Frustrated Keeper

[hoax]

He has been on strike since Oct.

It's just not natural for something to not eat for 6 months.

I just want to yell at him till he eats, not really but that is how I feel every time I take food back out of his tub.

I just don't want my snakes to be uncomfortable or be in some sort of pain because of me, I guess that is why it is bothering me is because I do not know whats wrong and am blaming myself.

Mike

[RichsBallPythons]

almost 6 months and only 100grams is not bad at all.

How is he set up and how are you offering his food. His taste might of changed and wants some changes made.

[chago11]

are you feeding live?

[hoax]

I feed ASFs as a normal prey item

I have offered f/t ASF, live ASF pinkie hopper juvenile and adult. I have also offered 1 adult mouse and one medium rat, the rat was to big I bought her (Gladice, she now has a friend Gladices "friend") one day when I was put up fliers for work and she was just to big.

I have not put crumpled paper in with him but I did switch from paper back to aspen. I will put paper in with him tomorrow maybe that will help him. I even left a shed in with him this week. He did shed I guess that is a good thing, I thought they only shed when they were growing? Or is that just stupid thinking?

Mike

[Moofins07]

I have yet to experience a strike, but I can only imagine how frustrating it is.

Have you exhausted all other options? Changing prey items (ASFs typically do the trick), switching to live (if you feed F/T), braining, pillow casing, etc.

I wouldn't consider assist/force feeding just yet. He might just be one of those stubborn males who insists on having a female to "bed" before they'll start eating again.

Fill us in on what you're feeding him and what you've tried - we'll do our best to help you out.

[RichsBallPythons]

Forgot to add that a good lone warm car ride sometimes kicks them back into gear.

[hoax]

I have yet to experience a strike, but I can only imagine how frustrating it is.

Have you exhausted all other options? Changing prey items (ASFs typically do the trick), switching to live (if you feed F/T), braining, pillow casing, etc.

I wouldn't consider assist/force feeding just yet. He might just be one of those stubborn males who insists on having a female to "bed" before they'll start eating again.

Fill us in on what you're feeding him and what you've tried - we'll do our best to help you out.

I do have a pastel that I was putting him with before he went on strike, your the second person to suggest that maybe I should put him in with her after she eats and digests.

Mike

[Moofins07]

Hm. Sounds like you've tried almost anything. I would give the pillow case a shot, however. Pre-kill an ASF and put both the snake and the prey inside a breathable pillow case. Leave within the enclosure overnight, and hopefully there will be no ASF in the morning.

If that still fails to work, I would just wait it out a little longer. Breeding season is pretty lengthy with these guys. Continue to pair them for a while longer and he should snap out of it.

[Big Gunns]

First...yes it is fairly "normal" for a Ball Python not to eat for months.

Now BG is gonna give you some tough love. He may start doing this with everyone with this problem. This is what BG wants you to do.

SHUT UP AND WAIT!!!!!!!!

[hoax]

OK I took his ASF put it in the pillow case made three good loops and smaked him on a solid wood table, just to make sure the unfortunate deed was done and the poor little booger wasn't just knocked out (not cool for anyone involved) I gave him a couple more good whomps. I put them both in the pillow case if he doesn't eat by this evening I will remove the ASF and pillow case and fill up his tub with crumpled newspaper until next week and try again.

Thanks for the advice folks, I guess my noobness is getting the best of me, I do feel alot more comfortable. I will let you guys know how it goes.

On a great note my little mojo that I just got from Till ate 2 juvenile ASFs.

Mike