Stubborn Feeder

[BrownSugar92]

Sooo . . . My soon to be 8 month old ball python has decided to be a royal pain and take herself off of feed. I say that because I have wasted three rats from trying to offer her food on a weekly basis and she's declined each one. I've changed nothing to the way I feed her, she just doesn't want to eat. Which is alright I guess since she's surely not underfed (2.5 ft and 620 grams) and she is still very active and enjoys coming out to explore. How long though should she go without eating before I do worry? It's going on 4 weeks since her last meal (other than water)
I just find it so odd that she quit cold turkey so to say when she WAS the greediest thing in the house.

[lady_bug87]

As long as she isn't losing weight I wouldn't worry.

In this situation, I would stop handling and wait 2 weeks before offering again. This is of course provided that the husbandry is correct. Would also double check that

[bcoop1234]

I had a similar issue with a juvenile mexican black kingsnake... She was eating just fine and then just decided to stop. I tried every week for at least 4 months and then all of a sudden she started to eat again... No change in anything either. I didn't handle her until she ate again and then i waited 3 feedings to make sure she would keep eating.

[bcr229]

Double-check to make sure her humidity levels are correct and her hot/cool sides are still the correct temperatures, it's unlikely but a heat pad or thermostat could have failed.

Otherwise, as long as she's drinking and maintaining weight I wouldn't worry, "picky" and "ball python" seem to be synonymous. I have one five year old male who causes me no end of worry, he's just not a big eater and has the size (or lack of) to prove it.

[Mark Taylor]

I would not worry just double check the temps and humidity and continue to offer her food as normal, I know it's a waste of rats but its better that it is available. Not sure how you offer the food for your ball but 2 of my snakes I just put the rat (F/T) in and leave it 12 hours if it's still there take it out and throw it away.

Also less handling than usual.:)

[BrownSugar92]

I would not worry just double check the temps and humidity and continue to offer her food as normal, I know it's a waste of rats but its better that it is available. Not sure how you offer the food for your ball but 2 of my snakes I just put the rat (F/T) in and leave it 12 hours if it's still there take it out and throw it away.

Also less handling than usual.:)

she will only take to live right now. Right when I was going to buy the frozen thawed she decided she wanted to be fickle. I didn't try anything dramatic yet, like changing to gerbils or splitting the rats head open because she's still fat, but active. lol

[BrownSugar92]

As long as she isn't losing weight I wouldn't worry.

In this situation, I would stop handling and wait 2 weeks before offering again. This is of course provided that the husbandry is correct. Would also double check that

She likes to come out to climb the fake tree in the house about every 3 or 4 days. Should I keep her from coming out of her cage period (for exercise) or limit it to just not handling her? And her humidity and temps are good, I check them nightly when I come home from work.

[Lankyrob]

She likes to come out to climb the fake tree in the house about every 3 or 4 days. Should I keep her from coming out of her cage period (for exercise) or limit it to just not handling her? And her humidity and temps are good, I check them nightly when I come home from work.

Leave her alone in the ideal conditions until she has fed a couple of times.

[Hurrok]

It's probably a wise decision to leave her alone for 2 weeks like Lady_Bug said just to at least let her settle in and rule out whether or not she is too stressed from handling.

If she isn't losing weight there is no worry, it is very common for a ball python to start going off of feed for months once they start to mature. My female BP went 6 months without feed and then randomly started up again with no problems. :) Just keep us updated!

[BrownSugar92]

It's probably a wise decision to leave her alone for 2 weeks like Lady_Bug said just to at least let her settle in and rule out whether or not she is too stressed from handling.

If she isn't losing weight there is no worry, it is very common for a ball python to start going off of feed for months once they start to mature. My female BP went 6 months without feed and then randomly started up again with no problems. :) Just keep us updated!

Yeah it's probably for the best and I have no problem leaving her alone. I take nursing classes in the morning and work at night so she is -most of the time- by herself. Which is what puzzled me the most as to why she stopped eating because stress just seemed so unlikely and it's not like she's new to the house either.
My door remains locked when I leave too, so I know no one is playing with her.

[Ivanator]

Yeah it's probably for the best and I have no problem leaving her alone. I take nursing classes in the morning and work at night so she is -most of the time- by herself. Which is what puzzled me the most as to why she stopped eating because stress just seemed so unlikely and it's not like she's new to the house either.
My door remains locked when I leave too, so I know no one is playing with her.

Balls are annoying and just stop for some reason. I just had the same problem with mine and he finally fed again last week after not eating for almost 3 months.

[BrownSugar92]

Balls are annoying and just stop for some reason. I just had the same problem with mine and he finally fed again last week after not eating for almost 3 months.

Did you isolate him and leave him by his lonesome?

[Mark Taylor]

she will only take to live right now. Right when I was going to buy the frozen thawed she decided she wanted to be fickle. I didn't try anything dramatic yet, like changing to gerbils or splitting the rats head open because she's still fat, but active. lol

So how have you wasted 3 rats if you feed live or have I missed something?

[Lankyrob]

Did you isolate him and leave him by his lonesome?

Isnt he living on his own now? Is he sharing an enclosure?

[BrownSugar92]

So how have you wasted 3 rats if you feed live or have I missed something?

I've wasted my money on three rats that she hasn't wanted

[BrownSugar92]

Isnt he living on his own now? Is he sharing an enclosure?

She's not sharing an enclosure, I meant leave her alone by not even taking her out the enclosure when she wants to come out.

[Mark Taylor]

She's not sharing an enclosure, I meant leave her alone by not even taking her out the enclosure when she wants to come out.

She does not want to come out you want to take her out.

I've wasted my money on three rats that she hasn't wanted

The rats are still alive so don't see how you wasted your money.

[smy_749]

She may want to come out, but not for play, exercise or because of loneliness :-P

Since your keeping the rats anyways, make some baybays.

[Mark Taylor]

She may want to come out, but not for play, exercise or because of loneliness:P

Why would it want to come out if conditions of the enclosure are correct.

[Mark Taylor]

http://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSB6NqUxogMLBCrkBLBy9EK6_yhDThJw PD7O8F_rkoMw2uNZ6Np

[smy_749]

Why would it want to come out if conditions of the enclosure are correct.

This is what I was hinting at, :-P or looking for food but BP's aren't really active hunters right?

Oh and don't try to make waffles and chicken using rats, thats not what I meant hahahaha

[BrownSugar92]

She does not want to come out you want to take her out.



The rats are still alive so don't see how you wasted your money.

Lol funny, no- she does want to come out. It's not like I sit there and play with her. She comes out so she can climb around stuff and explore.

[BrownSugar92]

She may want to come out, but not for play, exercise or because of loneliness :-P

Since your keeping the rats anyways, make some baybays.

I know she's not lonely :p

[BrownSugar92]

http://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSB6NqUxogMLBCrkBLBy9EK6_yhDThJw PD7O8F_rkoMw2uNZ6Np

Lol! I was not expecting that

[Mark Taylor]

Lol funny, no- she does want to come out. It's not like I sit there and play with her. She comes out so she can climb around stuff and explore.

If she wants to come out it's because there is something wrong with the husbandry. If you want her to climb and explore get a bigger enclosure and put some branches in it. When you take her out she is active because she is looking to find a nice safe warm place to be.

[BrownSugar92]

If she wants to come out it's because there is something wrong with the husbandry. If you want her to climb and explore get a bigger enclosure and put some branches in it. When you take her out she is active because she is looking to find a nice safe warm place to be.

Her cage is pretty decent and the husbandry has been right, but sure thanks.

[Aaron_S]

she will only take to live right now. Right when I was going to buy the frozen thawed she decided she wanted to be fickle. I didn't try anything dramatic yet, like changing to gerbils or splitting the rats head open because she's still fat, but active. lol

I've owned a lot of ball pythons and dealt with many various other species, I've never had to go to such lengths to get an animal to eat.

Just be patient and stop letting her out for what you claim is her "wanting to explore and get exercise".

[DeadlyDesires]

Her cage is pretty decent and the husbandry has been right, but sure thanks.


what is her husbandry like? what size cage is she in? i went back through the thread and didnt see anything, what is her humidity at?

[bcr229]

BP's aren't really active hunters right?
I have one young male BP that will chase down the live rats in the feeding tub. All of our others wait for the mouse/rat to come to it.

[BrownSugar92]

what is her husbandry like? what size cage is she in? i went back through the thread and didnt see anything, what is her humidity at?

I'll just take a photo of the gauges and her cage when I get back inside. Seeing is better than me droning on about temps and what her cage looks like

[BrownSugar92]

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[BrownSugar92]

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^ ^ ^ this is the other side to that big rock that in the corner. Only other thing that needs to be noted is, the humidity is usually at 65% and the cage about 2 degrees hotter (on the hot side). But when I was taking the photo I had to lift that blue towel at the top that holds the temp / humidity in and open the doors to let light in and I ended up loosing it.

[BrownSugar92]

and this is the baby

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Like many snakes, she enjoys wedging herself in awkward positions that look uncomfortable 0.o

[smy_749]

and this is the baby

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Like many snakes, she enjoys wedging herself in awkward positions that look uncomfortable 0.o


Nice snake. I'll tell you politely before someone else rips you up about it lol Don't use those gauges, they very unreliable and extremley inaccurate. Go to homedepot and ask for a hygrometer/thermometer combo and they will give you a nice digital one for about 12 dollars with an LCD display. Well worth the money, and you can use the gauges for paper weights. Anyways, nice enclosure.

Oh and about the plant plot, I use the same idea ;) makes a cheap cool hide, you just have to be careful not to create a sharp edge. I broke a few in the process lol

http://maidinchicago.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/hygrometer1.jpg

Thats what I recommend, because it tells you current temps and humidity and highs and lows.

[DeadlyDesires]

Nice snake. I'll tell you politely before someone else rips you up about it lol Don't use those gauges, they very unreliable and extremley inaccurate. Go to homedepot and ask for a hygrometer/thermometer combo and they will give you a nice digital one for about 12 dollars with an LCD display. Well worth the money, and you can use the gauges for paper weights. Anyways, nice enclosure.

Oh and about the plant plot, I use the same idea ;) makes a cheap cool hide, you just have to be careful not to create a sharp edge. I broke a few in the process lol


^^ this, they also sell them at walmart too but i dont think they work as well lol mine broke within 2 days i was pretty mad, your set up looks good.

[BrownSugar92]

Nice snake. I'll tell you politely before someone else rips you up about it lol Don't use those gauges, they very unreliable and extremley inaccurate. Go to homedepot and ask for a hygrometer/thermometer combo and they will give you a nice digital one for about 12 dollars with an LCD display. Well worth the money, and you can use the gauges for paper weights. Anyways, nice enclosure.

Oh and about the plant plot, I use the same idea ;) makes a cheap cool hide, you just have to be careful not to create a sharp edge. I broke a few in the process lol

http://maidinchicago.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/hygrometer1.jpg

Thats what I recommend, because it tells you current temps and humidity and highs and lows.

Which side should I put it on then? And thanks for the input, I don't mind it- or else I wouldn't have started a post. What brand do you use? And thank you ^_^ but funny lol, I went to Home Depot to get sand paper and soften the edges down so she didn't get cut. Didn't think to get a reader from there though.

[BrownSugar92]

^^ this, they also sell them at walmart too but i dont think they work as well lol mine broke within 2 days i was pretty mad, your set up looks good.

Thank you. It just seemed like she was getting really big, really fast so I went ahead and moved her into a nicer enclosure. Hopefully a permanent one lol.

[smy_749]

Which side should I put it on then? And thanks for the input, I don't mind it- or else I wouldn't have started a post. What brand do you use? And thank you ^_^ but funny lol, I went to Home Depot to get sand paper and soften the edges down so she didn't get cut. Didn't think to get a reader from there though.

I don't buy much of anything from the pet stores, everything can be found better quality for cheaper somewhere else. They just stick zoomed stickers on everything and call it pet safe :P "reptile" stuff. They are 12 $, you can buy 2 of them and put them on either side. Or just keep it on the cold side, (humidity will be higher over there) and just use a temperature gun to check hot side temps, if you want to check hot side humidity just move it over for a bit :P

[BrownSugar92]

After what seemed like forever, she actually ate today - about 3 hours ago to be exact.
I went ahead and broke down on the advice I've been getting of "keeping" the rat until she was ready to eat. I offered her food about every nine days and she finally took tonight ^_^
Sad to say probably . . . But I'm sort of happy the noisy, constantly chirping rat is gone ha, but even happier to finally see her eating.