How long do winter fasts last?

[proballo]

Hello all,
Our female BP turned 1 in August and is currently on her first fast Her last meal was at the end of December and we had just bumped her feed size up the previous 2 feedings. Just wondering how long on average these fasts last. We had her at a comfortable 14 day feeding cycle and she has always been a very good feeder. I keep offering her food (back down to the smaller size she was on before) ever 2weeks and she comes out for, licks it than goes back in her hide. Temps and humidity are all same and the enclosure hasn't changed in a year 2 identical hides, lots of ground cover yadda yadda yadda.

Also could the bumping up of the feed size right before the winter season have triggered the fast? i.e) fattened her up too much and triggered a hibernation type behavior?

Thanks

[Stewart_Reptiles]

BP do not brumate (hibernate) winter fast vary from one animal to another can go for a few weeks to a few months I had animals fast for 6 to 9 months.

Bottom line keep monitoring your animal and make sure husbandry is on spot, make sure he animal is well hydrated and wait it out, when your BP will be ready it will eat.

[Bp_Lee_2011]

Dont worry about her my 6mo old bp stopped eating around second week of december i just kept offering him his meals on schedule he last ate mid january and is fasting again.

[L.West]

I have checked and double checked that temps, hide and humidity are where they should be but I cant help but feel like it is my fault they are not eating - it really helps to hear someone with your experience say that you just have to wait it out.

It is sooo hard not to worry.

[OhhWatALoser]

I have checked and double checked that temps, hide and humidity are where they should be but I cant help but feel like it is my fault they are not eating - it really helps to hear someone with your experience say that you just have to wait it out.

It is sooo hard not to worry.

knowing you snake can go a year+ without eating, it pretty easy not to worry, it can be frustrating when your trying to get them up to size, but as for worrying about their health, there nothing to worry about there. Like said above, make sure your husbandry is correct and enjoy not having to clean poop every week.

[proballo]

Yup I hear you! I think I just came on here for moral support LOL. She really is a great feeder, I half expected it with the way she was putting on weight the last few months. Still it's frustrating to have an animal not eat for almost 8 weeks! She is still responsive to the food just not in eating it. sigh...

I have checked and double checked that temps, hide and humidity are where they should be but I cant help but feel like it is my fault they are not eating - it really helps to hear someone with your experience say that you just have to wait it out.

It is sooo hard not to worry.

[steveboos]

I got a girl going on 7 months now, i'm still not worried and shes only lost 60 grams in the entire time shes been fasting. I try and keep attempting to feed, but she has no interest, oh well.

Gotta love pythons, they just fast for months at a time, then they come back like nothing ever happened and get better than ever before.

[L.West]

Luckily I don't do any breeding - mine are just pets but it stills aint easy to watch them go month after month and not eat.

You just feel helpless

[musclebabe]

Luckily I don't do any breeding - mine are just pets but it stills aint easy to watch them go month after month and not eat.

You just feel helpless

I am in the same situation, no breeding here either, and its sooo hard not to worry!! My Athena is 1 year old and is already 1800 grams. i got her last may at 7 months old as a gift, and shes my one and only. So as far as feeding, she was on large med rats until winter came, now i am offering her lg mice instead because i know i can only refreeze them once and the rats are way more expensive! Glad spring is right around the corner. last time she ate was 1/27/11

[PweEzy]

Don't worry about it at all. My het pied girl hit the 900g wall and she hasn't eaten in about 2.5-3 months. She still does her typical roaming the cage in the evening and hasn't lost much weight. You just gotta wait it out and keep offering, sooner or later it will get hungry. Just think of it as, if the snake isn't sick, there is no chance that it will intentionally starve itself.