Do young females sometimes go off feed in winter?

[Marrissa]

I just can't think of anything else that would cause my clown girl to just stop eating. She was eating readily on mice just fine. I started breeding rats for her and by the time they babies came she decided not to eat. I've tried rat pups, rat crawlers, weaned rats, mice of various sizes. I've tried feeding her when she's out at night, at night with all the lights off, cluttering her T8 half even more, putting the feeder in there and dropping the sheet over her enclosure and leaving her be for a bit. (these are all live since she won't take F/T).

She hasn't eaten in seven weeks. I know that's not that concerning. I wish I had weighed her at her eating prime. She weighs 180 grams right now. She's not looking thin, but the ridge on her back is more noticeable. My leopard, which was 30g less than the clown has since surpassed her in size.

There are two things I can think of. She was turtling with her AP small hide so I switched it for a medium. I switched it back to multiple smalls about a month ago and it didn't change anything (she now fits in the smalls with ease again). The only other thing I can think of is she is off feed for winter? I think that only happens with adults though. So frustrating. I just want her to eat and grow up. I'm hoping it doesn't come to force feeding. How much of a weight drop would you let happen at her size?

[Eazyyyb]

My girl didnt eat for about 2 months and I finally got her to eat again by putting her alone in a spare 41 quart tub and letting her relax for about 15 minutes, then introduced a live rat which she coiled and ate almost right away. I dont support feeding in a different tub, but it seemed to end her dry spell. Just a thought, good luck! its so frustrating when the decide to just stop feeding and growing

[coldbloodaddict]

At that size she should be eating regularly. I would put her in 6qt shoe box with a hide.


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[George1994]

I've had trouble with my new male ball feeding. He hasnt eaten for a month.

Am currently considering putting him into a tub and trying him there, as he was fed like that in the reptile shop. And ideas?

[Marrissa]

I was considering a tub. I just think it's weird that she's been in the T8 and was eating fine then just stopped. My C Serpants rack should come tomorrow so I'm going to move the boa out to the soon to be empty T8 (she's still in quarantine so I don't want anyone near her). Going to move all the balls into my room and put the clown in a tub on top of the rack.

[runintoluck]

Sometimes you can try and try and try but they're simply not interested in food. I had a newly purchased female once go off feed for 2 months straight after I just got her. She lost weight and it was obvious but she was never in a sick state though. Just uninterested in food. She grew in length but definitely not in weight or girth. Sometimes you just gotta let them run their course.

[scooter11]

I've got a female pastel lesser that I was hoping would go this season. She was approaching 1250 grams in October. She has been off feed for about two and a half months and she's down to 1100 grams. Worst part is she has around 7 follicles. She's sill healthy, just doesn't have the fat reserves I want to breed her right now. Point is, they have a mind of their own sometimes. Just make sure she isn't sick or losing to much weight and she will come out of it at some point.

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