Stubborn and Picky Pythons

[EyeLashViper]

:roll: Hey everybody,
Well, I have made two attempts to feed my Ball Pythons Trinity and Cypher pre-killed rats but they stuck up their noses at my humble offerings...they looked at the thawed and warmed rats and even flicked their tongues at them but no cigar.I finally broke down and got them what they were pressuring me into :x I went and got them each a live rat and POW!!!! they hit the live prey like there was no tomorrow.Sheesh...... :? I think my Pythons are imprinted on live prey and don't know what to make of a pre-killed prey item.What a bummer...I mean I am glad to see them eat but I was really hoping to get them to make the transition to P/K you know? I am thinking maybe I will just keep trying and perhaps when spring and summer return next year they might be hungrier and more apt to take a P/K rat...I have noticed a slowdown in their feeding the last few weeks...I think it is the time of year for this is it not?

So for now I guess I will have to keep providing live prey as this is what they are making demands for.... :wink:

EyeLashViper

[CTReptileRescue]

It's definately that time of year, ecspecially for WC balls.
Good luck trying to switch them over to PK or FT. It's so much easier when they are eating FT prey. Cheaper too.
Thanks
RUSTY

[BallKingdom]

Woohooo, good thing they are eating something.

Here's an interesting little story about wc balls and their feeding habits. Most, if not all wc ball pythons come from the savannah's, where it is hot and dry, but during the winter it is cool and dry. The savannah ball pythons typically stop eating at this time, just like they do in the wild. And in captivity when winter comes the humidity drops, and the temperature gets cooler. So wc, even cb, feel like they're in the plains and go off feeding.

But the ball pythons in the forests experience humid and warm temps all the time. And interestingly enough they eat all year round.

So theoretically a cb ball python experiencing out cool dry climate in the winter will feel like it is in the savannah, and might go off feed. So you can fix a lot of feeding problems by increasing humidity and temps during the winter to make them feel like forest balls.

This is what I've heard from 2 sources, not sure if it is right, but try it.

[CTReptileRescue]

So theoretically a cb ball python experiencing out cool dry climate in the winter will feel like it is in the savannah, and might go off feed. So you can fix a lot of feeding problems by increasing humidity and temps during the winter to make them feel like forest balls.

This is what I've heard from 2 sources, not sure if it is right, but try it.

****Makes very good sense***
Rusty

[BallKingdom]

It does, but I wonder if it is true. I've increased Monty's heat. I'll do humidity and see if he eats.

[CTReptileRescue]

My first a favorite BP (don't tell the others) never eats in the winter. But she has great weight, and it's never affected her in the past, we just take special precautions during her "off feeding times".
Rusty