people with 10 or more Ball Pythons???

wondering how many peoples BP,s go off feed in the winter.I have ten & can only get 6 to feed every week 2 others have been off for 6 weeks & refused the again this week.Im not worried about it because I know they do this but is this common in larger collections.temps are up & stable everything is perfect(I hope).

I NEVER go off feed, breeding season or not they are offered a meal weekly if they eat they eat if not then they don't but I never take any animal off feed. Just keep offering.

The only ones off feed are the ones breeding. Seems to be only the females though, the males are still feeding. Everyone else feeds fairly regularly for me, it's just a matter of knowing what they'll eat. I don't drop my temps, so I'm not sure if maybe that has something to do with it.

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Originally Posted by greghall

wondering how many peoples BP,s go off feed in the winter.I have ten & can only get 6 to feed every week 2 others have been off for 6 weeks & refused the again this week.Im not worried about it because I know they do this but is this common in larger collections.temps are up & stable everything is perfect(I hope).

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What do you want answered...you already know this isn't uncommon for balls. :)


I have a few who have been off-feed for a while, and they are the same ones who tend to go off this time every year...hopes this helps!! :)

...it's good not to be worried....worry is the misuse of the imagination. ;)

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Originally Posted by JKExotics

I NEVER go off feed, breeding season or not they are offered a meal weekly if they eat they eat if not then they don't but I never take any animal off feed. Just keep offering.

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...I dont think the OP took the BP's off feed....I think the BP's went off themselves by refusing meals if I understand correctly...which is common.

I feed all of mine at the same time, some eat and some don't. The only time I worry is if they're also losing a lot of weight. A good quality digital scale can be a ball python owners best friend.

I currently have around 30 I would have to count again. My breeding females yes some but not all are off feed. I have a couple that will eat no matter what all the way up to almost egg layin' time.
I do drop temps but not drastically.
Out of the non breeders I do have a couple that have gone off feed or atleast got really picky about eating.

No feeding break...

Everyone gets offered each time. Some take, some don't...

Out of the 17 in my collection, only three are off feed. 1 breeding female, and 2 breeding males. But none are losing weight. I have 7 other females breeding, and 3 other breeding males and those are all feeding more than ever.

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Originally Posted by Jerhart

What do you want answered...you already know this isn't uncommon for balls. :)

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I think the purpose of the question had more to do with how common was it for 40% of your snakes to go off feed. Yes, it is common, but that seems like a high percentage to me.

I have 17 BPs, and other than a few that had problems adjusting to their new surroundings when I first got them, I've never had a snake refuse 2 feedings in a row. Most of mine are '08 hatchlings, so I would expect them to eat more regularly while they are still growing lots, but 40% of an entire collection still seems high to me.

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Originally Posted by JKExotics

I NEVER go off feed, breeding season or not they are offered a meal weekly if they eat they eat if not then they don't but I never take any animal off feed. Just keep offering.

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missunderstood,I still offer food but they won't eat.I alsways try food every week.

Yes I know its common,just wondered if some other keepers were dealing with a winter fast from some of their animals,I understand my one female which think was bred successfully.but have a 08 male mojave who was eating like crazy & just stopped??? can't kick start him.refuse to try mice! at least not yet!

I have 45, and only one female is off feed.

I had 2, but one male was not breeding, had not been cooled and is a very picky eater. He just went on feed, but not sure how long he will stay on.

All other 43 are eating like clockwork.

Bruce

Right, I say let the snake have the first right of refusal; offer it, let them say no.

I feed all year. They eat when they eat.

The breeder males are the only ones that I reduce feedings to once a month so they don't spend too much time digesting instead of getting it on.
Actually I keep my males small so I don't feed them as often as the females anyways.

I've got ~40 and besides the occassional refusal, all eat year round.

I guess when I get more experience I can get all mine on a routine of eating all year.Thanks for the replys

I think it's also dependent on the snake. I have 8 BPs and for a month only two were eating. Tuesday night saw four of the refusers take their food again (which made me very happy since one of the girls had lost weight), but the other two are still not eating. One, my first normal girl, did the same thing last winter so I'm not surprised or worried. I know she'll start back up again when she feels like it.

And, none of my snakes are breeding yet. Two girls are breeding size, and one male is a good weight, but I haven't seen plugs from the boys so I decided to wait another year with them.

All 15 of my 08's all are offered prey every 4-6 days and all but one ate this feeding he has been non feeding for 2 feedings but is very active I tend not to worry unless they are losing weight and lazy lol as for the breeder females, my breeder says they are eating her out of house and home I'm dreading the feed bill when this season is said and done lol

i have 14 all together, i offer them all food the same time every week(5-7days babies, 7-10days sub adults/adults) if they eat they eat, as of right now all my 08's and 07's are eating might miss a feed or two but they are right back at it the next time, my big female(2000grams) hasnt eaten since the end of November but she just ovulated my other big female hasnt eaten since mid december but she is also breeding, and my two proven males have eaten maybe once or twice since december, i have heard of a case where a ball python went off of eating for 22 months which is almost 2 years and she was healthy and is still alive today, its not an issue if they arn't eating its only an issue if they arn't eating and they are losing weight, if your snakes are losing weight then i would worry about it

good luck with all the breeding everyone!

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Originally Posted by Python Guru

i have heard of a case where a ball python went off of eating for 22 months which is almost 2 years and she was healthy and is still alive today

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Do you have details on that or know where you heard/read it? I have found reference to a BP not eating for 22 months in many different places, but I've always been frustrated that not one of them ever said if the BP started eating again and was fine, or if 22 months was how long it took to starve itself to death.

hey buddy!

i read it in "The Ball Python Manual" heres the paragraph . . .

"remember, if you have selected a healthy ball python, it will be able to fast for several months without any ill effects. Reports of ball pythons fasting for up to a year before they begin feeding are fairly common. There are even two records of ball pythons that fasted for 22 months before feeding, so don't panic."