ZERO Interest in Food (unrelated to breeding season)

[Hapa_Haole]

I posted a while back about a BP hunger strike that started before the normal breeding season fasts. I took the advice of some members and made her (may be a male, I'm not sure) tub less crammed up since I had over packed it with big hides.

But she still has ZERO interest in food...no curiosity in the prey, no tongue flicking, she could care less that a rat is in front of her. She does flick her tongue when being held (Don't know if that matters, thought I'd include it). I'm starting to get worried because she seems to be slimming down a bit. Unfortunately I haven't been weighing her throughout the fast (stupid me, I know).

When she went off feeding literally nothing had changed in her setup. She is 3 years old, had been in the current setup for over a year, had never missed a meal before, but one day she decided not to eat.

The only thing I could think of was the cooling of my room, but I took measures to maintain the tub temps.

So...now what??

Thanks,
Dennis

[OhhWatALoser]

when did she go off feed? because what you describe sounds exactly like breeding season.

[steveboos]

Sounds like a adult ball python with fasting on the mind. What is her weight now and what is the last weigh you've recorded before the fast started?

Sounds normal to me. My het pied female started fasting in early fall and still hasn't come back yet.

[DC Reptiles]

my het albino female went off feed for 7 months and now shes eating like a champ again. I would just make sure shes got water, temps are right and let her be. If you think shes losing to much weight or thin you could always take her to your vet and see if she might have a parasite or something

[Hapa_Haole]

Hmmm interesting. My girl went off feed in early fall and I was told that wasn't due to the breeding season but now you're telling me it may be? That would be a relief.

I've never actually weighed her since she has always eaten and I wasn't concerned about getting her up to breeding weight. I wish now that I had...

She recently passed some urates...there were pretty small and dark yellow. She has 24/7 access to water though. Is this significant in any way?

Thanks,
Dennis

[Hapa_Haole]

So when do breeding fasts typically end?

[OhhWatALoser]

Hmmm interesting. My girl went off feed in early fall and I was told that wasn't due to the breeding season but now you're telling me it may be? That would be a relief.

If the seasons were starting to change when she stopped, then id be 95% sure its because of breeding season. either way no use worrying about it, shes gonna eat when she wants to eat, whether you like it or not lol.

I've read people reporting fasts up to 9 months, so anytime between now and then lol. like i said, if your husbandry is good and she appears healthy, no use worrying about it, its what snakes do and there nothing you can do about it anyway.

[Range Rat]

I've been told the same things. Hard not to worry being new to this game but the advice of everyone says not to worry. Offer some food occasionally and if she doesn't take it wait a few weeks and try again.