stopped eating

[nspikito]

I have a 5yo ball python. She typically stops feeding for a couple of months in the winter. It's aggravating for me, but I've learned not to fret about it too much. Now, however, it's been 4 months, and she couldn't care less if I dangle a live small rat by the tail in front of her. She otherwise looks healthy and behaves as usual, shuffling back & forth (if that's what snakes do!) between her hiding space on the warm side of the cage and the cooler spot by her water bowl. I rarely handle her except when I'm cleaning her cage.
Should I start fretting?
Spike

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If one of my BP would go off feed what I would wonder is, "Is there any reason for that and is there anything I can do"

Often it is husbandry related and because it is the winter and people's home get cooler the temps in the enclosure can drop due to lower ambient temp.

Anyway

How big is the enclosure?
What are the temps?
What is the humidity?
What do yu use to measure your temps, digital thermometer?
How are your hides?
Is there anything else that is relevant?

[nspikito]

So I should fret?
Here's the husbandry info.
Cage size: I'm not sure (I'll measure it tonight), but it's about 2'x4' with a mesh top.
Temp: I have a thermostat controlling a 100-watt heat lamp directly above the wooden hide. There's also a subfloor heater under the hide. She spends about half-time under the hide and the rest on the other end of the cage next to a large water bowl (big enough for her to curl up inside it).
Humidity: The room is dry in the winter. I spray the cage with water 2x daily, a pretty good soaking that is dry the next time I do it.
Basically nothing has changed in that cage over the past 4 years except replacing the substrate (some herp-friendly stuff like cypress mulch).
She goes off her feed every winter, but this is an exceptionally long time.

[SoCal BP/BOA]

My 2-year old ball python finally ate a couple of days ago after a 5 month fast. He had not eaten since September.. Before that he had never gone off feed so I think it's just due the winter season. I've heard just to keep an eye on their weight and if he/she hasn't lost too much weight, don't worry. I probably ended up tossing away about 20 mice..

[daveyboy]

dont worry my python has just started feeding again,after 3 months.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So I should fret?
Here's the husbandry info.
Cage size: I'm not sure (I'll measure it tonight), but it's about 2'x4' with a mesh top.
Temp: I have a thermostat controlling a 100-watt heat lamp directly above the wooden hide. There's also a subfloor heater under the hide. She spends about half-time under the hide and the rest on the other end of the cage next to a large water bowl (big enough for her to curl up inside it).
Humidity: The room is dry in the winter. I spray the cage with water 2x daily, a pretty good soaking that is dry the next time I do it.
Basically nothing has changed in that cage over the past 4 years except replacing the substrate (some herp-friendly stuff like cypress mulch).
She goes off her feed every winter, but this is an exceptionally long time.

Well this does not really answer my questions

I wanted to know the exact temps and humidity. You cannot guess them you need to know them, and the best way is to have an Acu-Rite thermometer hydrometer like this one (can be bought at walmart for around 12$/13$)

Now from my experience most BP that are not being cool down for breeding, or is not breeding will eat, and if they do go off feed before saying "oh well it's normal, he does it every year" you need to consider if there is anything that could have trigger this.

Often it is husandry related.

In the winter people's home get cooler, wich mean the ambient temp is lower and can cause the enclosure temp to be lower as well, which can cause the BP to go off feed.

[nspikito]

I do have a digital thermometer hydrometer. I'll measure both temp & humidity at several places in the cage, and I'll let you know what I get.
In your experience, what are optimal values?
Thanks for your advice.
Spike

[rabernet]

Instead of dangling a live rat by its tail, I would suggest getting a small/small rat and setting it down in the opposite end of the enclosure that she is in and let her hunt for it on her own terms. If she doesn't show interest in about 30 minutes then remove it.

[tmlowe5704]

I do have a digital thermometer hydrometer. I'll measure both temp & humidity at several places in the cage, and I'll let you know what I get.
In your experience, what are optimal values?
Thanks for your advice.
Spike

80-83 cool side, 90-93 warm side, +50% humidity, bump it up to 70+ during shed.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I do have a digital thermometer hydrometer. I'll measure both temp & humidity at several places in the cage, and I'll let you know what I get.
In your experience, what are optimal values?
Thanks for your advice.
Spike

80-84 on the cool side
90-94 on the warm side
50%-60% humidity