Suddenly refusing food...

[icygirl]

For the past two weeks Caspie (2 year old BP, about 3.5 feet long) has refused her weekly rat for no apparent reason. I can't figure this out - most of the day she is out, sitting on her water bowl, head up and seemingly waiting for food. Then, when I drop in the food, she merely sniffs at it and ignores it. I haven't changed prey items - I offer a small-to-medium rat every week, and prior to this she has always been a perfect eater, almost never refusing any prey item. Her temperatures, etc. have also not been changed, although it is getting cooler outside here - but the house temperature has also not changed much.

I have been speculating that it has something to do with my smaller male, Luke, who has finally started eating appropriately sized prey regularly (previously he'd only eat mice that were too small for him... he's PICKY). I'm wondering, maybe Luke is releasing pheromones or something that Caspie is picking up on, and she's quit eating cause she wants to find a mate? That's just an idea though, I have never bred ball pythons before.

Any suggestions?

[JLC]

I think it could very well be that she's getting more interested in finding a mate than in eating. I wouldn't worry about it. She'll eat again when she's ready.

[mainbutter]

I think just about all of the "BP has started refusing food" threads I've read since I found this website not too long ago have been with ~2 year old females, and people not being used to them going off feed like I've read about happening.

[icygirl]

I think it could very well be that she's getting more interested in finding a mate than in eating. I wouldn't worry about it. She'll eat again when she's ready.

That's exciting! Thanks to both of you for the advice.

AND, what perfect timing she has. I just picked up a gorgeous 07 normal male yesterday, whose breeder says he is ready to go in with a female (he's big for an 07!). Hmm, maybe eggs are in Caspie's future...

[mrmertz]

It's going to that mating time of year. Our male RTB is more active and off his feed, has other things on his pea-sized brain other than food. Our BP Humphrey's feeding schedule is erratic at best. Sometimes he'll take a small rat for a week or two in a row, then nothing for 2 weeks or so. Then it's back to eating. Our Columbian boa on the other hand, is a garbage can. Either way, don't stress over it. She'll eat when she's ready.

[icygirl]

So, I'm assuming I should just keep offering food every week?

[abhorrent]

I've been having the same problem with my girl Ruth for the past month or so. Ah well, today's a new day and it's about time to offer her weekly rat.