It's breeding time, not eating time

[mrshawt]

What are some recommendations for dealing with a bp who has not eaten for about 2 months? Her weight has stayed constant a little above 1500g. She's also been acting restless lately, i.e. staying on top of her hide constantly. I'm pretty sure it's those hormones crankin', but I don't know what I can do. Just wait until it's over?

[twistedtails]

What are some recommendations for dealing with a bp who has not eaten for about 2 months? Her weight has stayed constant a little above 1500g. She's also been acting restless lately, i.e. staying on top of her hide constantly. I'm pretty sure it's those hormones crankin', but I don't know what I can do. Just wait until it's over?

I would just breed her if she is over 1500 grams. Once you introduce the male and she starts developing, she should start slamming food. I'm no expert of course but it has worked for me.

[mrshawt]

I don't have another snake and am not a big fan of the breeding thing.
She's a single, independent lady.

[twistedtails]

I don't have another snake and am not a big fan of the breeding thing.
She's a single, independent lady.

Being winter and all, she may just be on a fast. As long as she is not losing weight, I would not be too worried.

[mrshawt]

I also covered her tub with a towel to try to reduce the restlessness. She's always been a shy bp, so this behavior is confusing me.

[greghall]

wait her out if not going to breed may be a couple of months.

[muddoc]

I also covered her tub with a towel to try to reduce the restlessness. She's always been a shy bp, so this behavior is confusing me.

The behavior shouldn't be confusing. While I understand that you only have one snake, and don't intend to breed, you must remember that snakes are fairly simplistic creatures. They really only have 2 goals in life: eat and procreate. It sounds to me like she has a strong urge to do the latter. I would expect that she will stay off of food for +/- 6 months. All you can really do is wait it out. I would however, continue to offer a prey item every 2 weeks, until she decides it is time to start feeding again.

Hope that helps,

[j_h_smith]

Cool down your enclosure by 5 degrees. Cover the enclsoure or keep the room as dark as possible 24/7. You can feed, but it's not neccessary. Wait about 2months, bring up the heat, uncover the enclosure, start feeding with slightly smaller prey. This is called brumation. Some say you don't have to if you're not breeding, but it won't hurt.

If this isn't for you, keep everything up like you've been doing, maybe you can cover the enclosure to help with any stress.

This is all pretty common.
Jim Smith

[Kysenia]

Thanks Muddoc.......it is always nice to get reassured.....I have 4 large breeding females and they have all went off feed for about 3 months coming into this season. They are all being bread at the moment......2 now have taken interest in food.....the other two still have none. Even though us newbies here about winter fast etc it gets nerve racking when they refuse so much.

None have lost weight to this point...

[muddoc]

Cool down your enclosure by 5 degrees. Cover the enclsoure or keep the room as dark as possible 24/7. You can feed, but it's not neccessary. Wait about 2months, bring up the heat, uncover the enclosure, start feeding with slightly smaller prey. This is called brumation. Some say you don't have to if you're not breeding, but it won't hurt.

If this isn't for you, keep everything up like you've been doing, maybe you can cover the enclosure to help with any stress.

This is all pretty common.
Jim Smith

That may be some of the worst advice I have seen in the Ball Python section. Ball Pythons do not brumate. They are from a near equatorial zone, and brumating them would be about the worst thing you could do, as you could potential create an environment that is very condusive to Respiratory Infections.

With that said, the beginning of your statement says to drop 5 degrees. That would probably not hurt the animal, but if there is no intention to breed it, there is no reason to do that either. As far as brumation goes though, I typically lower my colubrids by about 15 to 20 degrees. Also, if someone was to brumate an animal, there is a bit more preparatory work that would be necessary (such as ceasing feeding about three weeks prior to cooling the snakes, to ensure that they have expelled all waste and have digested all food, so that they would not have food rotting in there stomach due to a lack of heat for digestion).

Please make sure that you understand what you are recommending to someone that is asking for help before you make suggestions that are not correct and could potentially cause more grief.