Feeding f/t?

[Traceur]

Also, I've heard of ball pythons fasting. One of you mentioned it. When and why do they do that? How long does it usually last?

[Dianne]

Your stories have me worry about what it'll be like if I'm able to get him to eat 2 hoppers when he reaches that point XD I still haven't figured out his personality. And if I'm being honest, I don't even have a name for him yet

If it is any consolation, I’ve been keeping snakes (boas and pythons mostly) since 1991. In that time, I’ve only had a few picky feeders. My albino ball has always been a good eater and moved steadily up in prey size until I tried rats. I don’t know if the size intimidated him...bit of a jump from the large mice to small rats...or if the scent put him off. That said, he’s the only snake I’ve had that wouldn’t switch to rats...and I’m not giving up yet!

As for names, sometimes it takes a bit to find a “fit”. I’ve bought 4 balls in the last month, a newly hatched pied and lemonblast on 7/21 (both July hatchlings), a 2-3 month old blue-eyed leucistic on 8/25, and a 3 year old dragonfly on 9/2. The pied almost immediately became Piper (hokey, but I like it). The lemonblast took a few weeks before I chose Belle (Beauty & the Beast, because of the yellow dress = yellow snake who’s just a pretty girl). The blue-eyed lucy is Button - for now at least, because I kept saying he was cute as a button. I can’t figure out a name for the dragonfly yet. Once I can start handling her and get a feel for her personality, I’ll hopefully figure it out. I’ve pulled names for my other snakes from books, movies, cartoon characters, you name it. You’ll figure it out when you’re ready and you know your little one better.

[Dianne]

Also, I've heard of ball pythons fasting. One of you mentioned it. When and why do they do that? How long does it usually last?

Some balls will fast once they are breeding age, usually seasonally. My normal male was most likely a wild caught import. I bought him from his original owner when he was about 2 years old in 1992. He was more rescue than purchase (covered in another post), but he has gone off feed for up to 6 months at a stretch. It isn’t every year, and as long as he didn’t drop body mass I wasn’t overly concerned. In the last few years, he hasn’t gone off feed for those long stretches, and I always offer anyway.

[Traceur]

If it is any consolation, I’ve been keeping snakes (boas and pythons mostly) since 1991. In that time, I’ve only had a few picky feeders. My albino ball has always been a good eater and moved steadily up in prey size until I tried rats. I don’t know if the size intimidated him...bit of a jump from the large mice to small rats...or if the scent put him off. That said, he’s the only snake I’ve had that wouldn’t switch to rats...and I’m not giving up yet!

As for names, sometimes it takes a bit to find a “fit”. I’ve bought 4 balls in the last month, a newly hatched pied and lemonblast on 7/21 (both July hatchlings), a 2-3 month old blue-eyed leucistic on 8/25, and a 3 year old dragonfly on 9/2. The pied almost immediately became Piper (hokey, but I like it). The lemonblast took a few weeks before I chose Belle (Beauty & the Beast, because of the yellow dress = yellow snake who’s just a pretty girl). The blue-eyed lucy is Button - for now at least, because I kept saying he was cute as a button. I can’t figure out a name for the dragonfly yet. Once I can start handling her and get a feel for her personality, I’ll hopefully figure it out. I’ve pulled names for my other snakes from books, movies, cartoon characters, you name it. You’ll figure it out when you’re ready and you know your little one better.

That helps honestly, now I don't feel as bad XD I'm either deciding between Coffee Roll (my favorite "donut" from my favorite coffee place, plus he has some white at the very tip of his tail they could be the frosting) or Smokey (something cool). But I still have tons of names to still pick some. But like you said, I'll figure it out when I'm ready He's a Russo ball python

[Traceur]

Some balls will fast once they are breeding age, usually seasonally. My normal male was most likely a wild caught import. I bought him from his original owner when he was about 2 years old in 1992. He was more rescue than purchase (covered in another post), but he has gone off feed for up to 6 months at a stretch. It isn’t every year, and as long as he didn’t drop body mass I wasn’t overly concerned. In the last few years, he hasn’t gone off feed for those long stretches, and I always offer anyway.

That's interesting to know. Is it possible to neuter him, in that case?
Im assuming they are like most animals, well, more like cats and dogs. When we neuter or spay them, they lose that urge and pack on some weight from the reduced metabolism. I was debating on neutering him too (all my pets are fixed). But I didn't think it'd be a big deal since I won't ever breed him (I'm highly against breeding). But it won't affect him much, will it?

[Craiga 01453]

No, snakes can not be neutered.

It is common, especially for males, to go on food strikes once they have reached breeding maturity. It commonly happens during their natural breeding season. It is often suggested that male BPs can hit a "1,000 wall" as well. My male BP went from late March to early June without eating this year. He was a bit under 800 grams at the time so it was his first year at breeding maturity. He's now hovering around 1,000 grams and eating well every 10 days or so.

Unfortunately, it's one part of keeping BPs that would be listed in the "CON" column of a PROS & CONS list of keeping BPs as pets.

As long as the snake isn't losing much weight its not a problem. Tyson, for example was 798 grams when he started his fast and 710 when he broke his fast. Part of that weight being a poop that was responsible for a decent percentage of that weight loss. So I wasn't worried about it thing, it's just what BPs do

[Traceur]

No, snakes can not be neutered.

It is common, especially for males, to go on food strikes once they have reached breeding maturity. It commonly happens during their natural breeding season. It is often suggested that male BPs can hit a "1,000 wall" as well. My male BP went from late March to early June without eating this year. He was a bit under 800 grams at the time so it was his first year at breeding maturity. He's now hovering around 1,000 grams and eating well every 10 days or so.

Unfortunately, it's one part of keeping BPs that would be listed in the "CON" column of a PROS & CONS list of keeping BPs as pets.

As long as the snake isn't losing much weight its not a problem. Tyson, for example was 798 grams when he started his fast and 710 when he broke his fast. Part of that weight being a poop that was responsible for a decent percentage of that weight loss. So I wasn't worried about it thing, it's just what BPs do

When do they reach breeding maturity and when is their natural breeding season? Is this something that happens during their entire life?