Feeding Drama Continues....

[L.West]

Well, after almost a year of successful weekly feedings - I have run into a bit of a rut with my female BP. For about the past six weeks I never know if she will eat at her weekly scheduled feeding - sometimes she will eat and then the next week she wont and so forth.

I weighed her empty last weekend and she weighs 959 grams. I am guessing her to be about 18 months old - I've had her almost a year now.

Last night was feeding night and once again, she refused to eat. She looked interested in the f/t rat but wouldn't strike so I left it in her cage over night - it was still there this morning.

This is my first snake so this is all new to me. Is there something I should do?? Or, do you all think this is perfectly normal and something that is expected with BP's??

I plan on simply offering her the two weanling rats each week and see what happens - at what point do I need to get worried about her for not eating??

So far she has only went two feedings about a month apart where she didn't eat anything. She sometimes will eat one of the two rats offered and then other times will chow down both rats - I just don't understand what is wrong.

All her temps are great, 91 hot side - 81 cool side. She is housed in an RBI cage with an RHP for heat.

Aside from the finicky eating lately - she seems perfectly fine.

Your thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks.

[piper]

Its a snake.. noone really knows. My female does this too. Are you offering every 5 days or every 7 days? If it's either I would try every 10 days or so, but that's just me. Sometimes they just decide they aren't going to eat, and it's frusturating! And if she seems perfectly fine, nothing visibly noticeable I would just look at it as a ball python being a ball python. I had one little girl last night strike and coil, than just leave it there. My spider didn't even acknowledge the food, my mojave didn't even coil, just started eating it and my pastel took a small rat.. My bigger female is in blue right now, she never eats when it's shed time.

Now that's drama! hahah

Cheers.

[L.West]

Thanks for the input. I offer her food every 7th day like clock work. It is very frustrating to try and figure out what the heck is there problem.

I guess I will just continue to offer her food every week and if she doesn't eat so be it. I just hate having to throw out to rats each week but that is life with a BP I guess.

Thanks again for your help.

[Jason Bowden]

That is perfectly normal. I have males that will not eat for 2 months sometimes. I do as you plan to, offer food once a week.

[piper]

Thanks for the input. I offer her food every 7th day like clock work. It is very frustrating to try and figure out what the heck is there problem.

I guess I will just continue to offer her food every week and if she doesn't eat so be it. I just hate having to throw out to rats each week but that is life with a BP I guess.

Thanks again for your help.

Yea, I have a pastel who I call my garbage disposal, he gets fed last because whichever one won't eat, he gets what they were going to get.. Unless it's the smallers ones which they are on rat pups.

A lot of people don't do this, but I have had to throw out a few. I will refreeze a rodent once, I know where it is in the bag, thats the next one that gets thawed.. if it doesn't take the second time, I throw it out!

[L.West]

It makes me feel better to hear that you guys have also experienced this sort of thing.

I just have to convince myself not to worry about it. I'm doing everything possible for her to have everything she needs to be happy and healthy - I can't do any more.

I tend to be a control freak and when I feel like I don't have control of every situation (like Bella not eating) it drives me nuts - LOL. I always jump to the conclusion that she is not eating because of something I am not doing right - but for her to eat regularly for almost a year without missing one feeding - I have to assume it is just a phase with her.

I really appreciate all the help from you all.

Regards,