Can someone please help me, my ball python wont eat :(

[adzz1232]

Hi my name is Adam,

I have a spider ball python, he has always had trouble eating like he has never struck for his food which I found out is quite common with spider ball pythons.
But I tried to feed him last month and he just didn't take his food, so i left it till his next feed that was yesterday. He still didn't take the food, he weighs the same but hes also acting strange. I know this might just be because its winter but is a month too long to not go without food, iv had him for a year now and hes never done anything like this... I'm just worried and need some advice.

thank you so much

[SpaceJellyfish]

It could be a number of things. It might help us help you if we know you husbandry numbers (your temp on the hot and cold side, your humidity, ect.). A picture of your setup might help too.

Have you been trying with live or f/t? Rats or mice? Do you know what he ate previously? How old is he? If he is a hatching, do you know if he ate for the breeder (ever) and what he was fed?

Sorry for all the questions, just might help get to the root of the problem

Edit: I obviously need sleep, didn't read that last part, haha. If you've had him for a year, and he isn't losing weight, it probably is just winter fasting. I'd love to hear other's opinions tho.

[adzz1232]

I don't know the temperature anymore as he knocked the reader down and i have to get an electronic one when i next get paid.
he is about 2 years old and he has been on frozen small rats and bout 6 moths ago i upped him to medium rats and he seemed to enjoy them.
Im guessing hes a hatching because i got him from a reptile shop that breads snakes, and they had him as a show snake for about 1 year and a half before selling him because he was getting to big for the tank.
hes now in a 4ft tank which he is same size as, i had to put him in the bigger tank as my other snake was getting to big for his old tank.
im not able to get a photo of the tank right now but i hope this help a bit.

[SpaceJellyfish]

If nothing else has changed and he was eating before, my guess would be winter fasting. Especially since he isn't losing weight. As long as he's acting healthy and you're keeping track of his weight I wouldn't stress too much about it.

[adzz1232]

Okay thank you so much, feels like a wight lifted off my chest

[CALM Pythons]

I don't know the temperature anymore as he knocked the reader down and i have to get an electronic one when i next get paid.
he is about 2 years old and he has been on frozen small rats and bout 6 moths ago i upped him to medium rats and he seemed to enjoy them.
Im guessing hes a hatching because i got him from a reptile shop that breads snakes, and they had him as a show snake for about 1 year and a half before selling him because he was getting to big for the tank.
hes now in a 4ft tank which he is same size as, i had to put him in the bigger tank as my other snake was getting to big for his old tank.
im not able to get a photo of the tank right now but i hope this help a bit.

You got a little confused with the question. He cant be a Hatchling if he is 2 years old and my guess is he is older if he is 4' long.
To answer your question, a month is nothing to be off feed especially for a large adult like yours. Get a thermometer soon. Your temps being to cool or to hot is a main reason snakes get stressed. Also not sure what you heat with but it needs to be regulated by a thermistat if it isnt.

[SpaceJellyfish]

Yea! Keep us updated and just keep an eye on him. I don't have much experience with spiders so maybe others will be able to help with that.

[SpaceJellyfish]

Get a thermometer soon. Your temps being to cool or to hot is a main reason snakes get stressed. Also not sure what you heat with but it needs to be regulated by a thermistat if it isnt.

^^^

[Zincubus]

Hi my name is Adam,

I have a spider ball python, he has always had trouble eating like he has never struck for his food which I found out is quite common with spider ball pythons.
But I tried to feed him last month and he just didn't take his food, so i left it till his next feed that was yesterday. He still didn't take the food, he weighs the same but hes also acting strange. I know this might just be because its winter but is a month too long to not go without food, iv had him for a year now and hes never done anything like this... I'm just worried and need some advice.

thank you so much

So how often has he been feeding and what method did you use previously ?

It could be just about anything but my money is on the temps being too high or low .... Stick on thermometers unless they have a wired probe are worse than useless ... Ideally list your complete set up details including type of heating , stat ? , how many hides and full details . All glass tank - are any sides blacked off or all just clear !?


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