?! I got my pet gerbil for free and constantly see ads from people giving them away. I'm considering breeding them as f/t for my ball pythons someday.

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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

$20 for gerbils?! I got my pet gerbil for free and constantly see ads from people giving them away. I'm considering breeding them as f/t for my ball pythons someday.

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Yup going rate around here in the nutmeg state is $15-20$ a gerbil.

considering my Normal has increased 26 grams in 12 days.... I wouldn`t be worried about it

Today empty he was 177

12 days ago 151

keep offering, sounds like he is winning to me

BTW this 4 day feeding schedule is insane :D

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Originally Posted by Salamander

Snake has gone from about 480 to 454 grams.

I'm starting to really freak out.


Herp guy wants to assist feed but I know this 'spayshul' snake and that would certainly send him around the psychological bend.


[the thread about males during breeding season starving themselves to death has my anxiety in overdrive]

:(

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He has only lost 26 grams in almost 2 months, barely 5% of his body weight. There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about. Even though it can be very difficult to not worry at times!;)
IDK who this "Herp Guy" you are talking about is, but even thinking about assist feeding an animal in your male's situation would have me wondering about his knowledge and experience!
If his husbandry is good as you stated just keep offering him every week( or even every other week until he starts eating to cause him less stress). He will kick back in and start eating again for you with time.

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Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

I would not resort to trying to feed a gerbil. I would try an asf first. Gerbils are rather expensive. First try a rat crawler and see what happens. My male normal was on a feeding strike for 58 days. It took me offering him a live hopper mouse to get him feeding again.

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X2 My little normal guy was on hunger strike for almost 90 days he lost about 30grams and it took a live hopper mouse to kick start him again. Now he is eating like a champ hope yours eats again soon :)

When my rat eaters go on a hunger strike I will try a mouse or asf to see if they are just bored with the food they have been eating. Sometimes they will take it and go back to rats with the next feeding, other times they have stayed with the new food. Either way I have breeding racks set up for rodents. I have a few that haven't eaten for close to 75 days now and I am starting to get a little worried. I have had this happen before this time of year so I won't get to upset until after day 100.