Zeke Won't Eat!

Have had Zeke since August 6 of this year. Not sure of age all the guy told me was that he had fed 4 times by the time I bought him. Anyways, we have never once had a problem with the big piggy eating. He always eats when offered....no teasing,enticing,anything. Well, yesterday he would not take his small rat. Had the rat in the tank with him for 30 minutes before we took it out and my husband let it go outside. $2.60 running the streets of Tucson now:D Well, he cruised his tank all night last night....way more than is normal for him. He spent most of his time extended to the top of his tank...I think looking for a way out!
Tonight we go and spend another $2.60 on a small rat thinking the roaming last night was because the scent of the rat being in there yesterday and him not finding it and eating it. Well,,,,,had that rat in there for 40 minutes and the same thing as last night. The rat even got under the repticarpet and Zeke at one point went under the carpet with the rat checking him out and came right back out about his merry way. The little rat is now in a critter keeper with water and all kinds of yummy goodies!
My question is why is Zeke not eating? Could it be because it is breeding season? Do snakes know this? I am really worried since Zeke is not a problem snake. Someone please help!

i need to address your "releasing" the rat to the streets.

captive bred and raised rats are not wild rats. they cannot survive like wild rats can. it's inhumane to do that. it's like taking a baby kitten and dumping it on the side of the road and expecting it to thrive.

please please please don't do that again.

(i'm glad you kept the second one in a critter keeper and didn't release it as well)

I guess I should have made myself a little more precise and clear....I was at work and my hubby tried to feed Zeke....he is the one that released the rat to the streets. If I was home like I was tonight it would not have been released...the rat from last night would still be in the critter keeper and not this second rat.....
Now, back to Zeke does anyone have any clue as to why he is acting the way he is and not eating.

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Originally Posted by ZEKESMOM

Have had Zeke since August 6 of this year. Not sure of age all the guy told me was that he had fed 4 times by the time I bought him. Anyways, we have never once had a problem with the big piggy eating. He always eats when offered....no teasing,enticing,anything. Well, yesterday he would not take his small rat. Had the rat in the tank with him for 30 minutes before we took it out and my husband let it go outside. $2.60 running the streets of Tucson now:D Well, he cruised his tank all night last night....way more than is normal for him. He spent most of his time extended to the top of his tank...I think looking for a way out!
Tonight we go and spend another $2.60 on a small rat thinking the roaming last night was because the scent of the rat being in there yesterday and him not finding it and eating it. Well,,,,,had that rat in there for 40 minutes and the same thing as last night. The rat even got under the repticarpet and Zeke at one point went under the carpet with the rat checking him out and came right back out about his merry way. The little rat is now in a critter keeper with water and all kinds of yummy goodies!
My question is why is Zeke not eating? Could it be because it is breeding season? Do snakes know this? I am really worried since Zeke is not a problem snake. Someone please help!

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Have you changed anything in his enclosure? Moved his enclosure? It is possible he is still full from the last meal .

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Originally Posted by ZEKESMOM

Had the rat in the tank with him for 30 minutes before we took it out and my husband let it go outside. $2.60 running the streets of Tucson now:D

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ah it was the "we took it out" that gave me the impression your were present when the rat was released. regardless, did you :fishslap: your hubby when you got home? :mouse2:

have you double checked the temps in your enclosure? that is one reason why they can go off food. i know adam has shared that his snakes don't go off food... regardless of the time of year... so mating/winter etc are not reasons for them to fast.

Ball pythons go off feed for many reasons sometimes for months. My pastel female just started eating again on halloween :eek: after not eating since the first week of August. She did it Feb-April. Makes sure he looks and acts normal, activity is a sign he's fine. Changes in temps, light or humidity can trigger it.

Oh yeah get a rat cage. :sunny:

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Have you changed anything in his enclosure? Moved his enclosure? It is possible he is still full from the last meal .

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Actually we moved 3 weeks ago today, but he ate the first week we were here and he has pooped 3 times since he ate that mouse, he also shed last week...his temps are good and he is actually in a more quiet area of the house than where we had him at the old house. ???????

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

ah it was the "we took it out" that gave me the impression your were present when the rat was released. regardless, did you :fishslap: your hubby when you got home? :mouse2:

have you double checked the temps in your enclosure? that is one reason why they can go off food. i know adam has shared that his snakes don't go off food... regardless of the time of year... so mating/winter etc are not reasons for them to fast.

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I was not happy to hear the rat was on the streets had a little:sabduel: when I got home!

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

Ball pythons go off feed for many reasons sometimes for months. My pastel female just started eating again on halloween :eek: after not eating since the first week of August. She did it Feb-April. Makes sure he looks and acts normal, activity is a sign he's fine. Changes in temps, light or humidity can trigger it.

Oh yeah get a rat cage. :sunny:

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going tomorrow morning to get me a rat cage...this little rat is just so adorable and it bit my hubby( payback for letting the other one go LOL) Not to sure if this will end up in Zekes belly or a new addition to the houseLOL

so did you do the "one week acclimation" when you got him moved to his new house?

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Originally Posted by ZEKESMOM

going tomorrow morning to get me a rat cage...this little rat is just so adorable and it bit my hubby( payback for letting the other one go LOL) Not to sure if this will end up in Zekes belly or a new addition to the houseLOL

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if it's a pet... we need pics!!!

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Originally Posted by ZEKESMOM

Actually we moved 3 weeks ago today, but he ate the first week we were here and he has pooped 3 times since he ate that mouse, he also shed last week...his temps are good and he is actually in a more quiet area of the house than where we had him at the old house. ???????

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Hmmm he might be full then.Or its to quiet:(

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

so did you do the "one week acclimation" when you got him moved to his new house?

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It was actually a 6 day acclimation here and he was fed and now has not eaten since.

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

if it's a pet... we need pics!!!

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If I can keep the hubby from making it food I will post pics tomorrow afternoon as we are going out of town for the day!

well if your husbandry is still the same... then i would just wait a week and offer another rattie then (just not your new pet named ??? LOL)

i wouldn't worry about zeke at all :D

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

well if your husbandry is still the same... then i would just wait a week and offer another rattie then (just not your new pet named ??? LOL)

i wouldn't worry about zeke at all :D

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Well, his or her name would have to be Nipper of course:D

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Originally Posted by ZEKESMOM

...since he ate that mouse...

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So, the last meal he took was a mouse? Has he ever eaten a rat? BPs can be a challenge to switch from one to the other. Even if you gave him just one mouse, and he was on rats previously, he may give you problems when you offer rats. I have several snakes that used to eat rats, and now won't take a second look at one, but go after mice like there's no tomorrow.

Steve

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

So, the last meal he took was a mouse? Has he ever eaten a rat? BPs can be a challenge to switch from one to the other. Even if you gave him just one mouse, and he was on rats previously, he may give you problems when you offer rats. I have several snakes that used to eat rats, and now won't take a second look at one, but go after mice like there's no tomorrow.

Steve

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oops I misspoke again. No he has only eaten a mouse once before I found out that I really should be feeding rats, so every week for the last 3 1/2 mths except for the first 2 times he has eaten rats.