500g Male BP not eating

[Danounet]

Well I though this would never happen to me, or at least with my current BPs because they are well stablished and usualy are very aggresive eaters. But my Male Lemon Pastel has decided to stop eating.

At first I found it weird because he didnt want to eat a week after his shed. Which they are usualy very hungry and agressive when they eat the next saturday after shed (I always feed saturdays). So that is 2 weeks he did not eat. The 3rd time I fed him, he ate. A small rat in the smaller side. The next week up he did not eat again. the next week again not eating. That is 2 weeks again. The 3rd week is up again today, he does not want to eat. Not even a mice and I even tried one of the weaned ASFs. Nothing...

Now I wouldnt be worried if he has and Older male, since I know they go off feed during breeding season. But he is just some months old at 500g! Is it possible he can go off feed at this age and weight because of breeding? Im very confused. I dont think this is why, but I have though about it. What makes it more confusing is the fact that I have yearling 800g Male Axanthic and he is eating fine.

All my BPs are in 28qt tubs with flexwatt heattape controlled by a ranco. The 3 I have here sit next to each other and share the same heat tape for many months now. The temps are fine, hides, etc etc. The other BPs are doing just fine.


This is him some weeks ago, not sure how long, but cant be that long.


Most recent one, you can see by the date stamp.


So as you can see he has been doing great just up until these last weeks.

[Emilio]

I have some males who go off feed at about this time of year. He might be in breeding mode already.

[Danounet]

When does breeding season start and how long does it last?

Around when will he eat again?

Thanks!

[Emilio]

When does breeding season start and how long does it last?

Around when will he eat again?

Thanks!

Starts when temps start changing, keep trying maybe he'll eat soon it really depends on the animal. Your not doing anything wrong they eat when they choose too.

[West Coast Jungle]

Any ambient temps under 80 could cause him to go off feed. Try bumping the room temps up. Some snakes just fast more than others and yours maybe one of those.

[Danounet]

Well house temps is 79~ unless is sleeping time, then is around 74.

Warm side under hide is around 91, far side on the colder end is around 80.

Thanks

[OhhWatALoser]

put him with a female if you can and see what happens

my lesser was never a "good" eater, always ate live and it took him like a half hour to take the damn rat, once he got laid, hes a better eater than ever, first time he ate frozen was last week, tho i do feed him only every 2 weeks now since he doesn't need to gain any more weight, just slow and steady for him now.

[Danounet]

I dont have a female for him, wish I did!

My only female is a 525g normal about the same age as him, my first BP. And just bought a hatchling spider female.

[Danounet]

Urgh so I bought 2 mice, to try something out with him.

First I tried an ASFs, completely ignored it. But he never ate one before. My other 2 BPs took their first ASFs ever without hessitation.

Second a smaller Small Rat, which he has been eating for months, pretty much ignored it.

Third I tried one of the mice that I though he was gonna ignored too, but he grabed it from my hands before I droped it, almost taged me too. I felt bad for him not eating for so long and droped the second mice and he ate it too.

Is there a reason why he would not want what to eat what he has been eating for months and to even not want to try an ASF?? To be honest I dont remember feeding him Mice more than twice and he has been with me for months, at least 5 or 6. The last time he ate a mice was many months ago.

He skipped his feeding day again with a small rat and ASF... I gonna try to use mice bedding on the small rat next time I get a chance to go to the pet store to buy some.

But Im just realy confused now, This doesnt make sence to me

[tarzan07]

honestly, don't worry too much. my female did not eat for 6 months! she stopped eating about this time (beginning of breeding season) and she was only 800g. so she was NOWHERE near breeding weight. ball pythons do this alot. they'll eat when they want to again. just be sure to keep offering meals. he's gorgeous!