Feeding Dilemma..

[digitalkitteh]

Sorry guys, people have probably posted about this very same subject 10 million times, but I need some help So here it is, 7 weeks ago I bought the appropiate sized rats so I could swtich him from mice to rats. Well the good news is he took the rats two weeks in a row, not as good as he did the mice, but I'd leave it and the front of his hide and he'd wait a while and take them. Well for whatever reason he decided to go off feed after the two rats. He waited two weeks and then took a mouse, now he's off feed again. The little guy is young too, like 6 months or so and he's not a WC, so I don't understand. His temps are great too.

Hot Side
95 in his cave
86 ambient

Warm Side
80 in his cave
83 ambient

Humidity is around 55 to 60 (or at least that's what I try to keep it at)

He's already went to the vet so I know it's not parasites or anything..so I'm just stumped, he's losing weight and I'm worried. Not a great amount of weight, but a bit more than I'd like. They guy that I bought him from didn't take very good care of his animals, so it took me 2 months to put weight on him from where that guy mistreated him. So anyone that could help would be greatly appreciated..

[Adam_Wysocki]

he's losing weight and I'm worried.

He should not be losing signifigant weight after only missing a few meals. Have a fecal done again.

Sometimes that's just they way it goes when switching between mice and rats. Ball pythons can be "imprint feeders" and be very particular to one type of prey. Why do you feel that you need to switch to rats? If he'll eat mice, then that's what's good for him.

Let your snake tell you what it needs!

-adam

[digitalkitteh]

I tried him back on mice and now he's not taking mice. I figured it might be he just doesn't like rats..but he's being a little brat All I've been offering him for 3 weeks is mice...