climate affecting eating?

[Sonya610]

My 08 girl has always been a pretty good eater. She weighs about 350 grms and has always eaten f/t consistently, typically small rats.

Well 3 weeks ago that stopped. She just as NO interest, and has rejected 3 rats in a row. She seems active at night, but is typically holed up in her hides all day. I even tried dipping the last one in chicken broth.

Her husbandry seems okay, 82 on the cool side and 89-90 on the warm side. Humidity has been a bit low and I am working on that. I am also going to drive down the road and pick up some "fresh" frozen rats as maybe she will like those better.

The "pet store guy" said his personal bp's frequently start to fast in the winter, but she is still a baby, and I have not heard many others here say their young bp's fast during the winter months. Should I be concerned?

[starmom]

I would bump up the warm side temps to 92-94F as warmer temps equal faster metabolizing of the prey and so increase appetite.

I would also not be feeding her more than about 50g of prey, if she weighs 350g on empty (after a poo). Feeding her too much can make her more likely to refuse food

[puma]

The Temps pretty good you could up the warmside but have you ever tried to feed live? My BP lost interest in F/T so i feed him live now and he hasn't reject a feeding since. Just be careful when feeding live, only leave the mouse in the cage for 20mins max. My BP eats the mouse after about 2 minutes i put a mouse in there.

[td30]

I really don't have enough experience to answer your questions, but
I am in the same boat. I have a 350g female that has stopped (or drastically slowed) eating as well. She went for 3 weeks then ate a rat pup. Now it has been another 4 weeks. Hoping she eats tonight. I am not too worried yet. I do think the weather messing with her. Good luck.

[rabernet]

Sonya,

You and I are in the same area. I fed 34 ball pythons of all ages last evening. Two adult and two hatchlings didn't eat out of all of them.

The adults I expect will eat next week, they just didn't feel like eating last night for whatever reason and don't generally refuse two feedings in a row.

One of the hatchlings I didn't have the prey he eats (live hopper mouse - tried to offer live rat pup, but he wants his mouse, which I'll pick up today). The other hatchling has had to be assist fed so far, but her brother who has also had to have been assist fed finally ate independently last night for the first time (SCORE!!!!!).

Now, I happen to feed only live to all of mine, always have. I don't experience winter fasts as a rule with my collection. Have you considered offering her live?

[mrewildstyle]

I would have to say that the winter does affect feeding habits. I would give the feeding attempts about 2 weeks before a retry. Usually the larger females will go off due to breeding season....but I also have smaller animals that kick off to eating so frequently during the winter.

[rabernet]

I would have to say that the winter does affect feeding habits. I would give the feeding attempts about 2 weeks before a retry. Usually the larger females will go off due to breeding season....but I also have smaller animals that kick off to eating so frequently during the winter.

I would agree with breedable weight females, but not with a less than year old ball python. I've never had one under a year old go off feed for the winter - they're wired at that age to eat and grow as quickly as they can to be less of a prey item themselves.

I do feed smaller meals weekly which is also another reason why my collection likely eats year round. If a female isn't in my breeding rotation, she eats through the winter - it's the ones that become gravid that go off feed.