BP not eating

[juggalette95678]

It has been three weeks going on four since my ball python has eaten. The pet store guys tell me it's breeding season and this is normal, but I'm worried. Before this time she took a longer than normal time to shed. When we offer a mouse she takes no interest in it. During the day she (we are guessing on the sex, still unknown for sure what our snake is) has her uv light and white heat lamp at around 85°F and at night she has a red light with a temp of around 78. Any ideas on how to get her to eat?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Welcome to the site!

The first thing I would try is to stop lowering the temperature at night. I would get a higher wattage infrared bulb and use it 24/7. You want the hot side to be between 88-92 and the cool side to be between 78-82 all the time.

Is there a reason why you have a UV light? I would stop using that, at least until your snake starts eating again. BP's don't like bright white light and it can even stress them out.

What are you using for hides in the cage?

How big is the mouse compaired to the snake? How are you offering the rodent? And how often are you attempting to feed the snake?

Here are 2 threads that I suggest you read through if you haven't already:

Care: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Cage heating: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

[Vnuk1]

The Serpent Merchant is correct, make sure your husbandry is correct and stop lowering the temps at night. My adult female just ate for the first time in 2 months last night, Balls can go on feeding strikes for quite a while. As long as they're not losing weight I wouldn't worry. Mine has gone almost 4 months without eating before, you just have to deal with it and wait another week then offer again.

Also those are two good threads to read through

Sent from my fingertips...

[delonybro]

If you feed P/K or F/T, try leaving the prey in overnight. It's something I have to do with some of my snakes, and not just my BP's. They simply won't eat if there is light. You can attempt to black out the cage by covering it with a black sheet during the day time, but for me, leaving prey in overnight is a bit easier.

But like everyone else has said, sometimes they just go off feed for awhile. They're quirky snakes! Good luck!

[juggalette95678]

Thank you guys for the advice. We offer a mouse every week that is between medium and large and she was eating them fine. We usually just put the rodent in the cage to feed her. The UV light was recommended by the reptile store and we were told 12 hours on 12 hours off. Her hides are logs that she can fit into. Thank you again.

[juggalette95678]

Today was feeding day and we are still not getting her to eat. She acts like she is afraid of the mouse, I don't feel comfortable leaving the mouse in her tank over night. I'm gonna try again in a week.