Ball python will not eat

[RayJ]

This is my first post and I know a very common question.So,please be patient with me.I got "Charles" as a Christmas gift from my wife and son at Christmas of 2012.He,or she,was probably under 6 months old.He is now probably over 2 feet and looks healthy.He ate very well and weekly until December of 2013.He refused all food until early to mid April of this year and ate two small rats a week apart.I thought he would go back to regular feeding but has refused all food since then.I try a small rat about every week to ten days.The last time he ate,I put him in a separate container and he ate the two small rats in that.I have since tried to feed him in the container and in his regular cage.He is housed in a 20 gal aquarium.I have foil over one end and a heat mat and 60m watt black light bulb on the other end.Temps are good.Humidity is low but I mist the cage frequently.Is he probably just being picky or just not hungry?He seems healthy other than not eating.He comes out some at night but not all the time.I have two hide boxes and he usually stays in one of them 95% of the time.Should I just continue to try and feed him every few weeks?I just hate wasting these rats.I tried a large mouse last time but he refused that too.

[thegamejr]

From what a lot of the people on here say is to try leaving it in with him for a few hours and give privacy if you already haven't. That might work. From what i read an f/t is good for 8hours or so. . . Good luck

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[RayJ]

I usually leave the food item in overnight.It is just very frustrating when he won't eat.When he ate the two rats last month,I was overjoyed that he finally ate.Now,it's back to a long fast again.Oh well,I think I'm doing all I can.I may take him to a local vet who supposedly sees exotics but honestly I have no real confidence in vets.The ones I've seen say that they see snakes but usually I end up knowing more than they do about snakes.Not being arrogant,just stating the truth.I live in east Texas and there are just no good reptile vets in the area.I don't think he needs a vet anyway but if he doesn't eat soon then I may try it just to be on the safe side.This is my first ball python and this eating thing has me uptight.I've had several burmese pythons and red tail boas in the past and they always fed on schedule unless they were in a shed cycle.I've done some research and it seems that ball pythons being picky eaters is common from what others say.

[thegamejr]

Yeah, from what i read its not out of the norm for them to go off of food for a few months at a time. Hopefully some more experienced members chime in

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[thegamejr]

What are the tank temps and humidity like? And how big is he?

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[RayJ]

I have hide box on warm side over the heating pad.It is 95 on top of the heating pad and probably 90 right beside the heating pad in the hide box.It is a big rock cave actually . It is 90-92 under the heating lamp .A black light.The cool side runs from 75-78.Humidity is lower than I like at about 20% but I mist the cage several times a week.


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[thegamejr]

You should try lowering the ambient temp to the mid 80 range it will also help raise the humidity a little. Are you using a glass tank and screen lid?

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[thegamejr]

I did see you were using a tank and have half covered, what kind of substrate are you using?

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[RayJ]

I'm using a glass tank with a screen lid and aspen mixed spagnum moss for substrate.


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[wideglide]

I've had multiple BP's go off feed for months at a time. As long as he doesn't lose much weight don't worry about it. Keep trying every couple of weeks. He'll eat when he's hungry. Totally normal.

Rob