not eating- i'm a little concerned...

[Christina]

i know i know, there's been a thousand of these threads, but i'm still gonna make another, because quite frankly, it'll make me worry less. you all know how that goes...

this will be my blown out of proportion reaction to what's been only two weeks of not eating, but since she's only missed one other meal before since i've had her, it's pretty odd for her. i've had her for a year, starting at christmas, so i feel like i know her habits.
what's been happening is i put the rat in, and she'll stalk it, but not strike. i can tell she's definately intersted, but i don't want to sit and watch her and this rat touch noses and freak out for a half hour...(i feed live and in the tank, with all furniture removed by the way). she just shed last week, then pooped, peed, the whole nine yards. she's pretty empty. i figured missing last week was because of shedding (i also feed during shed because she's never had a problem with it before). temps are good, she's in a spot where she's out of the way, so i dunno what it could be. hibernation time maybe? she didn't do this last year, but she's only a year and a half old, so...

i know it's not a huge deal at this point, but i'd like some advice! all help is appreciated!!

[pythontricker]

well theres been this theory going around that the scent of a male mouse/rat is less appealing than a the scent of a female. my male bp will only eat female rats. i dont know why he just does. so my question is is the mouse male or ffemale. if it is male then try a female. this is the only suggestion i have. my male bp hasnt eaten in about 4 to 5 weeks. im not to worried though. people have told me its "just the season". i dont know what that means but whatever. good luck hope he or she eats.

[Sparky1]

Well by season they are talking breeding season. This time of year the changes in the weather make them want to breed and part of that is going off feed. Even though your temps might not change they have a way of feeling changes, so off feed at this time of year is common. I would say that this did not happen last year since she was to young to breed, she still may be now but it might still be affecting her. If it were me and i was going to attempt to feed i would feed a smaller than normal item and see how that works for you. Good luck.

[Chuck]

I had a juvi jungle carpet go off feeding for 8 months and is now a big boy so 2 weeks is nothing don't worry about it really. I know this sucks to hear but if you are going to be into ball pythons you had better get use to refused meals. They can go months on end without eating and you stand the best chance of getting the little bugger to feed if you leave it alone except to change water and minor cage cleaning for two weeks. Try to feed it and if it refuses try again in another two weeks. I say if after a month and a half if you have not gotten a successful feeding post again and go from there. The single biggest thing I have found and everyone else on here will attest to this as long as your husbandry is good (keeping the animal in conditions suited for it to live) time alone in a place the animal feels safe (a good hide)is the only thing that works almost every time. It sucks because we all want snakes that eat when we want them to but that is just part of it you have to let go of that thinking or you will go nuts.


Chuck