Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a late 2010 female, 100% het for albino back in early April. I have bought animals from this person before so I know she is in good health and the genetics are guaranteed, so no problems there. She was nice and plump and still is nice and plump.
I was told she had been off feed for a couple months when I bought her. I have not been able to get her to eat. I know, I know... same old BP story. I was told she was eating live rat pups. I tried those a few times and she refused. I have been trying live small adult mice, but she has refused each time. I was trying every two weeks, but now it has been a month since I tried last.
I have her in a small plastic sweater box. Heat and humidity are fine (I have two others who have the exact same conditions and they are fine.) I know not to worry, but I am starting to. She is not losing weight, and has shed three times perfectly for me. Any thoughts?

she will eat when she wants too. i have had a pastel not eat for 6-7 months now he wont stop eating but i know he will quit very soon. just dont worry and she will be fine.

Yeah, it's a Ball Python! Don't worry!

Hey Ryan,

I am guessing you did not buy this girl to sit in a sweater box not growing and hiding in a box or substrate all day and night. Sometimes you get a Ball that just does not care about growing and making babies.....The only suggestion I can give you is to not offer food constantly to her. Just offer a smaller rat than you think she would eat and offer every 5 days until she eats. If you offer to frequently you will just keep her off feed. Also try putting in a rat pup that has not opened their eyes yet just before you go to bed. Than go check about an hour after sunrise. One more thing you can try is to roll up small newspaper pieces into little balls about the size of ping pong balls....Make enough to cover the entire bottom of the sweater box. Leave the rat pup near the heat under the Paper Balls. Try that overnight too.

Good Luck,
Bill
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1.1 DH Pied/Lavender Albino (RDR)
0.1 Spider Lavender Albino TSK/VPI
0.1 Lavender Albino (TSK/VPI)
0.1 Lavender Albino (TSK/RDR)
1.0 PinStripe Het Lavender Albino (RDR)
1.0 Spider Het Lavender Albino (TSK)
0.3 Het Lavender Albino (TSK/VPI)
1.0 Albino 100% Het Pied
0.1 Pied 100% Het Albino
1.0 Spider Albino (TSK/Next World Exotics)
0.1 Spinner Het Albino (TSK)
1.1 Kids (12) and (18)
0.1 Spouse (24 Years Married)
1.0 Chocolate Lab
0.1 Mexican Fire Leg Tarantula (Tarantula Inc.)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had one go 10 months one time without food and was no worse for the wear. I just hoped to breed her to my albino male next season.

Hey Ryan,

You are welcome....Good luck. Those suggestions I gave you will work if you use them.

Regards,
Bill
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1.1 DH Pied/Lavender Albino (RDR)
0.1 Spider Lavender Albino TSK/VPI
0.1 Lavender Albino (TSK/VPI)
0.1 Lavender Albino (TSK/RDR)
1.0 PinStripe Het Lavender Albino (RDR)
1.0 Spider Het Lavender Albino (TSK)
0.3 Het Lavender Albino (TSK/VPI)
1.0 Albino 100% Het Pied
0.1 Pied 100% Het Albino
1.0 Spider Albino (TSK/Next World Exotics)
0.1 Spinner Het Albino (TSK)
1.1 Kids (12) and (18)
0.1 Spouse (24 Years Married)
1.0 Chocolate Lab
0.1 Mexican Fire Leg Tarantula (Tarantula Inc.)

It's frustrating but they go at their own pace. I have an adult female that re-absorbed last year, and she has eaten one medium rat this entire year. She looks fine, but I'm doubting she will produce.

Update: She ate a fuzzy, non-weaned live rat for me. Did the old paper bag trick. Just wanted to let everyone know that the balls can be stressful when they don't eat, but they usually end up eating fine. She has not really lost any weight. I hope I can get her up to weight to breed next year. I have a high-contrast male to pair her up with. Thanks again for the mental support.