Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Out of the 17 snakes in my collection, I have 2 that are problem eaters. Turns out that both of them are Lessers, the only lessers in the collection.

My pastels and spiders eat anything I drop in the tub, the normals do too. My fire, pins, and desert eat regularly. The only ones that don't are the lessers.

So, my question for people on the forum, are your lessers problem eaters? Is this common among lessers? I'm trying to convince myself that the lesser morph isn't a bad feeding morph.

Any feedback is most appreciated!

sure, lets get another rumor started

i heard that normal males over 9000 grams can shoot fireballs from their eyes
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www.bamreptiles.webs.com
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What in my post was trying to start a rumor?

I was simply asking a question. Have other people had problems with Lessers? I expect a lot of people to say not or maybe not.

Asking a question is not the same as startig a rumor.

Do you have information to provide?

ALL ball pythons are known to be picky eaters. This is known. To narrow down picky eaters to a morph, well, that's just silly.
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

amen brother
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www.bamreptiles.webs.com
www.facebook.com/bamreptiles

Aaaaah, actually that's true, but only in the Florida Everglades! How do you expect them to battle the Tegu invasion?

OMG...I didn't know normals could shoot fireballs!?!?! That's awesome!!!

Your close. Its Fire ball pythons not normals. Hence the name.LOL

for the sake of another stupid rumor not getting started, my lesser is an absolute piggy. eating whenever i offer him food
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www.bamreptiles.webs.com
www.facebook.com/bamreptiles

I think it's a fair question. Obviously your population of lessers are not big enough for you to make a fair conclusion, so you're just asking about other lessers. I dont see how that is starting a rumor, either.

Anyways, my one pastel lesser, a female, is one of the best feeders I have. I've been shocked only when she didnt eat. She's a 2008, and is about 2000g having laid 7 eggs last june.

My only problem feeder has been my spider female, who is a 2007 at about 1300g & never been bred.

I've also wondered if strong feeders might be genetic, but I would guess that it would be a seperate trait from the phenotype. There are probably just too many factors involved, from may be how big they are at hatching, to how well they are started off and on what.

I also think this is a fair question. I have a similar question. Have anybody noticed differences in behavior among the different morphs? could behavioral traits like aggressiveness, shyness, and so on also be geneticaly inherited?
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Sed et serpens erat callidior cunctis animantibus terrae quae fecerat Dominus Deus...

I've also wondered if strong feeders might be genetic I have lots of lessers they all eat great! I have 2 problem feeders a 2007 spider female and a 2007 pastel female and now their babies???
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Jason Amos

Ball Pythons
5.26
Dogs
1.1 Staffordshire Bull Terriers

I have found that some of best eaters have also been some of my worst feeders at times. I had a Pastel female that only took one meal in 18 months. Several vet visits confirmed there was nothing physically wrong with her. Just wouldn't eat. Now she is one of my best eaters and I can't remember the last time she refused a meal, even when in shed.

I have a Pastel Butter female (not a Lesser but close enough) and she is a complete pig. However her first year she was a very spotty feeder.
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Ryan Sherman
Scottsdale, Arizona
www.ThePaintedPython.com

They are ball pythons. I do not think Lessers and/or Butters are geneticly bad eaters. I personally think certain snakes go off food at different stages in their lives. Some go off food after they have been power fed from hatchlings and reach 600-700 grams. (I think it is their way of telling us that their bodies can not grow that fast.) Others may be great feeders up until their first anticipated breeding season and shut down at 1200-1300 grams forcing us to wait another year before breeding attempts are made. I personaly have several Lessers and Butters. They have all gone off food at some point in time. Be patient- THEY ARE BALL PYTHONS! I have had snakes go off food for 6-7 months and then eat twice a week for six months following their fast. THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT! I think it is best to feed them all on a set schedule, If they don't eat, wait till the next scheduled feed date and try again. Of the 120 Ball Pythons in my collection, I only have one (Problem Feeder) she is a 2008 Blonde Pastel Female that only weighs 650 /- grams. She eats rats when she wants. Sometimes once a week, somtimes once a month. I sure she will turn on at some point and be a chow hog, you just have to be patient.

-Jason Weinrich

I have 2 lessers/butters and and 1 pastel lesser, they are some of my better eaters.

I also have two female pastels from the same clutch that were the same size when I got them. One eats like there is no tomorrow and is going on 3,000 grams the other doesn't eat as well and is only around 1,300-1,400 grams.

Ball pythons can vary a lot in their behavior.

Thanks for all the information.

I guess the take home message is to just be patient and let things happen, offer food on a schedule and one day they will just be in an eating mood.

Cheers!

any color or any pattern, any snake, any ball at all...age, size, food preference, sex...it don't matter...any ball can be a pain when it wants to be......usually...it's the one you like or want the most....the more it costs ...the worse it eats...the females eat worse ...if you need them....males...if you got just one and you need that color...

balls....aaaaaah....what a snake....LOL...

...lesser...got some pain ones..
...pieds too
...amels...dont't like rats...
...alot of weird eating balls here...I made them that way...
when you walk in a room with a bucket of africans....the good eaters smell them as well as the bad eaters....

they can change either way they want to....

good luck....!!!...

.buy new lessers from someone else...or make better ones from the best females you got...!

...
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........JY

I did have a problem feeder lesser. I bought her early this year. she didnt eat at all not even showing interest in her meals for almost 3 months. I called the guy that sold her to me he said he would get it back eating. I gave it to him it ate solid for a month I got it back and BAM still not eating for me. I asked him how he had it set up and I copied it and now she chases the food she even lunges out of her tub for her meal. Go figure.

my normal set up is blue shop towels and a water bowl. She needed a hide box and news paper. funny thing is she barely uses the hide. She is in hunger mode waiting for a meal every time i look at her.