Adult female Ball Won't eat Very Frustrated

[mommyto3kidos]

I have a 4 year old female that I got the first week in January. She ate for me once and has refused food ever since. I got her from a retired hobby breeder that said that she locked once right before I got her. She told me that she was her best feeder. From what I had read, if she was gravid, she would be pounding her food. She is very active and healthy. She is around 2025 grams. I am very concerned about the amount of time that she has been off of her food. I have other balls that have gone off of their food for a couple of months, but we are nearing on 4 months. I have offered f/t and live. I've offered rats, mice and even gerbils. She smells it like she is interested but then off she goes onto other adventures. I have my snakes on a rack system with 90 basking and 80 cool side. I use newspaper and have a hide. All of the other snakes are happy and eating! Any advice?

[dragonboy4578]

If she hasn't been losing much weight I wouldn't be to worried. I have a female woma that only ate 2 times for me last year and only lost 60 grams. She just went back on feed again for the last 2 weeks.

[mommyto3kidos]

Thanks! I appreciate your response. I know that this is a frequent and probably annoying question. I just can't get it in my head that it is ok to go without food for so long. I am just short of begging her to eat!

[don15681]

with her going off feed, that is most likely normal. not all females will eat durning breeding season. if that lock does take, be careful not to get her temps too high. high temps could lead to a premature ovulation, which could give you some or all slugs.

[Teresha]

I have a 4 year old female that I got the first week in January. She ate for me once and has refused food ever since. I got her from a retired hobby breeder that said that she locked once right before I got her. She told me that she was her best feeder. From what I had read, if she was gravid, she would be pounding her food. She is very active and healthy. She is around 2025 grams. I am very concerned about the amount of time that she has been off of her food. I have other balls that have gone off of their food for a couple of months, but we are nearing on 4 months. I have offered f/t and live. I've offered rats, mice and even gerbils. She smells it like she is interested but then off she goes onto other adventures. I have my snakes on a rack system with 90 basking and 80 cool side. I use newspaper and have a hide. All of the other snakes are happy and eating! Any advice?

[RestlessRobie]

My Big normal girl was a great eater till a few months ago as well now she pics and chooses when she wants to eat. Her longest fast was 4 months now she eats every 2-3 weeks. I just offer to her first and if she sniffs and isnt interested I feed it to some one else She is still gaining weight so yours sounds pretty normal to me

[JenH]

I have a 4 year old female that I got the first week in January. She ate for me once and has refused food ever since. I got her from a retired hobby breeder that said that she locked once right before I got her. She told me that she was her best feeder. From what I had read, if she was gravid, she would be pounding her food. She is very active and healthy. She is around 2025 grams. I am very concerned about the amount of time that she has been off of her food. I have other balls that have gone off of their food for a couple of months, but we are nearing on 4 months. I have offered f/t and live. I've offered rats, mice and even gerbils. She smells it like she is interested but then off she goes onto other adventures. I have my snakes on a rack system with 90 basking and 80 cool side. I use newspaper and have a hide. All of the other snakes are happy and eating! Any advice?

Ball pythons eat when they want. They usually eat well before the breeding season and if they are at a good weight they can go 6-7 months without eating. Most of my girls stopped eating in November and they don't eat until after they lay. A couple of my younger girls that are boarderline (1200-1500gms) may eat once or twice when breeding starts to add a little more weight on them as they build follicles.

Don't worry - just offer every couple weeks and she will eat when she wants.