How long can a snake go off food?

[RW3]

I got a female ball python back in October and she still hasn't eaten for me. I have tried mice (I was told she would only eat mice when I got her) both frozen and live, and the same with rats. I have 4 other snakes in my rack and all of them eat just fine. They are set up with paper as a substrate. This is the only thing I have not tried changing. Would changing the substrate help? How long can a ball python go without eating? When should I consider assist feeding?
thanks.

[dakski]

A long time (months) if healthy otherwise.

See thread running simultaneously: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...Fasting-or-Not

If she has never eaten for you and apparently only eats mice, etc. It could be a fast, or it could be more than that. No way to tell from what you have said.

AGE?

WEIGHT?

Husbandry? Temps? Humidity? Enclosure size? Hides are adequate?

Have you confirmed she was otherwise healthy when you got her?

So many questions need to be answered.

Assist feeding should rarely be done; pretty much life or death only. I wouldn't even consider right now until you know a lot more information.

[RW3]

Thanks for your response. The husbandry is spot on. I have 4 other ball pythons in the same rack and check daily. Other than not eating she is healthy. She is sitting at 1580 grams. She had a clutch of eggs last year with her previous owner, but I don't know her age. She isn't loosing weight at an increased speed, so I guess I will wait her out.

[dakski]

Thanks for your response. The husbandry is spot on. I have 4 other ball pythons in the same rack and check daily. Other than not eating she is healthy. She is sitting at 1580 grams. She had a clutch of eggs last year with her previous owner, but I don't know her age. She isn't loosing weight at an increased speed, so I guess I will wait her out.

Okay, sounds good. My female is about the same weight. She started fasting at about 1500G or so. Drops down to 1480G or so from 1600G now every year. No biggie.

Understand it is nerve wracking, especially since she hasn't eaten for you, but she will probably eat sooner than later. Mine fasted from September 7th last year until this past weekend. 5 months!

[RW3]

Okay, sounds good. My female is about the same weight. She started fasting at about 1500G or so. Drops down to 1480G or so from 1600G now every year. No biggie.

Understand it is nerve wracking, especially since she hasn't eaten for you, but she will probably eat sooner than later. Mine fasted from September 7th last year until this past weekend. 5 months!

Yeah, I know they can go off food for months at a time, just wasn't sure how long is too long. I sent a text to the previous owner to see if I can get more info on his set up, see if she prefers a different substrate or something. But yes, the biggest issue is that she hasn't eaten for me yet.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

1# Depends on the size of the snake at 1500 grams or more she could go off feed for a year with no ill effect.

2# You do not assist an animal that knows how to eat especially one that size, what you do is try different things husbandry wise to see if it helps the animal resume feeding and if not you just need to be patient the animal will eat on it's terms not yours.