Baby ball python not eating for 2.5 months

[Ryres5850]

Hello, my baby ball python has refused food for around 2.5 months now and I’m wondering what my options are. I’m very scared she will starve herself to death. I have checked and double checked my husbandry, my temperatures and humidity are correct. She has gone from 230 grams to 190 grams. She only defensively strives at her food, never coils around it and does not take it when I leave it at the entrance of her hide. I’ve tried to feed her rat pups (which she ate before), smaller rats (fuzzies) and hopper mice. She is still shedding normally and active. I’ve tried to make her feel secure by downgrading from a 20 gallon to a 40 gallon (around 1.5 months ago), and blocked off the sides so she can’t see out.

would a vet be of help to me? Would they even be able to do anything or would it be a waste of money? Should I be searching for an organization that takes in reptiles? I really don’t want her to die. Any suggestions about what my options are are deeply appreciated!

side note: I wish I could add pictures of her and her enclosure here but I don’t seem to be able to without a url.... :/

[jmcrook]

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-hatchling-101


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[Bogertophis]

...side note: I wish I could add pictures of her and her enclosure here but I don’t seem to be able to without a url.... :/

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


How often do you handle her? What kinds of hides does she have? Pics of set-up would help us to help you also.

[Ryres5850]

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


How often do you handle her? What kinds of hides does she have? Pics of set-up would help us to help you also.

Okay I figured out the picture thing and added one to the thread. Thank you!
This is her. Does she look very underweight?


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[gerguera]

Agree with advice given, one other thought is give a good check for mites, nothing obvious in the picture but I have had one snake in the past go off feed and I didnt think anything of it, and during a cleaning day I decided to peek under his hide to make sure he was okay, I pulled him out to check his weight since he had gone off food for a bit and was when I found mites. Immediately treated him and his tub and he went back to eating the next week. Good luck, another suggestion for getting him eating again would be to try a live rat fuzzy or mouse. When feeding live you don't leave the snake alone you want to keep an eye on the situation and if the snake doesn't eat after 10 minutes I take the rat out. Shouldn't be an issue with a baby rat but just fyi for the future if you have to feed larger rats.

[Zincubus]

Okay I figured out the picture thing and added one to the thread. Thank you!
This is her. Does she look very underweight?


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Aside from anything else - that is an absolutely gorgeous critter !!!

Certainly doesn’t look underweight to me


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[Aplahz]

she is gorgeous. oh, my word.

[Albert Clark]

For the record also, be sure to increase the amount of time between feedings. Is there belly heat in the enclosure? I know you said that you checked and triple checked the husbandry. Can you describe it in a little more detail? Thanks.

[Ergot]

Just sent it now


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Me three?

I've had my first two BP for just over a month now, female has eaten 3/4 times offered and the male 0/4...so I'd like to give this a shot; water cools down SO FAST as well.

For the record also, be sure to increase the amount of time between feedings. Is there belly heat in the enclosure? I know you said that you checked and triple checked the husbandry. Can you describe it in a little more detail? Thanks.

What's the purpose of waiting longer between offering if a BP refuses? I'm still learning and this is the first I've heard of this! If I normally feed once every 7 days, if they refuse I wait 14 or something?

GL OP, hope that beauty eats for you soon!

[Ryres5850]

I never handle her at all. Unfortunately I’m not very good with technology so I’ll have to figure out how to take pictures from my camera roll and put them
in here...

- - - Updated - - -

I never handle her at all. Unfortunately I’m not very good with technology so I’ll have to figure out how to take pictures from my camera roll and put them
in here