Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my adult male bp for almost 6 months now, and for the past 2 months he's been switched over to medium rats. I've noticed that he has changed his habits from a very aggressive stirke and coil to being very reluctant to eat and when he does he just comes up to the rat and begins to eat...no strike, coil, or anything. And yesterday he didnt even eat at all after 7 months of not missing a feeding. I recently changed his substrate from carpet to aspen shavings, but I dont think it stressed him too bad. Everything else is normal and where it has always been. Does anyone have a clue on his change in behaviors? Anyone else have BP's with the same type of feeding response? any info would be appreciated...

I wouldn't worry at all about him not wanting to eat right now.
Especially if he's been a good eater for the past several months.
Try and offer food again next week.

My biggest male starting to slow down on his feeding too. Maybe he knows what's coming, hahaha...... breeding season. This big boy has refused food in the past for as long as 8 months (I was pulling my hair out on that "little" hunger strike), but then just when I was sure he'd never eat again......... he took the rat.

Take care,
Jen
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HerpCrazy Reptiles

Yes, I have sevaral (5 to be exact, by far they are the minority) that just swallow the rats, no strike or coil. I feed only pre-killed of course, lol.
Those snakes that eat this way also seem to be the sweetest and friendliest that I have, go figure.

Take care,
Jen
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HerpCrazy Reptiles

so males slow down during breeding season and females speed up their feeding habits?

Not always.
Some will eat, some will not.

I have a female who ate up until her pre-lay shed, then another who stopped eating as soon as she was bred by the male.
I have a male who has eaten in between breeding females, then another who won't eat at all during breedings.

Snakes are crazy. You gotta love em'!

Later,
Jen
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HerpCrazy Reptiles

Are you feeding him live or frozen?

pre killed...sometimes i throw in a live adult mouse just to give him(or me) the thrill of the hunt...but ever since switching to rats its been prekilled only