4 year old Ball Python hasn't eaten since Dec. 29th

[sam.maddaloni]

Hey folks!

My amazing, beautiful, sweet ball python hasn't eaten since Dec. 29th. I usually feed her in her tank, and I put a f/t small rat on a tupperware top for her. She has eaten like this for 1.5 years without a problem (when I first got her, I fed her in a separate tank for the first 2 years). She was eating every 10 days and then just stopped. She didn't have a bowel movement until about a month after (around early Feb), and I haven't noticed any bowel movement since then.

I felt a little reassured bc I know sometimes this is normal in winter, and also because she was still very active and seemed normal and comfortable whenever she came out at night or while handling. But it's not winter anymore and she's definitely lost weight.

I called an animal hospital and their theory just from speaking on the phone with me is that she may have eaten a shaving, (I use So phresh natural aspen small animal bedding, she's had this for years with no problems) and that it is stuck in her digestive tract. They said she may need xrays and surgery (seems so drastic). They suggested trying a long hot bath 1-2 hours to help break it up. She hates baths, we made it through 1 hour last night. They said hold her head and try "milking" her to get her to pass whatever it is- I didn't do this, I felt like she'd already been through enough.

P.S. She has eaten a shaving before 1-2 years ago and she digested it no problem.

I am taking her to the vet today, but I feel like y'all are even more knowledgeable than a vet. Thank you very much for any help and support.

Let's get Lily to end her hunger strike!

[LittleTreeGuy]

How much weight has she lost? Any? I've heard people on here say their females went 6 months without eating. If she isn't losing any weight, her husbandry is all in check, and she looks okay, I wouldn't worry too much. Sounds like she is an adult, so I don't think one piece of shaving would really hurt her. Her system would have broken that down. Snakes in the wild will get dirt, stones, bark, etc... if it's on their prey. A little aspen shaving shouldn't be a big deal for an adult. Not eating doesn't seem like a good enough reason to soak her. That will cause more stress than good, I think. Same with "milking her".

Sounds to me like that vet may not know a lot about snakes, and is trying to do what they think might be the best approach.... which coincidentally is going to cost you some money.

If it were me, and she still looks okay, I'd weigh her every week or so and keep offering food weekly.

[chilliscale]

Assuming husbandry is right, have you tried offering live? Also, have you tried thoroughly cleaning a d disinfecting her enclosure and everything in it. I have a pied that goes off feed every year for 4 4onths or more. As soon. As it warms up outside, the first deep cleaning( I do it every month but the one in March or Aprilseems to do the trick)she goes back on food heavy.

[lorrainesmom]

My female ball just started feeding again after her winter fast, so don't give up hope. As far as what the vet said? I would find another vet. Snakes eat bits of substrata when eating their prey all the time, and aspen generally won't cause problems with a snake. It sounds as if the vet assumed that reptiles have the same care protocols as mammals; which is just not true.

[Reinz]

Skip the vet for now.

My adult BP hasn't eaten since September. I'm not worried at all. This is normal for her.

Everyone of my snakes have ingested substrate with no ill effects. In fact one of my Boas took in a large mouthful of Aspen once. She wouldn't let me remove it and she was fine.

[O'Mathghamhna]

Being that your snake has never done this before, it's a little strange... Are you positive she is, in fact, a she? Mine did the exact same thing as yours and had no prior issues with refusing food, and then she laid a bunch of eggs (all infertile)! As everyone else said, monitor her weight and if it decreases too far then I would go to the vet. For now I agree with everyone else, vet sounds like they don't know what they're talking about.

[stringbender31982]

Don't worry she'll eat when she's ready. Just keep your husbandry up and keep trying.

[Sauzo]

They can go like a year without food. I wouldn't worry as long as your husbandry is right. My girl just started eating probably about a month ago. She quit eating back in Oct or Nov '15. I would just offer her a rat every 3 weeks when my boas ate and if she wanted it, great, if not my boas got an extra snack. BPs can drive you crazy. Dottie lost a little weight. I never weighed her. Just went by eyeballing her. She has since put that weight right back on after just a month of eating. As long as your snake is passing urates and drinking water, i'm sure it will be fine. They must have water or they will die. Food, not so much so.