is ball python has period of fasting each year?

[nightingale2k1]

just wonder,

my 2 females balls (about 60-70 cm long) haven't eating any mouse since last week (one almost 10 days because she got shed but last sunday, it was completly change the skin). I tried with live medium rat, prekilled one and today i tried with baby mice, It seems they won't eat it ...

when I gave to them, they just staring and looks eager to eat but never strike at these mouse. They just follow wherever the little mouse going but not striking and after that they got bored ... and sleep ...

I am not freaked out because I know it is normal for snakes not to eat for a while. But I'm curious, is the snakes has period for fasting every year ? If they did fasting, I will let them fasting and not offering any mouse (because I have to kill mouse if I need to give them ... and if they don't want it .. I have to throw it .. poor little mouse)

[Kaorte]

It is common for adult males to go off feed starting in the fall (oct, nov) and adult females will not usually eat when they are gravid (have eggs). There have been cases of ball pythons going off feed for more than a year but you shouldn't just expect your snake to fast. Even during a fast you should be offering food regularly, how else would you know when the snake wants to start eating again?

In your case, you are experiencing a feeding REFUSALL. 10 days is not a fast. Wait one week from the last time you offered food and offer again as you normally do.

Has anything changed in your setup recently?

[nightingale2k1]

Has anything changed in your setup recently?

yes, I just moved to bigger cage few days ago.
may be it is the answer ...

btw .. .this evening I tried to put small baby mice into the cage and one of my female start eating it.

[Kaorte]

yes, I just moved to bigger cage few days ago.
may be it is the answer ...

btw .. .this evening I tried to put small baby mice into the cage and one of my female start eating it.

Moving to a different enclosure is most definitely why you experienced a refusal. There is a 7-14 day period of adjustment when you make any changes to your setup. They just need time to get used to the new environment.

From your response, it sounds like they are housed together? If so, you should probably separate them. Especially if you are throwing a bunch of mice in the cage... You should never leave live feeder unattended with a snake. If the snake doesn't want to eat, the mouse will start to eat the snake. Also, by putting mice in a cage with two snakes, they will compete for food. If you leave, you will not know who ate what

[nightingale2k1]

yes I put them together.... but when I did feeding I move one to another cage a while. I put baby mice so I think it is safe for my snake. If I feed with medium rat I always keep watching it (usually I kill the rat first)

[Kaorte]

yes I put them together.... but when I did feeding I move one to another cage a while. I put baby mice so I think it is safe for my snake. If I feed with medium rat I always keep watching it (usually I kill the rat first)

Mice are actually known to do more damage then a rat. Do yourself a favor and don't leave any live feeder un-attended with your snake.

Your snakes will be happier if they each have their own enclosure. ball pythons are not social animals and there is no benefit to keep them together other then to save money which is not a good enough reason.

[greghall]

ive been keeping for 4 years now have around 30 BP's & yes they all will stop eating at one time to another from a month to as much as a year,thats what they do some are very sporatic eaters some are great,dont worry about them eating when they eat feed them well.fall & spring is when most go off feed.