Ball python fasting?

I have a few questions about one of our ball pythons, Jöri. I’m not worried about him, but as this is the first time any of them have done this, I’d like some feedback. He’s refused his rat the past two feedings. This isn’t the first time he’s refused, but every other time, he’s either been in shed or he’s eaten the first of 2 smaller rats and refused the second (we did a few feedings where we were trying to use up rat pups before switching to the next size up). I’m thinking he’s just being a typical male ball python and has decided to stop eating regularly, but I thought that fasting generally happened in fall/winter? Or is it more of an age thing?

We got him December 7, so we’ve had him 5 months. From what the breeder told me, he was about 4 months old when we got him, so he’s around 9 months now. He was 223 grams when we got him, and he was 648 grams empty on April 18 (so I’m guessing he’s probably about 700 grams now). He’s currently being offered a 50-60 gram f/t rat every 7 days. Nothing about the husbandry has changed. Cool side is usually 80-82F, warm side is 88-90F, and the humidity is around 50-55%.

We’re feeding frozen/thawed, so I don’t want to waste rats if he’s not going to eat. I know some people only offer once or twice a month if the snake is fasting, so at what point would you say he’s fasting? A straight month of refusals? He’s on small rats (50-60 grams), so I’m planning to offer him a smaller rat than normal next feeding day to see if he’ll take it. He’s only handled a few times a week, but should we stop handling him as often?

Sounds right for his age and size. I would offer one of the same size rat as usual, but every 10-14 days instead of weekly.

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Originally Posted by bumblebee1028

I have a few questions about one of our ball pythons, Jöri. I’m not worried about him, but as this is the first time any of them have done this, I’d like some feedback. He’s refused his rat the past two feedings. This isn’t the first time he’s refused, but every other time, he’s either been in shed or he’s eaten the first of 2 smaller rats and refused the second (we did a few feedings where we were trying to use up rat pups before switching to the next size up). I’m thinking he’s just being a typical male ball python and has decided to stop eating regularly, but I thought that fasting generally happened in fall/winter? Or is it more of an age thing?

We got him December 7, so we’ve had him 5 months. From what the breeder told me, he was about 4 months old when we got him, so he’s around 9 months now. He was 223 grams when we got him, and he was 648 grams empty on April 18 (so I’m guessing he’s probably about 700 grams now). He’s currently being offered a 50-60 gram f/t rat every 7 days. Nothing about the husbandry has changed. Cool side is usually 80-82F, warm side is 88-90F, and the humidity is around 50-55%.

We’re feeding frozen/thawed, so I don’t want to waste rats if he’s not going to eat. I know some people only offer once or twice a month if the snake is fasting, so at what point would you say he’s fasting? A straight month of refusals? He’s on small rats (50-60 grams), so I’m planning to offer him a smaller rat than normal next feeding day to see if he’ll take it. He’s only handled a few times a week, but should we stop handling him as often?

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Some people will tell you not to do this and there are others that say they do it frequently. It's your choice as to who's advise to take.
My snake has refused a f/t rat before and I will only leave it long enough to find out she is not interested in eating. I will refreeze it and use it on the next feeding. If she refuses that same rat again it gets thrown out!! I only have the rat thawed for less than an hour before it goes back to the freezer. I have not had any problems so far. There is a post on here about reusing f/t feeders if you want to search it and read others opinions.
One other option is to buy another snake. Try to feed the fasting snake first. If it doesn't eat then simply feed it to the other snake that is eating! LOL!!

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

Some people will tell you not to do this and there are others that say they do it frequently. It's your choice as to who's advise to take.
My snake has refused a f/t rat before and I will only leave it long enough to find out she is not interested in eating. I will refreeze it and use it on the next feeding. If she refuses that same rat again it gets thrown out!! I only have the rat thawed for less than an hour before it goes back to the freezer. I have not had any problems so far. There is a post on here about reusing f/t feeders if you want to search it and read others opinions.
One other option is to buy another snake. Try to feed the fasting snake first. If it doesn't eat then simply feed it to the other snake that is eating! LOL!!

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Lol I like this solution if only my wife agreed!

Sent From My Man-Cave

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Originally Posted by cedor

Lol I like this solution if only my wife agreed!

Sent From My Man-Cave

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Sometimes it's easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission!!! LOL!

Isn't that the truth!

Sent From My Man-Cave

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

One other option is to buy another snake. Try to feed the fasting snake first. If it doesn't eat then simply feed it to the other snake that is eating! LOL!!

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This is why I have boas and king snakes - they rarely will skip a meal.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

This is why I have boas and king snakes - they rarely will skip a meal.

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Yea, but on the flip side you can clean up behind a ball python with a small pooper scooper. When it comes to boas you need a shovel and a respirator!!

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

Yea, but on the flip side you can clean up behind a ball python with a small pooper scooper. When it comes to boas you need a shovel and a respirator!!

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My Tarahumara boa likely won't top five feet. My BRB's seem to have topped out just under six feet.

I've also cleaned up after animals where it took all morning, every morning, and required a manure spreader to deal with the "output".

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Originally Posted by bcr229

My Tarahumara boa likely won't top five feet. My BRB's seem to have topped out just under six feet.

I've also cleaned up after animals where it took all morning, every morning, and required a manure spreader to deal with the "output".

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TOO FUNNY!
I guess your garden is growing quite well, huh? LOL

Thanks everyone! I've been leaving the rat in with him overnight, but it seems that if he doesn't go for it right away, he's not going to eat it. I like the idea of only offering every other week, just so he isn't stressed by us offering food too often. I've heard about refreezing the rat, and I'm not sure how I feel about it (and obviously it hasn't been an option since I've been leaving it in with him overnight). Fortunately (or unfortunately ;)), we already have another ball python on small rats, so I think I'll just thaw one small rat and offer it to Jöri first, and if he doesn't eat it, I'll offer it to Felix. The only two problems would be if Jöri does eat it, I'll have to thaw and heat up another rat for Felix, or if Felix decides to fast, too :rolleyes:

Thanks again! :)

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Originally Posted by bumblebee1028

Thanks everyone! I've been leaving the rat in with him overnight, but it seems that if he doesn't go for it right away, he's not going to eat it. I like the idea of only offering every other week, just so he isn't stressed by us offering food too often. I've heard about refreezing the rat, and I'm not sure how I feel about it (and obviously it hasn't been an option since I've been leaving it in with him overnight). Fortunately (or unfortunately ;)), we already have another ball python on small rats, so I think I'll just thaw one small rat and offer it to Jöri first, and if he doesn't eat it, I'll offer it to Felix. The only two problems would be if Jöri does eat it, I'll have to thaw and heat up another rat for Felix, or if Felix decides to fast, too :rolleyes:

Thanks again! :)

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Well if they both go on a fast that means you will need to add a third snake into the equation!😏

Well my male is a weird eater ;) He's feed with frozen rats and I haven't seen him strike at his food for loooooong time.

Now days he likes his food laying on the floor so he just sniffs his head out and eats it. But sometimes that can last an hour or even up to almost 3 hours ! He will come out of his hide sniff it for some time then return back to hide, to decide a bit more and after a while he comes back out and repeats the same procedure once or many times till usually rat is gone ;)

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Originally Posted by Morris Reese

Well if they both go on a fast that means you will need to add a third snake into the equation!

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Lol! It'd be a vicious (and expensive) cycle! We actually have three right now, but have plans to add more eventually.

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Originally Posted by jxl

Well my male is a weird eater ;) He's feed with frozen rats and I haven't seen him strike at his food for loooooong time.

Now days he likes his food laying on the floor so he just sniffs his head out and eats it. But sometimes that can last an hour or even up to almost 3 hours ! He will come out of his hide sniff it for some time then return back to hide, to decide a bit more and after a while he comes back out and repeats the same procedure once or many times till usually rat is gone ;)

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Yeah, I've noticed that they will sometimes drop the rat and then eat it at some point in the middle of the night, but Jöri hasn't touched his the past two feeding days. I've left the f/t rat in overnight for him, and he just isn't interested.