python won't eat

[animallover70]

Hi, I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who has a BP that hasn't eaten since August. He tries every couple weeks and has even tried using rat bedding to enhance the scent but the BP still hasn't eaten. This BP is estimated to be at least 5 years old. He was adopted. He had a vet check when they first got him. Other than not eating all seems to be normal. He's active and shows no signs of illness or weight loss.

Recently they left the rat over night but the BP still didn't eat. The food hasn't changed, it's being offered the same way it had always been. Of course they have tried making the FT rat move around....no luck. The BP stopped eating about 6 months after they got him.

The most I can suggest further is temperature and any issues with the enclosure that may have changed. Any thoughts you may want to add would be greatly appreciated. I'm wondering at what point should his owners be concerned ?

Thanks
Nadine

[bcr229]

Wait him out. It's the breeding season, he wants a girlfriend, and it's not unusual for males to go off food for months at a time. I have one that goes off food like clockwork between Halloween and Easter every year.

If he's maintaining weight ok I would only offer a feeder once every 2-3 weeks instead of weekly.

[Vipera Berus]

Try offering different types of rodents, mine absolutely adores mice - in fact she has eaten around 1/4 of her bodyweight in mice in less than a week, but rats she will not touch. if there is still a problem after the breeding season then scenting a rodent with gerbil bedding might work. If you cant get the ball python to eat rats or mice even after scenting them try offering gerbils and African soft fur rats. I would also suggest trying smaller than normal prey, at least that way they are eating. Then increase food size gradually.

[animallover70]

Thanks so much for the thoughts. Thanks for the confirmation on some of this stuff. It's really helpful.

[PitOnTheProwl]

If it was live rats and they are offering f/t, stick with it for a while.
Make sure they are getting the rat up to temperature.

[Albert Clark]

I would concentrate on the enclosure and temps, husbandry overall. I would also add cypress mulch to my existing substrate or consider switching to cypress mulch completely if he isn't already using it.