Frustration!!!

[MojaveLesser]

Hello Everyone.

I have been having some serious issues recently. I have been keeping ball pythons for close to 10 years now and I have never had such bad feeding issues. All of my sub-adult (1-2 years old), half of my adults, and a small portion of my 2011s have not eaten since January.

It is so frustrating. I have had slight fasts in the past but this one is unbelivable. I have tried everything from changing food items, to adding hide boxes, even using black tubs. They had all been feeding every week for months (in some cases over a year) and they all stopped with in two weeks of each other. Nothing in their caging, heating, humidity, or patterns had changed up until a couple of months ago when I tried to get them eating. They all seem afraid of their food and just run from it. It makes me want to pull my hair out.

Anyone who really cares about the lives of their pets and has had these issues knows how I feel. I am frustrated because I want them to be healthy and have a good life. I feel like a failure. It almost makes me want to give up on Ball Pythons and work with my Boas, Womas, Bloods, and Short Tails.

Oh well. Thanks for letting me rant. I appreciate any ideas and I hope that anyone else having these issues it works out for you.

Thanks Everyone

[dragonsong93]

That's really odd that there's so many off feed, it seems strange to ask but is the house noisy? Like loud music with lots of bass, the vibration could disturb them....If not then maybe its just a fast from breeding season and well, just stick thru it. If all the husbandry is good then it just seems like they aren't hungry.

Did you try pre-scenting the room before feeding?

[Kaorte]

Have you given ASFs a try?

Also you could try filling the tubs with "cage clutter" which can be fake plants or the cheaper alternative...crumpled up paper.

I know the feeling. I had a pastel who only ate maybe 5 times in a year. I finally gave in and got a breeding trio of ASFs and just having them in the room was enough to get her back on feed. She has been eating weekly since I brought the ASFs home (haven't fed her one yet though)

[MojaveLesser]

I have been attempting to feed ASFs for a while now. I have been breeding both hooded rats and ASFs for years and I have a couple Balls that love the ASFs but there is no interest at all with the ones that are not feeding.

The strange thing is that my house is not noisy or active at all. Nothing has changed at all. I have not tried scenting the room recently and I will try that this coming feed day.

I did breed a some of my Balls this year like I have been for years and the funny thing is all of the adults that I bred are eating perfectly. All of the females that laid eggs started eating within two weeks of laying.

All of the ones that are not feeding are in racks with others that are feeding regularly.

I know how weird it all sounds. I just have to ride it out and see I guess.

Thanks Everyone!

[Blubb]

I know that feeling. My female spider and male ghost has been off feed since December - January. Both of them are breeding sized, but they have to eat ! I'm so glad my younger ones still eats with no problems at all. I also have thought about giving up on ball pythons and switch to corn snakes or boas. Bummer, I like ball pythons too much I guess, hah !

Oh, if you feed F/T you might consider offering live. I have a feeling though that you've already thought about that. Other than that, be patience, they will eat whenever they get hungry.