My Pin won't eat????

I have had him for about two months and ate like a champ at first then he went into shed. Shed a perfect shed and hasn't eaten since?? It has been about 3-4 weeks since he has last eaten and I have tried f/t, live, covering the tub, the brain juice thing and still nothing! I am getting kinda worried cause all my others eat just fine on a weekly basis?? Any advice?? :confused:

Are you feeding him the same prey items that he's used to? If so, I'd try switching it up a bit. If you've been offering something other than what he's used to, I'd go back to what's tried and true. It's just kind of trial and error. Best of luck!

It happens.Unless he lose,s weight quickly don't worry about it for a few months.Offer him food once a week.
Mike.

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Originally Posted by python.princess

Are you feeding him the same prey items that he's used to? If so, I'd try switching it up a bit. If you've been offering something other than what he's used to, I'd go back to what's tried and true. It's just kind of trial and error. Best of luck!

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Yeah I have been tryinghis normal mice but he on't want them and I tried to switch to small rats to no avail! Like I said i have tried everything I could think of f/t, live, the brain juice thing, just leaving the mouse in with him and covering for awhile and still nothing. I am not sure if he is losing weight but I am gonna start weighing every week to see if he is losing weight. Don't they lose weight not eating at all?? Like maybe a gram a wekk or something?? Should I not be worried unless he is losing weight rapidly?? Thanks for the post!

It's not abnormal for them to go through hunger strikes. I have heard that the record for a ball python not eating is somewhere around 23 months!!!

As long as he isn't losing weight, and everything is good in his tank (temp, humidity, etc), then I wouldn't worry about it. Just watch his weight, and offer food every now and then. He will eat eventually.

Have you changed anything in his home lately? Like a new hide, or new plants or anything? Sometimes the smallest change in their surroundings can really add stress to a snake, thus causing a fasting period.

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Originally Posted by Chris1974

It's not abnormal for them to go through hunger strikes. I have heard that the record for a ball python not eating is somewhere around 23 months!!!

As long as he isn't losing weight, and everything is good in his tank (temp, humidity, etc), then I wouldn't worry about it. Just watch his weight, and offer food every now and then. He will eat eventually.

Have you changed anything in his home lately? Like a new hide, or new plants or anything? Sometimes the smallest change in their surroundings can really add stress to a snake, thus causing a fasting period.

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Nope no major changes just minor. I took out a hide that he was too big for and put a bigger one in but I don't think that is it cause he has only eaten once since he has been with me and that was a week after I got him! Then he shed a beautiful shed and hasn't eaten since! My temps are perfect at cool side 80.7 and the hot side is 92.3 and the humidity is at almost 60% so it isn't that. Do males tend to go off feed at certain times?? I don't know why cause my other males and females are all eating! He is the only one that isn't eating. I am so confused and never had a bp not want to eat and it is stressful!! I am watching his weight but am not sure what is a bad weight loss??? As I am sure they lose some weight when off feed. Any suggestions or ideas??? Thanks!!

Just an idea have you tried an asf yet?

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Originally Posted by supercinnamon1day

Just an idea have you tried an asf yet?

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Not sure what an asf is but I will try anything!!! But he ate a mouse before. I just don't get it! I am gonna email the breeder I got him from and ask his take on this situation. Thanks!!!!

African soft furred rat. I've had success with picky feeders eating those. If you were closer to ny I could help you out with a few.

One of my buddies who has been keeping Boas and Pythons for years swears by dirty gerbil bedding. stick a rat or moues in with some filthy stanky make you gag gerbil bedding. and they always seem to take the food after that.

you can also try frozen thaw that has been brained or had its back slit before thawing so it exposes the stuff the snake finds tasty. Or thawing a frozen mouse or rat and then letting it sit in chicken broth thats heated to about 100*F for 10-15 min. the chicken broth has actually worked for me on a Tree boa on a badddddddd hunger strike. Never had to brain yet, but i have also used the "back slitting" method.

Do not try gerbil, or anything else for that matter that you cannot regularly get or afford to feed.

Thats the last thing that you want is your ball to ONLY eat gerbils......



Is he a hatchling, or is he older. If he is older, he may be going into the breeding mode. Some males do that.

I would suggest keep trying every week what he was eating before. Even if it is too small, give him 2.

Hope that helps!

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

Do not try gerbil, or anything else for that matter that you cannot regularly get or afford to feed.

Thats the last thing that you want is your ball to ONLY eat gerbils......



Is he a hatchling, or is he older. If he is older, he may be going into the breeding mode. Some males do that.

I would suggest keep trying every week what he was eating before. Even if it is too small, give him 2.

Hope that helps!

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Well he was born in august of 08 and only weighs 281grams!

Like others said watch his weight, it is very important. I had a some of mine shy away from a few of their meals. I would not force anything on them and eventually they all eat but one. He was eating medium sized rats and then would not touch anything larger then an adult mouse. This lasted for a month but he was eating but last week he finally took a small rat. I will not try anything bigger until I see him really getting food aggressive. Did you get a reply from the breeder? But then again what are they going to really say?

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Originally Posted by Repsrul

Like others said watch his weight, it is very important. I had a some of mine shy away from a few of their meals. I would not force anything on them and eventually they all eat but one. He was eating medium sized rats and then would not touch anything larger then an adult mouse. This lasted for a month but he was eating but last week he finally took a small rat. I will not try anything bigger until I see him really getting food aggressive. Did you get a reply from the breeder? But then again what are they going to really say?

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Yeah I got ahold of the breeder today and he gave me some other ideas I have not tried yet and said that if none of that work to call him back and we will brainstorm again. Pro Exotics is where I got him from and they are really being helpfull and offering me some good advice! I hope I can get him to eat soon! As he seems kinda small for almost being a year old in a few months! Thanks to everyone for their advice and posts I really appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!