feeding issue

[j0386]

OK I got my first ever bp it was gave to me by a ex breeder i know who is getting out of breeding. The snake I got is a 6yo female who was hatched by him and raised to be another breeder anyways when he gave it to me he told me that it has not ate in like 3 months my first attempt to feed it was 2 days after I got her, it was a Friday when I got her and tried to feed her on a Sunday, she did not even strike at the rat so I let her settle in until Tuesday when I tried again she did a few defensive strikes then retreated into her hide so I try again today and she strikes it a few times then she grabs and coils it for about a minute then she lets it go she didn't even kill it or drawl blood and as it ran around in her tank she acted scared of it until she retreated into her hide and haven't seen her since then and I'm worried because she hasn't ate in along time and don't want her to starve or get sick

temps. are
Cool stays around 70-85
Hot stays around 85-90
Humidity stays between 40-70

[evan385]

You can try to find a breeder or someone who knows how and has done it before to assist feed her. Or you can watch several youtube videos on how to assist feed a ball python and make sure you do it right.

[Ezekiel285]

You should be fine, if she is 6 years old she probably has a decent bit of weight on her. Females tend to go off feed this time of year. Just keep offering every 10 days

You can try to find a breeder or someone who knows how and has done it before to assist feed her. Or you can watch several youtube videos on how to assist feed a ball python and make sure you do it right.

This is VERY unnecessary, she is a 6 year old snake, going off feed for a while is not going to hurt her.

[John1982]

Did you ask the breeder what they were feeding the girl? She could be on frozen thawed or pre-killed. This could be one explanation for her defensive behavior towards a living, kicking, biting rat.

[evan385]

You should be fine, if she is 6 years old she probably has a decent bit of weight on her. Females tend to go off feed this time of year. Just keep offering every 10 days




This is VERY unnecessary, she is a 6 year old snake, going off feed for a while is not going to hurt her.

If she starts to lose a significant amount of weight then it will begin to be a problem and may be necessary. Right now, no it's not but it may be in the future.

[Ezekiel285]

If she starts to lose a significant amount of weight then it will begin to be a problem and may be necessary. Right now, no it's not but it may be in the future.

Yes but he's had her for about a week and she hasn't eaten, and on top of that she's a 6 year old female (that means she's big....) the first thing you suggest should NOT be assist feeding.

Also to the OP, don't offer except for every 10 days, the frequent offerings of food can cause lots of stress. That's probably all it is.

[evan385]

Yes but he's had her for about two weeks and she hasn't eaten, and on top of that she's a 6 year old female (that means she's big....) the first thing you suggest should NOT be assist feeding.

He said that she's been off feed for three months before he got her. That would be three months and two weeks total. I don't know how long they can go off feed without losing weight but that's almost four months.

[Ezekiel285]

He said that she's been off feed for three months before he got her. That would be three months and two weeks total. I don't know how long they can go off feed without losing weight but that's almost four months.

Ah i missed that part. Even so assist feeding is not necessary at this point. I remember reading on this site about somebody whose BP had just come off a 280 something day hunger strike. The big ones can do this and it doesn't affect them like a hatchling. Assist feeding is the last thing you attempt to do.

To the OP i would just get a scale (in grams) and keep track of her weight, she will lose a little but as long as she looks healthy and there isn't any significant weight loss you should be good. It's breeding season and if she was a breeder she has other things on her mind (not food).

[evan385]

Ah i missed that part. Even so assist feeding is not necessary at this point. I remember reading on this site about somebody whose BP had just come off a 280 something day hunger strike. The big ones can do this and it doesn't affect them like a hatchling. Assist feeding is the last thing you attempt to do.

To the OP i would just get a scale (in grams) and keep track of her weight, she will lose a little but as long as she looks healthy and there isn't any significant weight loss you should be good. It's breeding season and if she was a breeder she has other things on her mind (not food).

Well yeah since he just got her you're right. But if she was mine and was off feed for over three months and I had tried everything else which I assume the previous owner did... Well never mind I would probably ask here and be told it's probably seasonal and not to worry about it too much lol

[evan385]

Did you ask the breeder what they were feeding the girl? She could be on frozen thawed or pre-killed. This could be one explanation for her defensive behavior towards a living, kicking, biting rat.

Good idea, try F/T or P/K and see if that works. But don't offer so frequently.