Do all BPs fast?

This may just be wishful thinking on my part, but I was wondering if anyone has ever had an adult BP (800g+) that doesn't fast? If so, how did you feed and house the snake to achieve this?

My boy is still growing and a voracious eater but I know he'll eventually slow down and possibly fast for months. I was wondering if there are any hacks or a more optimal way to raise BPs to avoid fasts? Not sure if such a thing is possible but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Depends on the animal and what you consider a fast, but generally yes they will at some point or another, it can be something short 1 month or so or something much longer 6+ months.

Ways to avoid fast is proper husbandry, limited stress and smaller preys.

Also its important to remember that fasting is not necessarily bad. Sure if it goes on for longer than a few weeks it might be your environment or stress, but if it is just a few weeks (personally the longest one of mine has gone is 4 weeks), and they are not losing a considerable amount of weight then it may just be them regulating their own diet.

I’ve had one that fasted 15 months and another that went 9 months !!

That said I had a Pastel a few years ago that NEVER , EVER refused a feed !!!


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I feed on the conservative side and very rarely do my BPs refuse a meal. Since mine are both adults I let them dictate how often I feed. I observe their behavior and if I see "hunting behavior" on consecutive nights I offer on night three. So far, zero refusals using this technique.

Of my two BPs, one came to me as an adult less than a year ago, but no strikes from him so far.

My other I got as a juvenile and he took about 3 months off his first winter with me. Since then he eats like a champ.

I'm a firm believer that many BPs, and snakes in general, are over fed in captivity. Hence calling my feeding style "conservative". But my animals are all healthy and maintain great weights and body structures. They're solid muscle with no fat, feeding "conservatively".

In my experience, smaller meals lead to less food strikes.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I feed on the conservative side and very rarely do my BPs refuse a meal. Since mine are both adults I let them dictate how often I feed. I observe their behavior and if I see "hunting behavior" on consecutive nights I offer on night three. So far, zero refusals using this technique.

Of my two BPs, one came to me as an adult less than a year ago, but no strikes from him so far.

My other I got as a juvenile and he took about 3 months off his first winter with me. Since then he eats like a champ.

I'm a firm believer that many BPs, and snakes in general, are over fed in captivity. Hence calling my feeding style "conservative". But my animals are all healthy and maintain great weights and body structures. They're solid muscle with no fat, feeding "conservatively".

In my experience, smaller meals lead to less food strikes.

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Yes .. some of my Royals will eat every time but in 10 to 14 day intervals


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Thanks for the responses! Sounds like the key is proper husbandry and not overfeeding. It's also heartening to hear that amazingly there do seem to be some BPs out there that don't really fast.

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Originally Posted by Kira8p

Also its important to remember that fasting is not necessarily bad. Sure if it goes on for longer than a few weeks it might be your environment or stress, but if it is just a few weeks (personally the longest one of mine has gone is 4 weeks), and they are not losing a considerable amount of weight then it may just be them regulating their own diet.

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4 weeks actually isn't bad and sounds like a regular interval to go without food for a snake, it's the strikes that last months that I dread. Good to hear that your BPs are good eaters :)

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I feed on the conservative side and very rarely do my BPs refuse a meal. Since mine are both adults I let them dictate how often I feed. I observe their behavior and if I see "hunting behavior" on consecutive nights I offer on night three. So far, zero refusals using this technique.

Of my two BPs, one came to me as an adult less than a year ago, but no strikes from him so far.

My other I got as a juvenile and he took about 3 months off his first winter with me. Since then he eats like a champ.

I'm a firm believer that many BPs, and snakes in general, are over fed in captivity. Hence calling my feeding style "conservative". But my animals are all healthy and maintain great weights and body structures. They're solid muscle with no fat, feeding "conservatively".

In my experience, smaller meals lead to less food strikes.

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I share the belief that many captive snakes are overfed, especially since they also probably don't get as much exercise as wild snakes. Your method of feeding sounds pretty good, I will likely adopt something similar when my BP is fully grown.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Thanks for the responses! Sounds like the key is proper husbandry and not overfeeding. It's also heartening to hear that amazingly there do seem to be some BPs out there that don't really fast.



4 weeks actually isn't bad and sounds like a regular interval to go without food for a snake, it's the strikes that last months that I dread. Good to hear that your BPs are good eaters :)



I share the belief that many captive snakes are overfed, especially since they also probably don't get as much exercise as wild snakes. Your method of feeding sounds pretty good, I will likely adopt something similar when my BP is fully grown.

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I’m not sure it is husbandry as I had a pair of identical Albino Royals in identical adjacent viv setups ..

One ate every 10 days without fail the other went 9 months without eating a thing ?!!

Both eat everytime these days ..

The one that fasted 9 months recently produced five stunning babies !!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c172ecbe0.jpg


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I’m not sure it is husbandry as I had a pair of identical Albino Royals in identical adjacent viv setups ..

One ate every 10 days without fail the other went 9 months without eating a thing ?!!

Both eat everytime these days ..

The one that fasted 9 months recently produced five stunning babies !!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c172ecbe0.jpg


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I don't disagree. However I believe the point being made regarding husbandry is that if an animal isn't eating checking and double checking husbandry is a good idea for a first step with troubleshooting.
In other words, improper husbandry may be the cause. If husbandry is on point then on to troubleshooting step 2.

Your case proves that even WITH proper husbandry, they can still go on extended strikes.

Congrats on the babies!!!! What was the pairing?

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I don't disagree. However I believe the point being made regarding husbandry is that if an animal isn't eating checking and double checking husbandry is a good idea for a first step with troubleshooting.
In other words, improper husbandry may be the cause. If husbandry is on point then on to troubleshooting step 2.

Your case proves that even WITH proper husbandry, they can still go on extended strikes.

Congrats on the babies!!!! What was the pairing?

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Two high contrast Albinos


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I had a girl that ate like a champ and then one day decided she wanted to fast for nine months. Vet trips and advice emails like crazy. She just decided not to eat. Then one day she just started eating again. Ended up laying a few eggs the winter after he fast ended too.

I think, like all things, consistency is key with these worms. Same snacks, environment, activity.

My girl just finished fasting for a month and a half. Like everyone said, if they're stressed they won't eat (she had to have multiple vets visits and then surgery due to a previous owner neglected her stuck shed)
Also if they're going into shed, a lot of snakes won't eat when close to shed and in shed
My girl just finished all her vets visits (had down time now to relax) then had a shed, and she was hungry again
Its not abnormal but it's sometimes to keep an eye on

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I’m not sure it is husbandry as I had a pair of identical Albino Royals in identical adjacent viv setups ..

One ate every 10 days without fail the other went 9 months without eating a thing ?!!

Both eat everytime these days ..

The one that fasted 9 months recently produced five stunning babies !!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8c172ecbe0.jpg


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I guess that's evidence that even proper husbandry can't always prevent a fast! Plus maybe each snake has their own individual needs and preferences when it comes to food. Congrats on the baby snakes, oh my goodness is that mom with the babies in the photo? Super cute! Did you go with maternal incubation?

So far it sounds like with most people who have commented, it's females that are fasting (not sure if that's related to the egg laying?). I wonder if there's any correlation of the frequency and duration of fasting with the sex of the snake.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

I guess that's evidence that even proper husbandry can't always prevent a fast! Plus maybe each snake has their own individual needs and preferences when it comes to food. Congrats on the baby snakes, oh my goodness is that mom with the babies in the photo? Super cute! Did you go with maternal incubation?

So far it sounds like with most people who have commented, it's females that are fasting (not sure if that's related to the egg laying?). I wonder if there's any correlation of the frequency and duration of fasting with the sex of the snake.

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Yeah... she was wrapped around five huge eggs under the warm hide so I put a layer of moss all around and slightly under the hide - then kept it damp .. Mother Nature did the rest .
5 perfect Albinos .. all slightly more colourful than either parent which is odd ..

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Yeah... she was wrapped around five huge eggs under the warm hide so I put a layer of moss all around and slightly under the hide - then kept it damp .. Mother Nature did the rest .
5 perfect Albinos .. all slightly more colourful than either parent which is odd ..

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Aww, how wonderful :D You must post pics of the babies if you haven't done so already!

Yup mine does and it gets extremely annoying at times. I’m looking forward to when my boa can eat larger prey items so I won’t waste feeders. I’ll just attempt to feed my bp first and if he refuses it then it can go to the boa instead of the garbage. From my experience no matter what you do they’re going to skip a meal eventually. As for boas, they never skip and would eat themselves to death if allowed to haha


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Originally Posted by MarkL1561

Yup mine does and it gets extremely annoying at times. I’m looking forward to when my boa can eat larger prey items so I won’t waste feeders. I’ll just attempt to feed my bp first and if he refuses it then it can go to the boa instead of the garbage. From my experience no matter what you do they’re going to skip a meal eventually. As for boas, they never skip and would eat themselves to death if allowed to haha


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Have you tried offering every 10 or 14 days rather than weekly .. it works great for some Royals


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Aww, how wonderful :D You must post pics of the babies if you haven't done so already!

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fc3b5213be.pnghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4dc58df714.pnghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...80af4de89f.pnghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3f5eb7f01d.png
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...068ac64e8d.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Have you tried offering every 10 or 14 days rather than weekly .. it works great for some Royals


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Yup he rarely missed meals when he was younger but often skips now that he’s gotten older. I don’t do a strict schedule for him as I’d waste even more feeders. I feed him whenever I notice he “looks” hungry. Sounds weird but I’ve had him long enough to typically be able to tell. Even then he will still refuse occasionally. Ball pythons just do this from my experience. My KSB and BI have been much easier as far as feeding. I always have to do the rodent dance with my bp and the temp has to be perfect. Meanwhile the boas just eat.


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Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

Ways to avoid fast is proper husbandry, limited stress and smaller preys.

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Definitely agree on smaller prey, especially with the girls. Sometimes I'll offer an appropriate size rat to my females and they're not interested. However, when I offer something smaller, they instantly go for it.

Also noticed that my males eat relentlessly while the girls do go off of feed around winter months.

Just so beginners know, even with perfect husbandry, your bp will likely miss a few meals. This doesn’t mean your care is off it’s just a trait of the species. There will always be exceptions but for the most part it’ll happen eventually. I wouldn’t worry unless it truly turns into a fast at which then it’d be good to seek help.


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