New addition; Fasting? Any way to encourage feeding?

[Kourtneyhk]

Hi folks!

I just recently acquired a 2009 Ivory male ball python from a woman looking for a quieter home for him. She bought him from a breeder (he was a past breeder snake) and had him for about 6 months. He ate for her a couple times, all within the first month of her owning him, but hasn't eaten since. So, he's about 5 months without eating. I know that this isn't unusual for adults, as they do fast at times, but seeing as he hadn't been in my possession, I'm not sure if he has dropped any weight and she hadn't been keeping track of his weight I guess. I just pulled him out to weigh him (I've had him for about two weeks and he was really stressed with the move, so I wanted to let him settle in) and noticed that he is about to shed, which is something he never did for his past owner.

His husbandry has changed since I acquired him. He didn't have belly heat before, only above heat from an infrared light. He is in a 20 gallon enclosure as he FREAKED OUT when I put him in something larger, and he was not happy until I cluttered it up for him. He seemed pretty interested last week when I offered him food, but didn't take it. Last night he snubbed me again, but now that it's obvious he is shedding, that doesn't surprise me either.

My question is, because I have no weight history on him, when should I start worrying about his lack of eating? Could it just be that not having belly heat put him off his food and that now he has it again, that may change? My other two pythons are chow-hounds so I've never had to deal with this before!

Thanks,
Kourtney

[LLLReptile]

I would just continue to give him time and offer food weekly. Sounds like once he sheds, he's ready to start eating, and your hunch that he was wanting some belly heat is likely correct.

I'd bide my time and wait for him to shed. Chances are good he'll be ready to eat at that point.

-Jen

[Kourtneyhk]

Well he finally shed and I must say, he is one pretty boy! However, he's still snubbing me with the feeding. He seems pretty interested in the scent initially, but then freaks out when he touches the rat. I'm hoping leaving it in with him overnight might entice him, but I'm not keeping my hopes up too high! I'm going to get a weight on him tomorrow so I can at least monitor any weight loss, but his behavior is great besides his decisions against eating

[interloc]

Are you offering frozen thawed or live. I had a male go off feed for 6 months last year and I had to use live to get him off it. After a few live feedings he went back to F/T like before. Can we see pics of this dude?

[satomi325]

Can you describe his set up?
What is his weight and what size prey are you feeding? Live of f/t?
If he has decent muscle tone and good body condition, I wouldn't worry about the lack of eating right now. My breeder males have been off feed since October and they've hardly lost any weight.
Does he look thin? Does his spine seem prominent?

If it really comes down to it, try live prey to jump start a feeding response. Live small or weaned rat. Or live adult mouse as a secondary option. Mice are like BP candy.

Edit: Interloc beat me. Lol

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[Kourtneyhk]

He has a basic set up. He was housed in a 20 gallon when I got him and he freaked when I tried to move him to something slightly larger so I kept him in his 20 until he settles in. Ultra therm with thermostat to keep it at 88-90 degrees, 77-80 on cool side, water dish, 50% humidity (fluctuates). He weighs 851grams, great muscle tone and backbone not prominent. I've offered him only F/T as that was what I was told he was on before the fast, have offered small rats and large mice. He seems to be getting more interested but hasn't grabbed yet.

I will try to get a pic up tomorrow!

Thanks,
Kourtney

[Annarose15]

I have trouble believing that he didn't shed for his previous owner (6 months?!), but if that's what you were told, oh well. He sounds like he is probably still healthy, and it is not unusual for a male his size/age to be off feed right now. Just keep weighing him every couple of weeks, make sure you are heating the F/T enough, and wait him out. Oh, and keep him in that 20gal instead of worrying about trying to upsize him when he obviously likes the smaller space. Good luck!

[Kourtneyhk]

Hey folks,

Sorry it took me so long to reply and get a picture up of my boy! This is a picture a few days after I got him.

I've tried offering him a F/T mouse every week, still no interest. I finally caved and bought a live, tried that today, and all it did was tick him off (I didn't release it in there with him, had it with my tongs but he did not like it touching him or getting near him). So now I have a nice live mouse sitting in a cage waiting for this guy to FINALLY decide he wants to eat...Still looks great, though. Is there an amount of "time" that I should start worrying that he hasn't eaten? Or is it really just as long as he isn't losing weight, he can fast as long as he wants?

Darn! I had really hoped this live mouse would convince him it was time to eat...

[notmyfault]

I picked up a normal that didn't eat for 5 months. I wouldn't worry too much. He'll eat when he finally decides too.

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[Kourtneyhk]

Thanks, I guess I'm just a little nervous as I haven't had this issue before! I just weighed him, and he's down to 838grams. About two weeks ago he weighed 851. I don't feel like this is "drastic weight loss", but I guess I don't know what to consider as drastic weight loss.



There's a picture I just took of him before weighing him. I think he still looks decent, but what do you think?

Thanks again,
Kourtney