Pennyworth is making me worry..

[Immy]

He hasn't eaten in 3 weeks.
He insists on hiding in the cool side of the tank. (Been going on even when he was eating like a hog)
Hasn't had a shed in 3 months. Some parts of his underside seem to be a little pinkish, but it has been like that for a month.

What's going on??
When I have money flowing again, I guess I should have him checked out at the vet? :-/

[jimbo4382]

How are you checking your temps?

His belly could either be pinkish due to shedding or it may be the heat source is too hot and is causing the snake stress and mild burns.

Jim

[Immy]

I use a Accu-rite thermometer. The temperature reads about 90-95ish on the hot side and 80-85ish on the cool side. I'm looking at him now and there is no pink, I guess it was the lighting. But still hasn't shed in awhile.. :-/

[jimbo4382]

If he has been eating very well he could well just be giving himself a break.

BP's are notorious for doing this.

How old is he? What are you feeding and how regular?

And three weeks isn't a long time really in BP terms. An adult can go 6months if its a bit over weight

Jim

[Immy]

I had him for a year, I recently weighed him and he is around 690g-700g. I feed weekly on Fridays. I feed him small f/t rats.

[jimbo4382]

just keep an eye on his temps and humidity and keep offering him food weekly.

Other then him going off feed just because BP's do the only other thing i can think of is possibly parasites, but it most likely that he is just being stubborn.

Bp's can go for months without food so i wouldn't be worried yet.

Any concerns you could always take a fecal sample to a reptile vet if its worrying you. If that comes back ok you will know its just being stubborn.

Jim

[j_h_smith]

During this time, has he lost any substantual weight? If not, then I wouldn't worry about it. No need to visit a vet. I've know ball pythons to go almost a year before they start feeding again. I'm not saying your will go that long. Your snake is large enough to go off of feeding during this time of year.

What you may want to try is feeding a little smaller rodent to see if you can get him to eat. Sometimes that will work. If not, stop feeding him for a few more weeks, then try again.

You can also try a cooling period. Maybe take the temps down around 85 at night, then let the temps go back up during the daytime. After a few weeks of that, try to feed him again.

These are just a few techniques you can use if you decide to. Some would probably tell you to just let him go, he'll eat when he wants to. That would be good advise too.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith