Why isn't my bp eating?

Hello. I have a 3ft ball python (lemonblast) I got her about a month ago and she ate live at her previous home. She ate her first meal frozen/thawed. It was a small rat.the temp of the warm end
Is about 90 and the cool end 70 to 80. Her seco d meal was a frozen/thawed medium rat
which she ate perfectly fine. I fed her another medium 2 weeks ago. This week I offered her
A small and she struck wrapped and let go. The next day I offered her a medium and she wouldn't
Even strike. I put her in a separate bin and she still wouldn't eat. She hides all day like normal and it
Has just got into the colder winter months.

Also this is my third snake. My other two are perfect eaters

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Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake

the temp of the warm end Is about 90 and the cool end 70 to 80.

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Given that the snake is 3ft long and has a good feeding record--I would not be concerned for at least a month or two. Very possible that the snake just isn't hungry. :)

If you suspect there is an issue: The first thing I would do is check the exact temperatures within the enclosure. For my collection: anything below 78F is too low, and hot spot surface temp should be at 90F (or within at least a few degrees). If you have a day/night fluctuation in temperature due to the winter temps then a thermostat (or two) connected to your heat sources should solve this issue.

Thank You! Do you think a heat gun would read exact temp?

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Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake

Thank You! Do you think a heat gun would read exact temp?

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A heat gun will read the exact surface temperature (which is good to measure your hot spot to keep it 90). A digital thermometer is good for measuring the air temperature (ambient) to make sure it stays above 78F (I keep mine at about 80). Using thermostats you can set the temps on your heat sources and then use a heat gun/thermometer to make sure they are producing the correct temperature for your setup. :)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/BhjJ6tk.jpg

What does your BP weigh? A medium rat sounds too large of a meal for a 3 foot BP. I usually feed med rats to my large females. The adult males get small rats.

Also, you said the cool spot is between 70-80? That's quite a large temp difference. Your cool spot ahould really drop down below 76.

the temp is closer to 80. my bp weighs 3 pounds. a reptile breeder said that the med rats are a good size meal for her.

Sorry, edited because I thought I read "male".... Disregard this part
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I'm guessing your heating equipment isn't regulated by a thermostat if there is that much temp variation????

Do you have a thermostat???

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Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake

the temp is closer to 80. my bp weighs 3 pounds. a reptile breeder said that the med rats are a good size meal for her.

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If she's 3 pounds then med rats are ok but I doubt she's 3 feet long at that weight.

If she's not taking the medium but she's taking the small, give her two smalls instead. Try to feed in the evening and once she takes the meal, turn off the lights in the room and leave so she can eat in peace. It's hard to tell why she doesn't want to take it. How are you heating up the med rat?

my bp ate the meds perfectly. she is 2.8 pounds exactly, and stopped eating when i offered her the extra small that i had leftover. i thaw in warm water. not hot but warm. my other two eat like pros and i treat them the same. she ate many meds so i dont think its the size.

To chime in quickly.

Mediums are probably too big. At 2.8 pounds, I would be feeding small rats. Yes, they can eat a medium, but it's a big meal and will often cause them NOT TO EAT. Small rats will probably allow growth, but also keep her wanting food and HEALTHY.

Defrost properly (ask if you don't know how), keep cool side over 78F, feed at night with the lights out or dim because that's when they normally hunt.

Get a heat gun, yesterday, and thermostat that controls all your tanks, or one for each if you don't have one.

Do not handle until she eats 3 meals for you.

Just because she HAS eaten mediums doesn't mean she should be. Snakes are opportunistic feeders and will often swallow prey larger than they should because they don't know when their next meal will come. In captivity we don't have that problem.

Larger meals often lead to food strikes with snakes, which is likely what you're experiencing now.

I have two males that are right around 1400 grams, just a bit below...which is almost 3 pounds, so slightly larger than your girl, basically same size. They both eat small rats every 10-14 days and are very reliable eaters.

If your girl is still growing she may outgrow smalls at some point, but for now she's better off on smalls.

Also, I noticed you haven't replied to any of the questions regarding a thermostat....do you have a thermostat??

Ok. I got her to eat when I turned off the light and left her alone. I did get a thermostat so thank you everybody!! My other two have thermostats she did not come with one.

She has been eating all of her meals medium. When I offered her a small, that's when she didn't eat. I guess it could be the color of the mouse changing from cream to spotted. Also I got a heat gun. Her warm end Is 89 and cool end 79.6 I will update you if she stops eating again

Would it be good to feed mediums but less frequently?

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Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake

She has been eating all of her meals medium. When I offered her a small, that's when she didn't eat. I guess it could be the color of the mouse changing from cream to spotted. Also I got a heat gun. Her warm end Is 89 and cool end 79.6 I will update you if she stops eating again

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Earlier you were talking about rats, and above you mention a "mouse."

What are you offering? Mice or rats?

Most snakes don't care about the color, etc.

Good job on the temp gun and getting temps in range.

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Originally Posted by Bumblebee my snake

Would it be good to feed mediums but less frequently?

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Generally better for snakes to eat smaller meals more frequently than larger meals less frequently.

If we are talking rats, then better to feed small more often than mediums less often.

Oh yes i meant to say rat. I have seen some snakes not eat because of color and i put the rat in her cage, and left turning off all lights. by the time i came back she had it in her mouth and began wolfing it down. I've noticed that she stops eating when i offer her a small. if she wont transfer back to smalls, will it hurt her to eat meds?:snake: