Reptile & Amphibian Forums

was just wondering for anyone with problem feeders, especialy WC. Since balls feed mostly at night in their natural habitats wouldn't it stand to reason that the feeding time temps would be less than the 93-95 degree temps most of us keep them at(warm end) in captivity. Since it seems as if temp changes play a major role in everything else in the ball life why not feeding time as well? I assume that if the ball goes into a rodent burrow at night and feeds then the temps are probably in the lower 80's at least in the burrows. The cooler night temps may be what helps trigger a feeding response. Just wondering because my two biggest balls all fed voraciously when I first got them but after settling in to the higher temps of my rack system they only feed once a month. I will be trying to lower their temps to the mid/lower 80's 4-5 hours before the next feeding time. Any comments good or bad are appreciated. Thanks.
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1.0 het albino ball
1.0 norm ball
0.4 norm ball
0.1 snow corn
1.0 butter corn
0.1 norm corn
1.0 southern plains rat
1.0 striped Cali king
1.0 western hog

That does sound logical.
You may be on to something. Let us know if it works.
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-Man fears the beast in the Wolf because he does not understand the beast within himself.

and it sounds like it would work
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jake

my addiction:
1.1? normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1? amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

Wouldn't the temp gradient that most people have give the same effect? If the ball was more likely to feed at cooler temps wouldn't they simply go to the other end of the rack/tank/whatever and you would get the same effect?

Just playing Devil's Advocate...

Let us know how it works out as we all have stubborn feeders from time to time.

experimented a little with this myself. I have always droped my temps into the low 80's before feeding. I started trying to feed without droping just to see what would happen and got mixed results. Some snakes seem not to care. Others WILL NOT EAT unless the temps are dropped. In my limited experience it seems that the snakes that are the best eaters and least fussy ubout what time they eat and what they are fed don't care. The ones that are very particular do. There is definitly more room for experimentation and verification/falsification but this is what I have found.
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I have Balls!

i have had the same experience....some will eat no matter what but i have a few that i have to drop the temp.