Not eating...any suggestions?

[cubano07x]

I know, I know...it's another one of those "not eating" threads. Difference is, mine has never had any issues with food. He's eating small (live) rats now, and I tried to feed him one like 3 wks ago...struck at it, missed and then didn't eat it. I figured he was stressed, so I tried again the next week....this time he just smelt it and didn't do anything. I left it in there for a good 20-25 min (supervised of course).

I then tried just this past week another rat and still nothing. What happened to him? The rats have not harmed in any way, so I'm confused. I've tried covering the tank, leaving the room, basically all the things I used to do when he was shy and still nothing. I'm confused...any ideas on what could be causing this?
Thanks!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I know, I know...it's another one of those "not eating" threads. Difference is, mine has never had any issues with food. He's eating small (live) rats now, and I tried to feed him one like 3 wks ago...struck at it, missed and then didn't eat it. I figured he was stressed, so I tried again the next week....this time he just smelt it and didn't do anything. I left it in there for a good 20-25 min (supervised of course).
I then tried just this past week another rat and still nothing. What happened to him? The rats have not harmed in any way, so I'm confused. I've tried covering the tank, leaving the room, basically all the things I used to do when he was shy and still nothing. I'm confused...any ideas on what could be causing this?
Thanks!

BP do go off feed and it can be for various reasons such as overfeeding, breeding, husbandry, illness, stress, etc.

So if your BP go off feed what should you do?

First know that, as long as your BP does not loose too much weight he will be fine, second try to proceed by elimination to find out if there is anything that can be done so your BP resume feeding.

Here are couple of questions

How big is your BP?
How big is his enclosure?
What are your temps and how do you measure them (type of thermometer)?
What is your humidity?
Can you describe his hides? (Picture of the setup would be great)

What size prey and how often do you feed him when eating?

[cubano07x]

Hey guys,
Sorry it took me a while to reply but here are the answers to your questions:

How big is your BP? Roughly around 45 cm? Haven't measure him lately, but basically the same length as a 20 gal tank

How big is his enclosure? 20 gal tank

What are your temps and how do you measure them (type of thermometer)?
Cool side: 75F
Hot Side: 95F

What is your humidity?
Ranges between 50% - 75%(after a spray)



I posted a pic of the him coming out of his hide in the cool side....the hides are the bottoms of a big, black, plastic container...fits him perfectly. UTH is on the opposite side. Big water dish in the middle. Perfect set up in my opinion. Never had an issue with him eating before, except for when I first got him.

I also just tried last night but one of my smaller rats and he still didn't eat it. Didn't even look at it! So, I'm lost and don't know what to do. The ONLY difference is that his Infrared bulb burnt out and I switched it up for a Normal 50W lightbulb for the day...but besides that, same thing.

Any ideas on what's wrong?

[recycling goddess]

What are your temps and how do you measure them (type of thermometer)?
Cool side: 75F
Hot Side: 95F

Any ideas on what's wrong?

what do you use to measure your temps? your cool side is too cool (should be 80-82 and your hot side is too hot (should be 90-92)

husbandry issues are often the reason a ball python goes off feed... and IMO from what you've shared... this would be the cause.

[cubano07x]

what do you use to measure your temps? your cool side is too cool (should be 80-82 and your hot side is too hot (should be 90-92)

husbandry issues are often the reason a ball python goes off feed... and IMO from what you've shared... this would be the cause.

Although it may seem like that, problem is, I have not changed a single thing since a month ago. Like I said, my infrared bulb burnt out but Ive been using a low wattage normal lightbulb during the day. Aside from that, I changed from coconut fiber to Aspen bedding...those have been the "major" changes.

I don't know what to do? I'm worried and it's honestly going to be a month since his last feeding in a few days. He usually eats every 5-7 days! What else can I do???

Should I try scenting a rat with soilde mouse bedding....even tho he hasn't eaten a mouse more than 2 months? I'm feeding live, so it's not like I can just kill it and *gasp*....expose the brain.

[dr del]

I have not changed a single thing since a month ago. Like I said, my infrared bulb burnt out but Ive been using a low wattage normal lightbulb during the day. Aside from that, I changed from coconut fiber to Aspen bedding...those have been the "major" changes.

Well a month isn't that long at all really but I have a few Q's

You say the IR bulb burnt out and you'r using a normal lightbulb during the day - doesn't that mean that either you are keeping a white light on him 24 hours a day (known to cause stress which could cause refusals) or the temperatures are dropping at night when you turn it off - also known to cause refusals?

The bedding change might also knock him off food but it's far more likely to be the light/temp thing.

If you cannot get a new IR bulb then maybe you could substitute a red normal bulb ( or a blue one) as they are known to cause less disturbance?

That way they can be left on 24/7 with no problems.

Does this make any sense?


dr del

[recycling goddess]

Although it may seem like that, problem is...

I don't know what to do? I'm worried...

get your husbandry issues resolved... and EVEN IF it doesn't resolve your feeding problem right now... it will benefit your snake in the long run.

[cubano07x]

Ok update:

So I did everything, changed a bunch of stuff and got my husbandry pretty solid. My hot side is now 90-95F and cool side 80-85. Also, my humidity (which has never been a problem) is a rock solid 50%-80%(after I spray it).

So I thought of a new theory why he might not be eating. Currently, I am breeding rats and their cage is in the same room as my bp's. As a matter of fact, it's literally like 5 meters away, except that the rat's are on the floor and my bp is up on a table. So I was thinking, could it be perhaps that he has gotten accustomed to the smell and doesn't associate them as food anymore? I handle the rats a lot, same with my bp (but not right after each other). IF that is the case, I know what I can do to change that issue...I could pick up some soiled mouse bedding and rub it on the rats for a bit. It's jsut a hastle going to get it. What do you guys think?

Also, he just shed last night (April 18) and it was yet another perfect shed. So he IS growing and gaining weight I guess. Just bothers me that he won't eat!

[cubano07x]

*bump* anyone?

[rabernet]

My breeder rats are literally one step away from my rack and it doesn't affect the feeding response of my kiddos - so I don't think that's your issue.


What do you use to measure your temps? Can you get a picture of your entire set-up?

One other questions - how active is he? Is he active a lot or does he tend to spend a lot of time in one of his hides?