Need your help....

[L.West]

I've posted before about my femal BP (995 grams) recently went off feed - don't have a clue why - this is the first time this has happened.

Well, last night was feeding night again and she would not eat anything - she showed interest but wouldn't strike - so I left the f/t weanling rat in her enclosure all night - no luck - she did not eat again. She has now gone two full weeks without any food.

My main question is: I plan to continue to offer food each week as I have always done but at what point should I change up the food being offered such as from rats to mice or f/t to live??? Or, should I simply keep offering the same weanling rats week after week until she decides to eat?

I am very worried about her and hope that you guys can direct me on this.

Thank you.

[derrabe]

I've posted before about my femal BP (995 grams) recently went off feed - don't have a clue why - this is the first time this has happened.

Well, last night was feeding night again and she would not eat anything - she showed interest but wouldn't strike - so I left the f/t weanling rat in her enclosure all night - no luck - she did not eat again. She has now gone two full weeks without any food.

My main question is: I plan to continue to offer food each week as I have always done but at what point should I change up the food being offered such as from rats to mice or f/t to live??? Or, should I simply keep offering the same weanling rats week after week until she decides to eat?

I am very worried about her and hope that you guys can direct me on this.

Thank you.

I wouldn't worry too much about your snake missing a meal or two, my female has been off feed since November and is around the same size. As long as your snake doesn't exhibit any signs of thinning or looking malnourished, I wouldn't worry. Make sure you have water readily available, she needs water more then food. If you are feeding rats in the past successfully and f/t I would continue that course. You could try a live as long as you pay close attention the whole time. But that is definitely not a guarantee and if she doesn't eat then your left with a live rat to house or dispose of. Also BP can be very picky eaters, so if you go live she may decide she don't like f/t anymore and may take more work to convert back.

Ok that is my two pennies....some one with more experience feel free to correct me if it is needed.

[Wh00h0069]

I suggest offering her a live weaned rat at night. She may be more likely to take that. I used to try to feed my ball pythons f/t, and had a very hard time with it. Some would take them, some wouldn't. Then some that used to take them stopped. Once I decided to start feeding live, they had a much better feeding response.

Hope this helps.

[SoundUnsleep]

Many of my adult ball pythons will only eat every 10 days, some of those that are in their teens will only eat every 14 days.

Just an observation: Are you feeding only weanlings to her? Maybe she's just tired of snacks and needs something more her size?

I agree with derrabe: Don't worry just yet. If all other issues that could cause her to go off feed are not a problem (temperatures, stress, etc.), just give her a seven day break, then try again.

Best of luck and keep us updated.

[L.West]

Thanks to you all for your responses. In answer to a few questions, she has never been offered live prey that I am aware of - I have always fed her f/t and wouldn't want her to go off f/t.

The reason I feed her rat weanlings is because she will not take a larger prey - I've tried and she refuses - she seems to prefer 30/40 gram rat weanlings so I offer her two each week.

Up to this point she had eaten faithfully every week for me for 10 months - nothing has changed in her environment. She is housed in an RBI cage with and RHP for heat, she has two indentical hides from RBI, a water bowl, fake plants for coverage - her temps stay at 91 hot side, 81 cool side, and 55 humidity.

I guess I will just continue to offer the food and pray that she eats. The next time she poops I think I will take a sample to the vet just to be sure but she appears to be perfectly heathy and pampered to no end!!!! LOL

I will weigh her each month to monitor her weight - what is considered a huge weight loss - and when should I panic??

[paulaura]

I really wouldnt worry at all.

All our royals take frozen rodents, and older ones will fast from time to time.

Just offer the food every 2 weeks instead.

It will be absolutely fine.

[L.West]

Would it cause any problems if I just continue on the every 7 day schedule - I would hate to think that she may be hungry and then I don't offer her food for 14 days??

I don't mind wasting the food if she doesn't eat - I am just concerned about her.

Thanks.

[cinderbird]

the 1000-ish gram range is when they can start getting picky (it happened to me and its happened to everyone i know).

Leave everything the same. Offer her food every 2 weeks or so, or even every 3. Going without food wont hurt a healthy subadult snake. My 1100 girl fasted for 4 months and lost very little weight. She still only eats about every 2 weeks. Ive moved her back to a 32quart tub to see if that will help, but the weather here is finicky at best.

Just keep weighing her, as long as she isnt losing too much weight she'll be fine.

[L.West]

Great - thanks sooo much for all the helpful information. This is my first snake and I just always worry about her.

This site is an absolute godsend to me - I rely on all of you to help me thru all the problems I encounter.

Thanks again.

[paulaura]

It definitely is very stressful when it first happens.

You will get used to it though, and as they get bigger they can fast for ages for no obvious reason at all.