Feeding young question

[Starsnake]

Bought a couple young'uns back a few months ago. The last few weeks they have all pulled back on eating. They are currently in the 140-200 gm range. Do you think it could just be cool weather or is this just normal young ball python behavior. All have been gaining weight since I bought them. I also have a spider young'un that seems very finicky. Was eating live, got it to eat some frozen/thawed and now we are at live every 2 or 3 weeks (her choice, I feed weekly) . She was up to 90 grams and dropped to 80 and ate last week (haven't weighed since)

[Bleepr]

Its really not uncommon for snakes to go off feed durring the colder months. You guys sound on par with mine, which range from a 300g guy to a 2200g female. Its nothing to worry about.

If the problem persists into the spring time, then I would concerned. As of now, just offer on a normal schedule and see how it goes.

[Starsnake]

You don't think that when they are this young and small I should worry? My adults have been banging food like crazy until the females slowed a week or so ago (think they ovulated).

[CoolioTiffany]

It could be because your temps or husbandry is not corrected.
What are your temps (warm, cool, ambient) and humidity?
Substrate?
Hides?

[Bleepr]

When I first got my little het. albno at a show last year, he didn't eat for months (the show was in January). Then all of the sudden he ate like a pig until winter rolled around and now hes up and down much like yours, eatting a small rat every other week or so.

But to answer your question. No, I wouldn't worry. Again, unless it get to spring and they aren't eatting, or if they are losing a alot of weight quickly. Thats always cause for concern.

Snakes go off feed all the time, and so long as they are still healthy, then theres nothing to worry about.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

From my experience younger animals are voracious (especially at the size you are mentioning) and will very rarely go off food, of course there are always some animals that will be the exception to the rule but for the main part they should be eating.

All the animals I have hatched or bought in 09 are eating and are still pretty much in their feeding frenzy period.

Of course some has to do with husbandry and what you are feeding also.

Keep the young ones in tight and warm enclosure and they will eat like champs for the majority of them.

[Elise.m]

I would be concerned. Especially your spider who lost weight very quickly.

[Bleepr]

Missed that part about the spider. Yes, I would be concerned for her, loosing 10 grams quickly like that isnt a good thing.

[Kaorte]

Babies this small shouldn't really be going off feed for seasonal reasons because they are no where close to breeding age.

What is each snakes set up like? Temps? Heat sources?

[Starsnake]

I have the warm spot at 90 with flexwatt belly heat on a home made rack. I think some of this could be the fact that I go back and forth on the mouse size I have been feeding. Between Large Hoppers and Medium mice. Some weeks I think they are overfed and make up for it the following week. The spider I worry because she lost 10 gms in a month but only at 1 time in 7 weeks. She is very shy when it comes to feeding, it takes some work to get her to strike. She never eats if she doesn't strike.