Hasn't eaten

I know it's normal for BPs to fast but my 5yr old hasn't eaten in almost two months. Nothing I do is helping. He's interested, smells it, curves. But no. It's aggravating and worrying me. Long story short he hasn't eaten since the week before his vet visit. I thought maybe he was stressed from that. But 2 months now? I even skipped a week here and there, made his feed hotter or colder, and left it in there. He's frustrating me!

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As long as he's not losing significant weight there's nothing to worry about. That's just the frustration that comes with keeping BPs

It's a ball python, it's a male, it's 5 years old, it's breeding season......that's what they do.

People do not realize that in captivity those animal are overfed and that fasting for a mature male it normal this time of the year.

Based on his weight which should be good considering the age it could last 6 months to a year.

A tip try changing thing around, downsize the enclosure, that's what I do with any animal that fast for over 8 weeks and it usually get them back to eat within a week or two.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

It's a ball python, it's a male, it's 5 years old, it's breeding season......that's what they do.

People do not realize that in captivity those animal are overfed and that fasting for a mature male it normal this time of the year.

Based on his weight which should be good considering the age it could last 6 months to a year.

A tip try changing thing around, downsize the enclosure, that's what I do with any animal that fast for over 8 weeks and it usually get them back to eat within a week or two.

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Do you still offer weekly?

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Originally Posted by HeathBish

Do you still offer weekly?

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Can't speak for everyone else, but no! When a snake goes off feed & it's fairly normal (many BPs just DO this), offering weekly will only stress you both. ;)

Offer not less than every 2 weeks, & even then, ONLY IF he's acting like he's ready to eat: ie. only IF he's peeking out of his hide in the evening hours, as if ready to
"ambush-hunt" a rodent. Better yet, wait 3+ weeks...unless you enjoy throwing away food.

***** And you shouldn't be offering food weekly to an adult BP anyway...you did say he's 5 years old? *****

I understand the appeal of ball pythons, but ALL snakes have pro's & con's: unfortunately, this is what you signed up for with a ball python.
They are pretty, docile & stay a nice cuddly size, but the downsides include the need of higher heat & humidity, fasting & being picky eaters.

It helps to know this is pretty normal, even though it's frustrating for us food-loving humans. ;) Hang in there...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Can't speak for everyone else, but no! When a snake goes off feed & it's fairly normal (many BPs just DO this), offering weekly will only stress you both. ;)

Offer not less than every 2 weeks, & even then, ONLY IF he's acting like he's ready to eat: ie. only IF he's peeking out of his hide in the evening hours, as if ready to
"ambush-hunt" a rodent. Better yet, wait 3+ weeks...unless you enjoy throwing away food.

And you shouldn't be offering food weekly to an adult BP anyway...you did say he's 5 years old?

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I just mean offering because he wasn't eating. I fed him every 10-14 days when he was eating. Moreso 14 days. Sooner if he seemed hungry. But not less than 10 days. Usually 12 if he seemed hundry and then I'd start the days over.

Speaking of, since he hasn't eaten he seems to always have his head poking out the hide now. He just chills there like that most of the time. Now it's u usual if he's fully in the hide. Is that weird? He never used to do that. His stats are all good, too. Im a freak with that if you remember.

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Is he hanging out in the warm hide or the cool one?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Is he hanging out in the warm hide or the cool one?

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It was the cold for a while then the warm. Now both. But more the warm.

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Welcome to my world. Odyn is doing the same thing....even the vet visit is spot on. He didn't eat for three months ate a mouse, next week ate two mice and now not eating again. I offer and if he doesn't eat it goes to Booplesnoop because she will eat his lol. That way I'm not wasting rats.

Also my pueblan is off food right now too...grrrr

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Originally Posted by HeathBish

Do you still offer weekly?

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Yes but I have 60+ animals to feed and I breed my own feeders so if someone is not interested it's not an issue.