My BP hasn't eaten in over two weeks!!!

[chapskis1]

My 1400g male stopped eating this last July, and didn't eat for 6 months, and the entire time he was off feed he only lost 150g. (Obviously that weight loss is small relative to his initial weight. 150g would definitely be a major issue if the starting weight was 250g!) It is a good idea to monitor your BP's weight. If his weight is staying fairly steady during the fast, then there probably is not issue other than he doesn't want to eat because of breeding season, etc. If he isn't eating, and there is drastic weight loss then that is reason for concern. I don't know much about BP diseases (because luckily I have never had a sick snake), but that could be a possiblity related to rapid weight loss.

Do your snake a favor, and invest in a scale -- in my opinion probably one of the most important husbandry tools. I bought mine at Walmart http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Bigges...acity/11090896 and I have also heard of people picking them up fairly reasonably on eBay.

Another great tool is Degie http://www.eyehit.com/degei/ which is a program where you can keep records of all of your snakes activity. A great way to monitor feeding and weight records, etc.

Good luck...I am sure your snake will be fine as long as husbandry is correct and you track his activity and watch for any warning signs.

[EvesFriend]

Thanks for the help everyone!

[Maverick67]

the previous owner told me the longest scarlett ever went without eating is 8 months. (that was before owned her) right now she hasn't in 2 months but keep offering. try once a week and relax its not a big deal.

[vangarret2000]

Do your snake a favor, and invest in a scale -- in my opinion probably one of the most important husbandry tools.

I was just curious as to why you think scales are one of the most important husbandry tools?

[kitedemon]

Because they stop eating. The big issue isn't not feeding but what kind of weight they have lost one of my females started to 947gm and has not eaten in 2.5 months and is now at 862 gm which is more than I'd like, but she is healthy and it is not a massive amount for her. If she were to have lost say 300 gms I'd be worried. It is an easy indication of health healthy snakes grow. Fasting snakes stay static or nearly static very little % loss but unheathy snakes will loose more faster, tapeworms internal issues can be caught by weight loss.

[chapskis1]

Because they stop eating. The big issue isn't not feeding but what kind of weight they have lost one of my females started to 947gm and has not eaten in 2.5 months and is now at 862 gm which is more than I'd like, but she is healthy and it is not a massive amount for her. If she were to have lost say 300 gms I'd be worried. It is an easy indication of health healthy snakes grow. Fasting snakes stay static or nearly static very little % loss but unheathy snakes will loose more faster, tapeworms internal issues can be caught by weight loss.

Thank you...I couldn't have said it better myself. I just got home from work so I didn't get a chance to respond to the question asking about why I thought a scale was important.

I think a good thermostat and a good thermometer/hygrometer are more important, but a scale is definitely something a good snake/herp keeper should not be without!

It definitely gave me peace of mind and reassurance when my male went off feed for six months!

[Maverick67]

I have found that if you are lacking a scale to weigh your bp a digital bathroom scale will work. weigh yourself without your snake and then again directly after with your snake, find the difference and convert to grams. cell phone unit converter works great for this. It may not be exact but it will give you a good idea of where your animal is sitting. I do this a few times in a row and average the results if they very.

[ahunt037]

mine has gone off feed for 2 months just relax its not a big deal

[Karly25]

It's been 3 weeks now since my baby ball python has ate...the last two weeks he didn't budge at all nor did he strike for it. Today when I fed him he grabbed it and had a hold of it and I checked on him a few hours later and the rat is still there. I tried again he sees it but he's not grabbing it. I know sometimes ball pythons can go a bit without eating but I'm worried as he's only 9 months old. When we first got him it took 3 weeks til he finally ate.