Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my ball for about two and a half years now. The first winter he was little and ate fine every week. Last year he stoped eating in late December. This was after I took him with me on a road trip to visit my family. I thought maybe the trip upset him and that's why he wasn't eating. He acted fine otherwise, but didn't start eating again until March.

This year I've taken him nowhere but he hasn't ate anything since December again. Normally he happily eats once a week. I was wondering if it's normal for Pythons to stop eating when it gets cold out? I know since he's inside this shouldn't affect him, but to avoid high gas bills I do tend to let the house stay a lot cooler in the winter.

He has a heat matt on all the time on the hot side of his tank and I use a heat lamp during the day as well.

I just want to make sure if this is normal or if I should change anything?

This is normal and I would not change any thing. Balls tend to go off feed in the winter some don't but from what I have read and seen some do.
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Brian n Chrissy

www.cb-reptiles.com/
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Nothing to worry about. This is very normal during the winter months, especially with males. I would continue to offer food regularly though, & if his health would start to deminish or if he has a noticeable weight loss, I would consult a vet. But more than likely he's just going "off-feed".

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping it was normal, but in my research before buying I didn't see anything that mentioned it. I'll stop worrying now.

Do you seem to have more of your males go off feed? It seems that all my males are big fat pigs all the time, and it is the famales that go off feed at the first hint of fall? I wish my males would stop eating and not my females for the winter months...no such luck here??

My Male (1yr and 5 months old) went off-feed about a month ago. i had a female that did that every year too. I offer a meal about every week 1/2 to two weeks. Normal for a Ball
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles