Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone
I'm sure you all get this often, but the internet is so full of opinions and contradictions about reptile care that I'm not too sure if I'm doing this right. I put a lot of detail because I know you guys n gals like that sort of thing.

I have a male ball python that weighs exactly 1500 grams. He is in a 41qt (34x16x6)tub with aspen bedding, 2 very dark and low hides on either end made from flipped over plastic containers,
a pcv plastic pipe cut to make a tunnel for him, a water bowl that is always clean and a great temp gradient.

cool side:
82-85 day
80-82 night

Hot spot:
92-95 day
90-92 night

Ambient air temp:
82-90

Humidity:
55-60%

I use a heat mat that covers 1/3 under the tub for belly heat and a red heat lamp 2.5 feet above the tub for ambient air temps.
Humidity is controlled by the water dish. I use digital thermos on both ends and use a digital humidity gauge every once in a while. I know my humidity gauge isn't off because I tested it using the salt and small container trick.

The problem!
He does not eat! It's been a while. Since winter began and continuing into summer he hasnt been the same! He eats very sporadically ( 1 meal every 4-6 weeks).
Am I doing something wrong? He shows no signs of illness.

At night he roams around pushing everything around like a tough guy. Shoves the hide boxes aside, moves the water dish around, pushes the aspen all over the place.
He eats frozen thawed rats that are the same girth as the snake.
Maybe I'm missing something...or maybe the snake is just being a jerk? I hope he's just being a jerk

Much appreciated!

Donato Mass
fuoconero.com

My opinion would be that your set-up is just fine, you just plain have a large male BP I have two males that size and I am lucky if they eat six months out of the year. Because they don't have the high reproductive needs of a female, they tend not to get as large and not feed as much. I think you just have a nice low-maintenance pet. I offer food every other week at night to males like this. Since you are doing f/t you can just set it in there on a dish and let him eat at his leisure if you would like.

But as you pointed out, the internet is full of opinions. Maybe someone else here has a different take.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

1) I have a few males that eat about 6-8 times a year!

2) Try live rats! Some Balls will eat consistantly on live!

Ok, Bolitochrome I think nailed it. BP's are sporadic eaters. Especially males. Before I even read his post I was going to say feed at night because that is when they are very active. I had six BP's and they didn't move at all during the day, but once the lights went out and their black bulb for heat at night was turned on they moved all over the place. Simply because they are nocturnal. Now from what the other guy said about BP's consistantly eating live I don't know if I would try it since you already have it eating f/t. Plus feeding your animal live prey adds some risk; like you turn your back for second to get something or the phone rings and you step out of the room to get it, then turn around or come back in the room to see your snakes head being nibbled on. It may not happen alot, but it has happened. I know they eat live prey in the wild. I know, but this is captivity, they are pets to some and to others they are investments. I mean the choice is yours. Just giving advice. Good luck with him.

Normal. I had a male not eat for 10 months, and he was 1500 grams.
He'll eat eventually.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)