Looking for reassurance.

[Amanda1226]

My female ball python has gone off food. She’s 1 year and 7 months old.
I moved her to new caging on June 27. She ate 1 time in the new set-up prior to refusing a meal on July 11. This was not abnormal because she shed 6 days later (July 17). Then when she was offered a meal 1 day later, she refused again, and this was not normal for her. Since that time, she’s refused another rat on July 28.


She is currently in a Boaphile 421D with paper towels, and new large Reptile Basic hides. 1 is on the hot side and 1 is on the cold. There’s a water bowl on the cold side of the enclosure.

As far as I can tell, the cold side temperatures range from 77 at night, and around 80-81 during the day time. The hot side ranges from 88-94 depending on what area of the hot side you check. The hot side is equipped with a RHP and heat tape. Her humidities hover right around 60% give or take a couple of percentage points in each direction.


On July 9th, prior to her hunger strike, she weighed 860 g, and after weighing her today August 3, she weighed 748 grams. Other than the weight loss, I think she looks ok.

I know she’s only missed 3 meals, but this is not normal for her. The weight loss has me concerned.
I am looking for reassurance, or some direction in what is the next step I should be taking?

Thanks,
Amanda

[brock lesser]

Welcome to the wonderful world of bp's!
Double check your temperature and setup.
Why two heat sources? you have both hooked to thermostat right?
Do you feed live or f/t.
Picture of your setup might help.

[Amanda1226]

I have 2 heat sources because my house's ambient temperature is too cold for just belly heat. The RHP assists in warming the ambient air in the cage, and helps to get a hotter spot for her.

I use a Herpstat 4 as my thermostat because I have another cage underneath her.

She eats f/t small rats currently, and she's eaten f/t since I have had her, approximately 11 months.

[CORBIN911]

Has she broken the 1,000gram mark (id assume so) If so its likely just a hunger strike, give her some time, offer food every 2-3 weeks, vs every 7 days. Soon enough shell take again. My Butter girl just hit 1300, Im just WAITING for her fast!

[coldbloodaddict]

move her to a smaller enclosure.
You could also try live.

[Amanda1226]

Update:
She got 1 meal in her.
My boyfriend had the idea to prescent the room the day of eating, and it seemed to coax her into eating.
She didn't strike it off the stats, but we left the rat in the cage over night, and there's not a rat in there this morning!

We used to prescent with her when she was younger, but we bought a boa constrictor in February, and decided it would be best for the new snake to not prescent the room with her in it.

So, hopefully this will either end her hunger strike, or we will just have to play the odds, and continue to prescent.

What do you guys think the odds are of her refusing another meal next week?
Do you think she's over the hunger strike?


Thanks,
Amanda

[BiggBaddWolf]

Snake being a snake, ya just never know about'em

[brock lesser]

Snake being a snake, ya just never know about'em

This ^ is the only sure thing in the bp world.
Take it feeding by feeding and hope for the best.
Good luck!

[joebad976]

Move her back to a smaller enclosure if she continues to give you problems