Help, My ball-Python hasn't eaten and our class is worried!

[Itsmrfish]

Hello,
I have a 4 yo common ball python as a class pet and she has stopped eating for now 17 days. I feed her small rats purchased from the local Petsmart and she has been eating one a week for the previous month when all of a sudden she stopped. She shows no interest in eating, often sticking her head out to see what is dangling in her tank however she quickly goes back to sitting in her hide. I have tried different heating methods (hot water baths and hair drier) thinking that it was not warm enough for her to see it but that didn't do anything. At first I thought it was a respatory infection but her vents and mouth show no sign of mucus or inflammation.

Tank stats:
Animal Plastics T3
Hotside 90
Cold side 80
Humidity 65%-75% (depending on building)

What should I do?

[L.West]

For what its worth - I had a bp go 8 months without eating and was no worse for wear.

I would continue to offer each week and don't get upset if it refuses. It is the season for that sorta thing.

You say all the temps are correct so I wouldn't worry too much. Watch his weight and as long as it isn't losing lots of weight it will probably start eating in the spring again.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[bcr229]

My adult female pet/non-breeders are on a two-week feeding schedule, males are on a three-week schedule, and even then they will still skip meals.

[Lord Sorril]

Humidity 65%-75% (depending on building)

What should I do?

I notice that you marked humidity as varying between buildings. Moving a ball pythons enclosure to different locations is not ideal-it creates stress of a new environment.

A Ball Python is not a good classroom pet.

[Caitlin]

I'm not fond of seeing ball pythons as classroom pets - there is just so much stress involved for the snake. How often is she handled? It also sounds like her enclosure gets moved between buildings. Those two factors alone could be enough to disrupt her eating patterns. Yes, she's 4 but stress builds up over time and sometimes an animal just reaches the point where enough is enough.

[Bogertophis]

A four-year old BP is pretty much an adult...it's not rare for them to eat less often*, or go on a fast if they've been routinely over-eating. *I'd feed every 2-3 weeks
as bcr229 posted above. And for what it's worth, I also don't think most snakes make good classroom pets, & especially not the more sensitive ones like BPs -that
need higher heat & humidity levels, & tend to be shy feeders. A better choice might have been a corn or other type of rat or gopher/bull snake. BPs are also more
nocturnal when it comes to feeding habits, which puts them at odds with a classroom. You may be seeing the cumulative effects of stress, fear, lack of sleep, etc.
Please keep in mind that long term stress can predispose animals & humans alike to illness when it continues. This might be a hint...

I assume you know that snakes typically refuse food for a while when in a shed cycle too...have you checked her eyes for 'blue'? (in dark room w/ penlight)

[Itsmrfish]

Sorry, I miss spoke, the building humidity changes wildly some times (which is why i went with the better tank). Her enclosure only fluctuates a little.

[Craiga 01453]

Sorry, I miss spoke, the building humidity changes wildly some times (which is why i went with the better tank). Her enclosure only fluctuates a little.

Even in one building, snakes in general aren't great classroom pets. Especially a species as solitary as a BP. We often advise people to house their BPs in low traffic areas of the house, so a busy classroom is essentially the opposite of that. Traffic = stress, especially for species as secretive as a BP.

Is the snake handled?

Are you trying to feed during the day in front of a classroom of kids?

How much experience do you have keeping snakes?