Hibernation?

[piedplus]

Four out of my five BP's aren't moving much anymore. They're coiled up in their favorite spots and don't come out at night like they used to. Their feeding's way down compared to the pigs they made of themselves over the warmer months. Is this kind of like hibernating? One of them's actually burrowed under the paper liner in her cage. All I get to see of her is a lump. What should I do?

[ballpythonluvr]

It's really not like hibernating. Ball pythons tend to slow down with their eating in the colder months as this is usually when they start to breed. I would not worry as long your husbandry is up to par.

[kyser/wrx]

Two of my bp hide and the other two still roam the cage at day time and at night time

[TheWinWizard]

It's breeding time, they tend to go off feed.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Ball Pythons do not brumate (hibernate) feedings slow down for some during the winter mainly because of the weather changes even more so if they are close to sexual maturity.

The majority of hatchlings and juvies if provided with constant temps and optimum husbandry should still eat.

[piedplus]

Thanks! I'll keep offering food. I remember them being like this last year, but after so much feeding and activity over the warmer months, I was hoping they would stay a little more active. I'm using records from last year to help me figure out their new feeding patterns. I've only been at this for a little over a year... So nice to have the BP.net support!