Feeding frustrations!!!

[Hazz332]

So I’ve had my bp for a little over a year and she has always been a fantastic eater- switched her to FT without any problems. But recently, (since the new year?) she has been refusing food about every other feeding or so. I was sort of starting to get worried but the last couple feedings she’s been back to her normal self. Well, I just went to feed her again last night (I offer a ft rat about every week) and she struck it and I thought that’s great she’s going to eat it. Come to find out I open her tub this morning and the rat is still there- she never ate it! What the heck? I’m not sure why she’s become more of a finicky eater she always used to be ravenous...of course double checked husbandry and I don’t think that’s the issue- (I have her in a breeder rack with hot spot of ~90 and rt ~78 deg F, humidity around 60%)

Any ideas why this is becoming a trend? Has anyone experienced similar? What can I do to get her back to eating consistently the way she used to?

thanks so much for any input!

[Hazz332]

Dang I just tried to upload a photo of her but I can’t seem to figure that out

[Bogertophis]

Dang I just tried to upload a photo of her but I can’t seem to figure that out

This > > > https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

[Bogertophis]

So I’ve had my bp for a little over a year and she has always been a fantastic eater- switched her to FT without any problems. But recently, (since the new year?) she has been refusing food about every other feeding or so. I was sort of starting to get worried but the last couple feedings she’s been back to her normal self. Well, I just went to feed her again last night (I offer a ft rat about every week) and she struck it and I thought that’s great she’s going to eat it. Come to find out I open her tub this morning and the rat is still there- she never ate it! What the heck? I’m not sure why she’s become more of a finicky eater she always used to be ravenous...of course double checked husbandry and I don’t think that’s the issue- (I have her in a breeder rack with hot spot of ~90 and rt ~78 deg F, humidity around 60%)

Any ideas why this is becoming a trend? Has anyone experienced similar? What can I do to get her back to eating consistently the way she used to?

thanks so much for any input!

Just some guesses without seeing her or knowing her weight, etc.- or what size prey you're feeding- maybe it's too much? (see below)
There's also some variation on exactly what is meant by sizes of feeder rats- yours might be bigger than they should be.

Maybe her growth has slowed a bit because she's growing up. Could also be seasonal...also typical with adult BPs.

Without more info, off-hand I'd say don't offer weekly...at least not this time of year (winter)- only offer every OTHER week, & now & then, even go a bit longer- go 3 weeks. Assuming she isn't skinny, she can wait & it won't hurt a thing. Our captive snakes lead fairly sedentary lives, & many are overweight from everyone's "good intentions".

And I know this > > > says "weekly" but IMO that's a bit much...your snake seems to agree also.

[dakski]

Why size rats are you feeding and how often?

How much does she weigh?

Edit: Just saw Bogertophis’s response.

My guess is too big a meal and/or too often.

[Hazz332]

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...edf669073.jpeg

Yes thank you! did it work?

[Hazz332]

I’ve been offering small adult rats. I think they’re the appropriate size. I haven’t weighed her in a couple months but I think she’s somewhere around 500grams by now...

[Hazz332]

Ok that gives me peace of mind. I’m thinking that feeding too large a rat too often could be the case, I’ll bump it down to offering once every 2 weeks for now. Thanks for the feedback!

[Bogertophis]

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...edf669073.jpeg

Yes thank you! did it work?

She looks fine to me...not thin, not fat. So trust her opinion, enough is enough.

[Hugsplox]

Why size rats are you feeding and how often?

How much does she weigh?

Edit: Just saw Bogertophis’s response.

My guess is too big a meal and/or too often.

She looks fine to me...not thin, not fat. So trust her opinion, enough is enough.

I agree with Bogertophis and dakski, I think she looks fine. As they get older it's okay to back off a little on your feeding schedule. I've just moved mine up from pups to weaned/very smalls and moved his feeding days out just a little so I can monitor his weight. It's not just BPs either, as some of my other snakes, specifically the hognoses got older I stretched their schedules out a bit too. It's all worked out fantastically so far.