BP won't eat (and not just winter fasting)

Hey everyone my BP Franky won't eat ive tried to feed him like four times but he acts like the rats not even there. He hasn't eaten in one month today and hes getting thinner, he hasn't pooped in a month either. his humidity's good, his heats good, and i cant tell if hes drinking. How do snakes drink in the couple of years ive been interested in snakes ive never seen one drink? I'm getting ready to take him to an exotics vet because i think he might have a parasite. Is there any other way to tell if he has a parasite then going to a vet because the nearest exotics vet is a while from my house? If anyone has any suggestions please say so.

how do you know its not awinter fast?? if your husbandry is good and the snake is otherwise healthy than what other explanation is there?? A lot of balls do it this time of year my big girl stopped for 3 months and randomnly started up again.

Have you tried a mouse?

What are the temps?

What type of food has been offered?

How long have you had the snake?

Has it eaten for you in the past?

If so what has it eaten?

One month is not a long time at all this is why I ask this stuff. I know you said that the temps were good but without telling us they may not be.

I have a Male that goes off feed for 4 months out of the year. I have some that fast for a month. But if the snake is healthy before hand then you should be good.

If you just purchased this snake, where did you get it? How old is it? If you do not know can you estimate? Maybe post size of the snake?

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

how do you know its not awinter fast?? if your husbandry is good and the snake is otherwise healthy than what other explanation is there?? A lot of balls do it this time of year my big girl stopped for 3 months and randomnly started up again.

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I just didn't think that it would be fasting if there losing too much weight

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gary Orner

What are the temps?

What type of food has been offered?

How long have you had the snake?

Has it eaten for you in the past?

If so what has it eaten?

One month is not a long time at all this is why I ask this stuff. I know you said that the temps were good but without telling us they may not be.

I have a Male that goes off feed for 4 months out of the year. I have some that fast for a month. But if the snake is healthy before hand then you should be good.

If you just purchased this snake, where did you get it? How old is it? If you do not know can you estimate? Maybe post size of the snake?

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Temps: about 87-95 on basking side and 75-85. Humidity's kept around 45-77% ( i live in a dry state and humidity's a problem)

Food: I've tried mice, rats and frozen rats but not frozen mice.

I've had him for about a month and three weeks. But he was kept with a family member be fore that so he was gettign good care.

Age: I think he's around two and a half years. He's about 3.5 feet long.

Eating: Yes he's eaten for me in the past and I've fed him before i had him living with me too.

Types of food: He's eaten rats and mice but never anything frozen.

So the only reason I'm a little worried is because he hasn't fasted before and he hasn't pooped since his last meal at all. Also he's lost a lot of weight. I'll have his exact weight in grams in a day or so.

well if he doesnt eat he wont poop lol, do you have a scale so we have an idea of how much weight hes lsot?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

well if he doesnt eat he wont poop lol, do you have a scale so we have an idea of how much weight hes lsot?

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I'm going to go get a scale at Wal-mart tomorrow

if he loses a good amount of weight like 100+g from now worry but until then it doesnt sound like a problem

Does anybody know the normal weight loss range for fasting? and me personally has never weighed him so whats the normal weight range for a 3.5 foot BP

my girl started at 1109g on 12/25 shes about 2.5yrs old on 3/3 she weighed 995g and today she weighs 1247g

I'ma got to bed people i got to get up at 6:00 but keep posting ill read um in the morning.

Your temps are WAYYYY too cold. You want 82 to 84 on the cold side. 92 to 94 on the hot side.

And the ambient air inside the cage above 80. Mines usually 82 to 84.

That's probably why he's not eating. And also a perfect recipe for an upper respiratory infection.

Get that fixed ASAP! Also, do you provide 2 small, identical, tight hides for him on each end of the enclosure?

One month is nothing to a ball. My larger ball, "Baby", just came off a four month stint and wasn`t bothered a bit. Although, she did gulp down 4 medium rats in one week!!! What a PIG!!! But then, I`d be hungry too after that long!! Anyway, she`s as healthy as they get. Also, you may try a smaller size food. Balls won`t go after food they judge to be TOO BIG for them to consume, so maybe what you`re trying to feed her is just too big for her to eat. If you want to see what a ball looks like drinking, take a look at my gallery. I`ve got some good shots of mine guzzling water:D!!

I can vouch for the 'try feeding a smaller prey size' approach, since it worked for me getting Nagini to eat again after two months.

Offer him a prey item slightly smaller than usual, in the enclosure, and then darken the room and cover the cage. He may just be stressed out by something and the dark quiet will help.

And, since your mom tells me you're going away for Spring Break week, just have someone check temps and humidity and change water while you're gone, that way he will have been left completely alone (as it were) for the whole week to settle down... as long as everything is where it should be before you go. :)