my 2012 Pied hasn't eaten for 4 weeks !!!

[Crusader71]

My 2012 Pied that I picked up in October was eating fine but 4 weeks ago he decided to stop eating. Nothing has changed with the temps or anything, I have tried warming up the food with a hairdryer and even went down a food size. So I'm looking for any helpful hints !!! or is this just my Pied being a stubborn BP and deciding not to eat?
Thanks

[BCBallPythons]

Wouldnt worry too much yet as it hasnt been too long. A "food strike" every now and again for a BP is very common. If it goes on more than 2-3 months than be sure to check his wieghts to make sure hes not losing TOO much wieght. (A little wieght loss WILL occur, obviously)
If they were eating regularly before, it will NOT starve itself to death. It will eat when its hungry.


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[Annarose15]

What does he weigh currently, and what is his age? It is NOT normal for a small, young BP to go on feeding strikes. However, if he is already a good size, it wouldn't be as big of a red flag.

[youbeyouibei]

How long has he been on frozen/thawed? Did you start him on it or did he get started on it from the breeder? It might be that he wants live; worth trying if you're able to get mice or small enough rats where you live.

[Crusader71]

I started him on thawed and he did take but I was planning on getting him live to see if that works

[youbeyouibei]

I started him on thawed and he did take but I was planning on getting him live to see if that works

I'd try that & I'll bet he takes it right off. You could always try f/t again when it warms up or once he's eating consistently & has some size to him. Good luck, that can be stressful getting one to eat.

[Gerardo]

I started him on thawed and he did take but I was planning on getting him live to see if that works

I also agree trying live. I suggest a vert young rat so he cant hurt your snake

[BHReptiles]

I also agree with everyone saying to try live. Here's a little story:

I have a 2012 spider who was eating mice when I got her in August. Most people say spiders are the ball python "garbage disposals" but mine was so picky. I fed her mice and tried everything under the sun to get her to switch to rats. nothing. She would refuse every rat I offered in every manner I offered it. By about late September, I put a live rat pup in her tub after my male refused it. She gobbled it up (my first time trying live with her). The next feeding day I offered another live, thinking it was just a freak accident. But she ate it. So then I switched her to frozen and she ate two frozen before going off of food completely. After the first week in December, she hadn't eaten at all in 4 weeks. I was getting worried because she was under 200g. So, I decided to buy her a live rat pup. Since then, she's never refused a live rat for me. In 5 weeks, she's gone from 200g to 300g.

It's worth a shot to try live. You may find that your snake just prefers live like my little spider does.

[elbee]

My little 2012 pewter went a few weeks without eating. I gave her a live rat fuzzy and she ate it and went right back to frozen/thawed the next week. She just needed a jump start. I bet yours does too. My pewter is turning into a chunky monkey now.

[Kona's Daddy]

I agree with the masses on this one. Try to feed live on the next feeding day. I much prefer to feed f/t...but that does not mean the snake prefers it, too!!!

I had my young bee go on strike from food for longer than I was comfortable with, so I took some solid advice and got her a live mouse. She tagged it almost instantly. She has had two f/t meals sine then. She just needed a jump start, is all.

Good luck!!