The Week They All Quit Eating / F/T rebellion

[hotelvoodoo]

I know that probably around 40% of the posts made on this site relate to pythons not eating and generally being finicky and downright crazy, but I've got a new mystery to be solved. For the past two weeks our feeding days were spotty and getting worse and now today only two of them ate. 2/10 = bad day.

My boyfriend and I have been trying to switch some of our scaly kids to rats as they are getting to the size where trying to get them to eat more than one mouse is downright annoying. So far, we've had mixed results. For the past four weeks, some will eat them one week others they'll refuse, but now they're refusing everything. And it's just our frozen/thawed eaters. Our two live eaters have been pounding food in seconds and ate their first rats today with no problems at all.

The only thing we've changed is the temperatures. They'd been diving a bit low, settling around 89-90 so a week ago I bumped it up to 92-94. I don't know if this jump would cause them all to go off of food though. Other than that, no changes. I'm thinking of trying to feed them in their tubs next week instead of their feed boxes. Maybe it would help them to feel more comfortable. I just don't know...Merggghhh.

This is absolute MADNESS. It's like they just know how concerned I get and are bound and determined to drive me crazy.

Any help would be appreciated... Oi... And here I thought this would get easier as they aged.

[notmyfault]

Some snakes just refuse meals at random. Sometimes a slight change will throw them off and make them go off food. Other times they hit the dreaded "wall" and refuse food for a while. Its hard to tell, but as long as your husbandry is correct and they aren't losing any substantial weight I wouldn't be too concerned.

My pastel female hit the wall a few weeks ago and has been taking food once in a while. I'm not too worried because I don't plan on breeding her till next year anyway. The best thing you can do is relax and be patient. You could always get a boa or 2 as garbage disposals so you don't waste too many f/t feeders.

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[Rydasvp]

Ya i wouldnt be to concerned. My pastel will eat for two or three weeks in a row then not eat for 2 months or so. My pair of het clowns take turns not eating for two or three weeks. Its like not my fault said. As long as they arent loosing weight dont stress out. Maybe try offering them a fresh kill if it really bothers you.

[DooLittle]

I think feeding in their tubs rather than moving them would help immensely.

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[Mike41793]

I think feeding in their tubs rather than moving them would help immensely.

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X2

I bet when you offer in their tubs next week all of them eat for you!

EDIT: also 89-90 is fine for a hotspot. 92-94 is too hot imo

[MikeM75]

I think feeding in their tubs rather than moving them would help immensely.

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X3. I know it is a debated topic but I don't see the need to stress them out so much. You move them to a new box, try to feed, then put them back in their enclosure when they just ate, just too much moving them and too much stress on them in a short amount of time.

If they are used to eating mice and you are switching you may try scenting the rats with the mice. I have 2 girls that were mousers as hatchlings and they have been a pain the buttocks to get to eat rats, so I have to keep a trio of mice now JUST to scent the rats, it is annoying but, sooo worth it.