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I have two male 2008 balls that ate VERY WELL for a year. One got up to 550 grams and the other almost 1000g (he was a pig- fed 1x week). In March 2009 both stopped eating and haven't been interested in live or frozen thawed mice or rats since. The are in vision racks with 90 hot spot, mid 80s ambient and 75-78 cool side (the temp in the room day/night). Both have RBI hides.

I know that if baby balls don't eat for long periods then finally take a meal they may die. How long is too long for balls that went off feed for a year? Neither are emaciated, but have lost mass. I'd say the thin side of "healthy weight" now. When do I/should I consider assist feeding? Do I just keep waiting it out? How long can these guys go off feed?

I have other balls that went of feed for 3-5 months after their first year then picked back up are are eating normally.

Thank you in advance to anyone that posts with advice/suggstions/explanations!
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Python; Bci; Bcl; Bco
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Hey,

I have personally never had a male go off feed like that for that period of time all the way through summer. I may venture that if you grew an 08 to 1000 grams in one year, that could trigger him to go off feed. I have been told numerous times by the pros that balls in the wild will feed when ever possible and gorge themselves if the opportunity arises to gorge, than they go off feed for up to a year if they have to due to no food source. Maybe you over fed him and mother nature is now giving him a long needed break. You would be the first person to admit to over feeding, but I just assume we all have done it at least once. Just an opinion, it could obviously be something totally different. Good luck, I know I hate when an occasional female decides to take an unauthorized vacation from feeding as well. And when my females go on breaks I have been usually feeding them pretty good size meals often.

Good luck,
Bill R.
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.....ate well for a year and off for 8 months....early 08's.....

...anyways......it's too long....I have had HUGE 5 foot males that ate like 3 or 4 months a year and did it all the time...I know people with males that eat like a few meals a year and that's it....maybe 6 rats all year and all in a row....then bam stop...but these are big males or older usually....

...I would...

change the cage...move them...talk with them...change everything ...then try the rats after a few days.......if that doesn't work...I use different food items...but that me and that in a couple weeks not months sometimes.....but I raise all kinds of rodents.......and I have all kinds of balls that eat specific meals ONLY ......

....change....different cage /box ......try it....makes them stop eating too when we move them.....

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That is too long ! This works for me on males that go off during breeding and start to lose weight.Take f/t pink rats and gently push them into them snakes throat and then put the snake down and let it swallow them.Give about 3 at one feeding,wait 3 or 4 days and offer a samll meal.If the snake does not want to feed on its own repeat the process.This may take several times to work but you are slowly building the animal back up.I do the same to start stubborn babies only with pink mice.Just remember samll meals so you do not stress the snake.Good luck