Feeding - When should I start to be concerned

I know BP's can be very picky and finicky eaters. I've read where they can go upto 6 months without eating. But I am not sure If i should be worried or not with my situation.

My BP was eating like a champ from July until right before xmas. After that he has not and will not take anything I offer to him. I've tried FT, Fresh Thumped, and even live. I have tried both small and medium size rats, different colored rats. Even tried mice. When i first lower it in He'll go at it like he is interested get right face to face with it and then just turn his head up and turn away. I have tried feeding him in his normal cage and also tried in a separate tub.

His tank is a 39 gallon high, with aspen bedding. hot side is going between 89 and 91, and cool side at 79-80. humidity is usually around 55% but I'll increase it when he starts showing signs of shedding. Which he just did shed on the 25th of March.

One of the girls at a local store that raise BP's and Bloods said that her BP will go on a feeding strike every year from oct until april when the winter months hit us. So Should I just keep trying or begin worrying? could it be a parasite or mite causing this feeding strike? He's active and moves around alot and he barely flinches or coils into a ball when trying to pick him up, never hisses or tries to strike.

but I'm just getting concerned. The only real change I did to his tank back in oct or nov was switched his bedding from cypress mulch to aspen.

ive never had this problem because ive only had my BP for 5 months.. but i heard you shouldent be concerned until you actually see it losing weight.. just keep trying every week and it will eventually take it.. again this never happened to me but ive read plenty of threads about this

What year is he? Is it a male? If so I wouldnt be worried as all 3 of my male 06's went off feed for the winter... Hes just telling you hes ready for a hot chica bonita!... I just continued to offer every week and all 3 have eaten 2 weeks in a row. I wouldnt be too worried just yet.

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Originally Posted by JoshJP7

What year is he? Is it a male? If so I wouldnt be worried as all 3 of my male 06's went off feed for the winter... Hes just telling you hes ready for a hot chica bonita!... I just continued to offer every week and all 3 have eaten 2 weeks in a row. I wouldnt be too worried just yet.

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he's a male and about 2.5-3 years of age. as far as feeding f/t do guys just drop it in and leave it or do you dangling by the tail and try to entice them?

I always do the dancing dead rat... Id offer him a live rat... Mine all ate FT and then went off feed... used a live guy to get them tasting rats again then moved em to FT with no problem.

Try smaller meals, like a rat pup size. Smaller prey sometimes entices snakes as well.

There is no need to worry unless the snake is losing a significant amount of weight, or there are signs of illness. Sometimes it works to offer smaller/different prey, but sometimes that just stresses them out even more.

I would say at this point since you've tried so many different prey, go back to what he usually ate, and try once a week with that, with no handling in between. You can also try putting the snake is a smaller enclosure (such a s a tub) to increase security. Best of luck. You may want to read this thread as well

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=64619

Yeah, I keep track of my BP's weight and measure her length once a week. You should take it to a vet if it starts losing weight. You can get a cheap but accurate produce scale from Target or Wal-Mart for about $15-$20 which can measure mass through weight (g). If (s)he starts losing weight, then I'd worry. Remember, BP's can go quite some time without food. But, monitor that weight! Good luck!:)

dont worry to much. one of mine just took his first meal in 201 days last night.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Constrictor

dont worry to much. one of mine just took his first meal in 201 days last night.

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That's awesome. I always get a lot of satisfaction when a long-time non-eater goes back on feed.

Thanks Jeff. I was very happy to see him eat again. it was very fustrating to see him go off feed for so long. I thought it was a little strange because his houseing didn't change, I didn't cool him down for breeding he just stoped eating. Until he went off feed last year he ate like a pig. I guess now I can say he's a typical Ball Python.