BP looses weight, not eating

[Pitonica]

Hello guys.

I know there are a bunch of similar questions here for snakes not eating, I read all, but the thing is that my boop is losing weight so please if the experienced ones can help with a few tips?

He has been doing great and got up to 1200g, 1,5 years old now.

All this time he has been a great eater. From a great breeder.
Refused food maybe few times just when in deep shed. Sheds regularly in 1 peace all the time.
His setup is the same. Temps, heat cable, heat tape on the thermostat, water, 2hides-all good.
Nothing has been changed except the feeding schedule from once a week to once in 2 weeks, cause he was both getting a bit too fat and refused to eat every week.
He sleeps all day normally, I get him out a few times a week for handling and he is good relaxed snake on hands.

I buy same frozen small rats from the same dealer, same size, unfreeze them the same way.
He comes out exploring almost every night. I put the thawed warm rat in front of him- zombie dance, wiggle wiggle or whatever- he is smelling it for a short while, than turns
away and puts the rat on ignore list.
I try the whole procedure of warming it up, leaving it in his cage overnight, than just give up and throw the poor rat away.

He is not eating for over 5 weeks now. I wouldn't be so worried but he lost about 100 -150g in this period. He is not in shed now.
It is time for shed but he looks clear, his eyes as well. He didn't poop jet and doesn't have a sausage but.

I know adult snakes would be fine for months without food, but only if not loosing much weight.
Could he loose 100g just with peeing and getting out those white tiny peaces of urates?

I didn't have any females close to him.


So, I tried the following:

• examined his mouth for any sign of infection, RI - all good
• scales, the cloaca, eyes are fine
• haven't touched him for almost 2 weeks, just cleaned
• made the room he is in much darker-total privacy
• scenting the cage before feeding
• leaving the rat overnight
• tried smaller rat, different color rat
• cleaned the cage

Can it be just the winter? mating season?

I think he would eat a live mouse or a rat because he always wants his feeders to be warm as hell.
My last resort is to try live mouse or little rat, if he refuses then take his poop (when he finally poops) to the vet.for analysis.

I am really nervous cause of his weight loss.

Suggestions please?



Thanks

[c0r3yr0s3]

It sounds like he's fasting. I wouldn't worry to much about the weight loss unless he starts to visually look like he's losing weight.

Good luck! I hope he starts feeding regularly soon and I definitely hope it's not a health issue. Please keep us posted

[Dutti]

My BP stopped eating 8 months again and ate after that, and now he is not eating again since 3 months. No need to worry about BP,s feeding. They are unpredictable. I can assure you that he will eat again but no one can tell when and he will not die from not eating. You can offer him food every three or four weeks and see how he would react

[Kcl]

100-150g on a 1200g snake isn't anything particularly significant. I wouldn't really count it as real weight loss at this point - still could perfectly well be peeing/normal variation. I doubt you need to worry until ~240g lost.

[dakski]

100-150g on a 1200g snake isn't anything particularly significant. I wouldn't really count it as real weight loss at this point - still could perfectly well be peeing/normal variation. I doubt you need to worry until ~240g lost.

Does he look and act healthy otherwise?

If so, I wouldn't sweat it. They can fast a lot longer than 5 weeks and still be very healthy.

My female fasts every winter for about 5 months. Loses about 150-170G but still drinks, sheds, leaves urine and urate, etc. She peaks in the summer at about 1600G.

Seriously, unless husbandry is off, or there is something else brewing, both doubtful if he ate up until now, he should be fine.

[Pitonica]

Thanks guys, I feel a bit calmer now.
I know I will be weighting him now all the time.
He acts quite normal.

Just wondering should I offer food every week or wait more?



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[dakski]

Thanks guys, I feel a bit calmer now.
I know I will be weighting him now all the time.
He acts quite normal.

Just wondering should I offer food every week or wait more?



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Good you are calmer.

I would offer every two weeks.

Every week is a lot if he’s refusing.

[Zincubus]

Good you are calmer.

I would offer every two weeks.

Every week is a lot if he’s refusing.

We should spread the word about feeding Royals / Ball pythons every ten to 14 days ...

Two out of my five eat every time but only if they're fed every 10 days or so ..... they just won't eat every 7 days like the others ..


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[zina10]

posted this in another thread, but it applies here, too

Ball Pythons in the wild usually only eat for a few month out of the year. Their system is perfectly set up for this kind of diet/lifestyle (forgot the scientific name for this)

During the few month when food is plentiful, they will eat whatever and whenever they can, overeat if given the chance. All in preparation for the long time (dry season) when food becomes very scarce.

"Owners are always happy when their Ball Pythons will eat ravenously like clock work, every week. Even though that is actually far more food then they need, being such a sedentary species by nature. Eventually though, their body tells them to STOP. They have more then enough, its time to slow down or stop. They take breaks, just like in nature, even though food is presented. Owners freak out.

Some Ball Pythons will continue to eat well, usually it is because they aren't being over fed regularly. Or they are females who's bodies are building follicles and preparing for procreation.

All in all Ball Pythons usually need far less food then they are being offered (rapidly growing hatchlings/young snakes are different of course) and they reach a point where they start to regulate the food intake.

There seems to be some that have "turned off" their internal control, those are the ones you see that are just grossly obese, and that is just sad.

If your snake is an adult that normally eats just fine, the husbandry is SPOT ON, and there are no obvious health issues, just relax and only offer every 2 weeks or so. And if she/he takes a several month long break, that is perfectly normal. Just try every so often, make sure the snake looks good, slow down on handling, monitor weight every month or so."

[zina10]

6 to even 8 month long breaks are normal for healthy males. Some fast longer, some shorter.

I wouldn't offer more often then 2 weeks, like its been said. Every week is to often, and you will waste a lot of rats..