Wondering

Is it true that even the healthiest bp adults will go weeks without eating? Even with all temperatures and humidity right...

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I can't give you a 100%-I'm-Certain answer, BUT, I've heard of healthy males going off of feeding for breeding season. Is that an example you're looking for? I'm not sure about anything else I'm sure somebody with more experience will chime in.

Yes it's true. Weeks would be manageable. They can go months without eating even though they are healthy. The longest we've had was 8 months with only a 13% loss of body weight. It's very a frustrating and anxiety filled time when you go through their first fast.

She is an adult and is 2 years old.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Yes it's true. Weeks would be manageable. They can go months without eating even though they are healthy. The longest we've had was 8 months with only a 13% loss of body weight. It's very a frustrating and anxiety filled time when you go through their first fast.

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I believe this is what my big girl is going threw now. She feed right up till her shed and now she acts like she is starving and then nothing. It is frustrating! She hasn't lost any weight yet and it's only been month. How will I know when she is ready to eat again. How often should I offer her food?

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I usually keep my mouth shut when it comes to fasting threads. When I read about 8 month fasts, my little 3 week hunger strikes don't seem so bad. lol

Longest fast I had from my male was 4 months. I consider myself lucky lol.

So for us new BP owners, during these week and monthly fasts, is it recommended to wait a week and try again?

I offered every 2 weeks, a live rat until he took it.

This is going to drive me nuts... I guess I need to get me a live rat to see when she is ready to eat again. Thank you all for the help!!

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Don't worry, not unless she really starts to lose weight. Also, I would be careful feeding live, if you're not sure about it stick to frozen thawed.

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Originally Posted by Slytherin's Mommy

This is going to drive me nuts... I guess I need to get me a live rat to see when she is ready to eat again. Thank you all for the help!!

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Wait.....so it's recommended to offer live during a fast even when you've been using F/T??

Our male has not eaten in over 4 months. Maybe I am just cold but it does not bother me one bit. Husbandry is correct, he is healthy and he will eat when ready. I am not loosing sleep over it. My wife on the other hand, she can't help but worry about it. She does not even like snakes. My kids are like "when is the last time menolo.... squirrel!)

No!!! I would Never feed her live. I would keep it as a pet. I will get one just to see if she is ready to eat. I would just hold it to see if she watches it like she would do before she started her fasting. When I would get her f/ t ready she would watch it like it was alive..

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Originally Posted by enginee837

Our male has not eaten in over 4 months. Maybe I am just cold but it does not bother me one bit. Husbandry is correct, he is healthy and he will eat when ready. I am not loosing sleep over it. My wife on the other hand, she can't help but worry about it. She does not even like snakes. My kids are like "when is the last time menolo.... squirrel!)

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My husband is the same way... lol No you're not cold! Some it bothers some it doesn't... Just part of life... lol

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My male just started eating again after a 5 month strike, I offered when I fed my others but he just wasn't interested it's usually around breeding season when he does it. He lost about 100 grams which isn't bad because he's 1200 grams.


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Originally Posted by enginee837

Our male has not eaten in over 4 months. Maybe I am just cold but it does not bother me one bit. Husbandry is correct, he is healthy and he will eat when ready. I am not loosing sleep over it. My wife on the other hand, she can't help but worry about it. She does not even like snakes. My kids are like "when is the last time menolo.... squirrel!)

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Yup, same here. No worrying where worry is not needed.


Also about getting the rat to 'see if she's ready to eat' and keep it as a pet, if she is hungry and kills/eats it, then what? I'd say don't get attached. I kept a rat for 4 months, yeah they're cute, but always remember what it is there for....

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Originally Posted by aes1004

My male just started eating again after a 5 month strike, I offered when I fed my others but he just wasn't interested it's usually around breeding season when he does it. He lost about 100 grams which isn't bad because he's 1200 grams.


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So will a male recognize breeding season even when there is no other snake in the vicinity? And if so, when it considered breeding season?

My "pet" rats all ended up as snake food.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

So will a male recognize breeding season even when there is no other snake in the vicinity? And if so, when it considered breeding season?

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I'm not actually sure, I have 2 females. Breeding season from what I know is usually around the beginning of the year and I've seen some people breed through summer. I'm not a breeder so I'm not 100% sure. But he has gone off feed around those times.


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Traditionally 'breeding season' is fall and winter, but I believe many BP breeder breed year round now and are still successful.

Yes, a male snake will search for a mate even if there are no other snakes around.

Males get so horny they forget they need to eat for awhile. lol

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Originally Posted by PythonBabes

I offered every 2 weeks, a live rat until he took it.

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This generally works best, or if their weight is holding, offering a meal immediately after their next shed.

Lots seem to snap it up once the old skin's off.

You don't have to switch the prey item you are offering. If you are not geared up to deal with live rats that aren't eaten, then you will just be creating another issue for yourself.

Just offer the usual food once, every other week. When she's ready, she will begin to eat again. Also, you can refreeze a prey item once, and offer it again so that you are not wasting a lot of food that isn't being taken. Just monitor the husbandry so you know that variable is eliminated as a cause. Track her weight to see she doesn't drop too much, up to 15% during a fast would not be out of the realm of normal. After that all you can do is be patient.